Soccer for Youth

3 Self-Help Tips for Youth Soccer Coaches

jimoddo — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:21:39 +0000

By Ryan Wood • Active.com

So you want to be a soccer coach? Or maybe you just reluctantly volunteered? Either way, taking on a soccer team is no small task. Even if you have a collection of U-6 rugrats that chase the ball around like a swarm of bees, passing on some useful knowledgeabout soccer while keeping it fun and somewhat organized is a task that can be overwhelming. So how do you self-improve as a youth soccer coach?Keep in mind that most youth soccer coaches across the country never played at a high level. They had to learn the game just like you are–by taking on the task and scrambling to be the best coach they could be. Don’t know where to start? Here are three soccer coaching tips specifically for the newbies.

Soccer Coaching Licenses

Though it’s not a requirement to coach a recreational youth soccer team, obtaining your state “E” certificate is a good way to learn the basics of running a soccer team. Obtaining “E” certification requires attending an 18-hour course, where the basics such as coaching methods, team management and laws of the game are taught. The “E” certification is administered and instructed by state soccer associations. After “E” certification, coaches can eventually move up the ladder to D, C, B, and A licenses through the United States Soccer Federation. Coaches often can skip the state “E” certification and start at the USSF ”D” license if they played college or pro soccer. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America also offers courses for coaches of all levels.

Instructional Media

The great thing about the coaching community is that those who have had success are happy to pass their knowledge on. Go to the local library or bookstore–you would be surprised how much there is to read on soccer coaching. Some of the big organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer and AYSO have materials targeted at new coaches. U.S. Youth Soccer has a section on their website called “Help! I Volunteered to Coach!” specifically for coaches taking on a team for the first time. Beyond reading, there’s other media that offer a more visual way to pick up knowledge. One example is a 5-disc DVD, “SoccerU” with Coach V. Few training guides are as comprehensive as SoccerU, which has more than 11 hours of teaching. SoccerU is designed to be reference DVDs, and coaches are encouraged to re-watch chapters down the road to touch up on knowledge. Though the SoccerU series is not specifically for teaching coaches how to coach, it is a great way to learn skills and pass them on to younger players. It’s easier to teach something, of course, when you learn it yourself.

Watching Soccer Games

Watching soccer is a great way to understand the game better. The Fox Soccer Channel has games on all throughout the day, and games can also be seen on ESPN and Fox Sports throughout the year. Your local college plays a high level of soccer and a lot can be learned by studying what they do and why they do it. Pay attention to how players work with teammates, how set plays like corner kicks are executed, and how teammates at the high levels communicate with one another. For new coaches, seeing good teams at work is a great way to pick up subtle nuances. And that type of knowledge can go a long way in making your coaching debut a successful experience for everyone.

How to Keep a Strong Parent-Coach Relationship

jimoddo — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:17:23 +0000

By Paul Harbin • PaulHarbin.com

Over the years, I’ve found clear communication to be one of the most important factors in giving players the best opportunity to succeed. When coaching youth soccer, taking the time to communicate your philosophy and expectations to the player’s parents gives everyone the chance to be on the same page right up front. I’m coaching a U13 girls team this fall and recently put together an initial letter to the parents. I asked them to share the letter with their daughters as well so that they could encourage and hold each other accountable throughout the season. Please feel free to borrow any parts of the letter that you might find useful. I’d also love to hear any other ideas from coaches or parents on how to build productive parent/coach/player relationships. Following is the letter:

Dear U-13 Parents, I know that everyone is quite busy finishing up the summer and getting ready for the new school year and all of the activities that go along with that as well. As such, I figured it might be easier for me to convey my thoughts on the soccer team by email rather than taking more of your time to get everyone together for yet another parent meeting. To begin with, I want to thank our team manager for her wonderful efforts in dealing with everything off the field so that I can focus primarily on coaching. Please continue to direct all logistical questions/issues her way. She and I are in close contact and I can assure you she will pass along anything she thinks I might want or need to know. In addition to school, I know that many of your daughters are involved in other activities than soccer. However, with only two training sessions per week, there is a lot to do in our limited time together. My plan is to run dynamic sessions designed to teach as much as possible in a very short period. Consequently, regular attendance at each session will be crucial to your daughter’s ability to keep up with the pace. The main focus this year will be on technical ability under pressure, speed of play (individual and team) and overall individual development. I will also be pushing the girls to get out of their training and playing comfort zones so that they can grow as athletes and as young ladies. My assessment thus far is that we need to make significant strides in these areas and our success will be determined thusly. Game results independent of these factors will not be a priority at all for us this season. In fact, there may be times that I make coaching decisions that could negatively impact game results in order to achieve our more primary goals. I have attached a short article I wrote a couple years ago further explaining my philosophy. Please take a minute to read it when you have some free time. Having each of you on the same page with what we are working to accomplish will go a long ways to heighten each player’s chances of success. I very much appreciate the support you have all shown the team thus far. One of the best ways you can continue to create a growing environment for your daughter and each of her teammates would be to focus on two simple things:

Please do not coach or give direction from the sidelines (ie. yelling “shoot”, “pass”, “get wide”, “dribble”, etc.). This will only serve to slow down the development of each player’s decision-making process, distract them from the task at hand, and reduce their enjoyment of playing the game.
Be positive in all communications from the sidelines as you cheer for the team. This includes comments to or about the referee, players, coaches, and other parents or fans. To give our ladies the best chance at growing as players and people this season, it would be wonderful if this type of communication could extend to the car ride and at home as well.

If I have not already personally thanked you for entrusting me with your daughter’s soccer development this season, please know that I very much appreciate the opportunity. I look forward to a great year. –Paul

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