Here’s a really simple way to remember some of the key soccer coaching factors that are required in determining your team philosophy and run with it. This philosophy can be applied to your youth team with relative ease as it is easier than you think.
The elements which are essential for an effective youth coaching philosophy are 6; parents, coaches, excitement, selection, time, and success windows.
Consistent Parental Support: When we talk about soccer training the influence of parents is vital in the mental and physical development of your players, most importantly on the day the match is taking place. It’s not enough just to provide the parents with the brochure, “parental responsibilities” at the beginning of the term. Arrange for regular meetings with them so that the key points can be repeated and concerns shared.
Future soccer coaches: A vital part of your philosophy should not just focus on developing the players, but also the coaches. Try and see if you can make one of your kid’s parents to become a soccer coach? They would be the best candidates, not required in the beginning, but might be an option for the future.
Selection: The drop out of players with great soccer skills is mostly because of non-selection. Studies reveal, that the players think that they would not get selected for a good team so they opt for a bad team. Hence, a fair selection system should be used so that all the players are given equal game time.
Time: Observe punctuality and tell the parents to be punctual as well. The start and finish times that are clearly defined make for an effective session.
Excitement: Is it absolutely necessary that all the soccer coaching sessions are entertaining? Yes, try to make every session enjoyable for the kids but also understand that it may not be possible every time. Therefore, go for a positive attitude as an alternative.
When you train the kids, it is perfectly natural that coaches have problems coming up with different ideas on how to make sessions fun. Therefore, the biggest obstacle that coaches face is to be creative enough to bring about new drills every now and then.
In soccer drills, keep increasing the level of difficulty for the player’s to grow. A method of doing this is to start a game, introduce a problem, and then find a solution of it in a drill.
Success windows: Try and include a success window for the season as a vital part of your training sessions. This necessitates for you to determine a lower limit and an upper limit of time with a view to measure the level of success that needs to be achieved.
As an example, time frame of minimum four and maximum eight weeks. This can be done for both team as well as individual team members.
Favor yourself and have a soccer coaching philosophy like this become a part of the development phase of your kid’s training once the basics have been covered. In order to be more resourceful, full of knowledge, and gain tips and techniques, enroll for our youth soccer coaching community.
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Soccer Coaching Drills.
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