| Here is the key to a happy, successful team. | | | | to the others as practice continues. I do this with |
| Effective coaching of youth soccer teams can be | | | | each player, maybe one per practice or so, so that it |
| daunting to new soccer coaches and even seasoned | | | | is not a noticeable thing. |
| coaching pros have their moments. It is not an easy | | | | A very simple thing, but the effects are astounding. I |
| task to get a bunch of wild kids to play in harmony | | | | can actually feel the youngsters' confidence rise |
| without having a nervous breakdown, never mind | | | | dramatically as their bodies straighten, their heads are |
| putting together a winning team. | | | | held high, and there is a spring in their step. You can |
| Take it from me, it is not as difficult to be a winning | | | | even see an immediate improvement in their |
| coach as many folks think. You can have practices | | | | performance when they rejoin the practice. One by |
| that the kids will enjoy and games in which you win | | | | one these kids get an elevated sense of themselves |
| most of the time. In my twenty-plus years of | | | | as good soccer players and that is reflected on the |
| coaching youths from ages 5 to 16 in both travel and | | | | field. As a team, I tell them that they are all winners |
| recreational soccer, my teams have never come in | | | | and my job is to merely put them in the positions |
| less than second place and most of the time we | | | | where they can do their best. And they do. And |
| were the champions and there were no superstars | | | | when they win, their self-esteem rises even more. |
| that carried the teams, just regular players just like | | | | Yes, I know that some of you are thinking that |
| on your team. I say all this not to boast, I'm not the | | | | winning isn't everything, but it is something and that is |
| most skilled coach around, but to illustrate that you, | | | | the whole purpose of the game. If you are not |
| as an adult, can get your kids to win. You don't need | | | | playing to win, why play? At the 5 and 6 year old |
| superstars. You just need team players and the right | | | | level this does not hold so true, but after that, kids |
| method to get them to play together. A well | | | | are playing to win and the more they win, each and |
| organized team will always outperform a team with | | | | every kid is part of that achievement and feels a |
| merely a superstar or two. | | | | certain pride that helps build their character. |
| The one strategy that has produced teams of well | | | | As far as soccer skills training goes, you only need to |
| playing youths involves their self-esteem. My success | | | | concentrate on the basics. The kids will pick up little |
| with soccer kids stems from my one-on-one time | | | | moves here and there as they grow and play against |
| with them and treating them like individuals and great | | | | top players. You can find a lot of helpful coaching |
| achievers. I make each one feel important and explain | | | | information online in that regard. One of my favorite |
| exactly how he or she contributes to the team. I | | | | sites is where you can also find other soccer |
| also let them know that I expect them to make | | | | resources. There are easy to understand explanations |
| mistakes because that is how you grow and that | | | | of all that you will need to know and implement. |
| means that you are trying new and better things. | | | | So, as a soccer coach, your job is to help these kids |
| Sometime throughout our normal practices and then | | | | win soccer games and the best way to do that is to |
| reinforced at every game, I take one of the kids to | | | | let them know that they are great soccer players |
| the side with my arm around their shoulders and say | | | | and without each and every one of them, the team |
| something like, " You know, John, I've been watching | | | | will not win. When they feel valuable, they become |
| you and I think that you are one of the best | | | | valuable. And you as a coach will have the greatest |
| forwards I have ever seen". And I say a few more | | | | of times right along with those kids on the field. |
| words about their abilities and walk him or her back | | | | |