Competition
Competition for kids is a tricky business. As a coach you want them to win so they feel good. You also want the parents to see their kids win. But you also need to be performing a balancing act to do what's right for the kids development vs. winning.
1. Ask the parents to bring the kids to the games at least 1/2 hour before the game. Once they arrive, get them away from the parents. Make sure they are wearing socks and shin guards and the shoes are tied. I always ask the kids to shake everyone's hands when they arrive. At first it might seem awkward for them but kids need to learn respect: "When you see an older person, you don't just walk by him without saying hello".
2. Make sure every kid has water. It never fails that at every practice a kid walks up to me and says: "I didn't bring water", "I ran out of water", etc. When that happens ask other kids or parents for water and hand it to him. By the way, water and gatorade are acceptable drinks. If you see Coke or Pepsi, warn them about it. That's a no no! it causes obesity and is full of sugar! My rules are: "No soft drinks at the games or practices" and make sure parents realize that.
3. When the kids get there, they start running, shooting or whatever. Do not try to stop them. Let them play and then ask them to gather somewhere, do some stretching. Meanwhile keep talking to them: "we need to concentrate today...we are playing one of the best teams..."
4. Parents: During the games they scream and yell and get all excited. No way to avoid it. One of the problems I see is that a kid is dribbling the ball down the field and all of a sudden a parent who probably has never played soccer before yells: Shooooot... and the poor kid shoots from center of the field trying to score a goal. I usually tell the parents: "It's okay if you want to cheer and say go go go hooray... but let the kids make their own decisions on the field. They need to learn the process of decision making, whether they want to pass, dribble or shoot". Parents understand that.
5. Parents again: They always like to make themselves comfortable sitting in the shades on comfy lawn chairs. During half-time ask the parents to all move out of the shades (whether it's a tree or a tent) so kids can sit in the shades.
6. Parents again and again: Someone is likely to ask you to give his kid more playing time! that's your decision. I would not budge on that. It's direct interference in coach's decisions. Do not let parents dictate to you who plays for how long. But you also need to be fair to the kids. Make sure every kids gets to play at least one-half. The tendency for coaches is that in order to win you play your best players, all the time. Take a risk and bring out your best player and replace him with a less experienced player. Before you do that though, on the sideline, talk to the kid and point him to the good player showing him where he plays and how well he is doing. Ask him to do the same when he gets on the field.
7. Do not yell at the kids for making mistakes. Just say: "Next time do it better". Always be positive. Kids pick up on that. They should not be afraid to take risks on the field. I kept telling my defenders to clear the ball to the sides and out of our penalty box everytime but in every game my left and right defenders would send that ball back into our penalty box. This type of mistake is unavoidable but after repeating the concept so many times, finally they will be able to execute it.
8. Give the kids a free hand. In our first game, I asked one of my defenders to move up and try to score. His response was: "can defenders score?". This is typical. At some point in their short lives someone has erroneously told these kids that a defender needs to stay in one spot and kick the ball when he sees it. Your job as a coach is to get the kids out of their cages. Make sure your defenders move up and down the field. Make sure your forwards come back to defend. Creativity should not be lost. If you see your defender in the opposing team's penalty area, don't yell at him. Just ask him to get back to his position when he can.
1. Ask the parents to bring the kids to the games at least 1/2 hour before the game. Once they arrive, get them away from the parents. Make sure they are wearing socks and shin guards and the shoes are tied. I always ask the kids to shake everyone's hands when they arrive. At first it might seem awkward for them but kids need to learn respect: "When you see an older person, you don't just walk by him without saying hello".
2. Make sure every kid has water. It never fails that at every practice a kid walks up to me and says: "I didn't bring water", "I ran out of water", etc. When that happens ask other kids or parents for water and hand it to him. By the way, water and gatorade are acceptable drinks. If you see Coke or Pepsi, warn them about it. That's a no no! it causes obesity and is full of sugar! My rules are: "No soft drinks at the games or practices" and make sure parents realize that.
3. When the kids get there, they start running, shooting or whatever. Do not try to stop them. Let them play and then ask them to gather somewhere, do some stretching. Meanwhile keep talking to them: "we need to concentrate today...we are playing one of the best teams..."
4. Parents: During the games they scream and yell and get all excited. No way to avoid it. One of the problems I see is that a kid is dribbling the ball down the field and all of a sudden a parent who probably has never played soccer before yells: Shooooot... and the poor kid shoots from center of the field trying to score a goal. I usually tell the parents: "It's okay if you want to cheer and say go go go hooray... but let the kids make their own decisions on the field. They need to learn the process of decision making, whether they want to pass, dribble or shoot". Parents understand that.
5. Parents again: They always like to make themselves comfortable sitting in the shades on comfy lawn chairs. During half-time ask the parents to all move out of the shades (whether it's a tree or a tent) so kids can sit in the shades.
6. Parents again and again: Someone is likely to ask you to give his kid more playing time! that's your decision. I would not budge on that. It's direct interference in coach's decisions. Do not let parents dictate to you who plays for how long. But you also need to be fair to the kids. Make sure every kids gets to play at least one-half. The tendency for coaches is that in order to win you play your best players, all the time. Take a risk and bring out your best player and replace him with a less experienced player. Before you do that though, on the sideline, talk to the kid and point him to the good player showing him where he plays and how well he is doing. Ask him to do the same when he gets on the field.
7. Do not yell at the kids for making mistakes. Just say: "Next time do it better". Always be positive. Kids pick up on that. They should not be afraid to take risks on the field. I kept telling my defenders to clear the ball to the sides and out of our penalty box everytime but in every game my left and right defenders would send that ball back into our penalty box. This type of mistake is unavoidable but after repeating the concept so many times, finally they will be able to execute it.
8. Give the kids a free hand. In our first game, I asked one of my defenders to move up and try to score. His response was: "can defenders score?". This is typical. At some point in their short lives someone has erroneously told these kids that a defender needs to stay in one spot and kick the ball when he sees it. Your job as a coach is to get the kids out of their cages. Make sure your defenders move up and down the field. Make sure your forwards come back to defend. Creativity should not be lost. If you see your defender in the opposing team's penalty area, don't yell at him. Just ask him to get back to his position when he can.
posted by Softour at
8:57 AM
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