| One thing you will have to understand early on when | | | | victory. |
| learning how to coach youth soccer is that not all | | | | Another difference in players is in aggressiveness. |
| soccer players are created equal. While we all | | | | You will have some players that are not at all |
| understand that to be true in terms of physical ability, | | | | intimidated by other players. They will take on an |
| it goes much deeper than that. There are also a lot | | | | opponent and fight for the ball regardless of the size |
| of differences in the mental and emotional makeup | | | | of the competition. Other players on your team are |
| of your players. | | | | more timid and will be much less likely to compete |
| Figuring out how to coach youth soccer is as much | | | | for 50-50 balls. Sometimes that can be overcome by |
| about understanding the mental part of the game as | | | | running drills that teach aggressiveness. Some players |
| it is in understanding the physical parts of the game. | | | | just need to be shown that they can compete, and |
| Understanding what motivates a player, and how to | | | | that is alright to bump opponents off of the ball, |
| get the most out of them can help you elevate the | | | | when it is done correctly. |
| play of any team, regardless of the talent. | | | | It is not an easy balance in trying to bring all of the |
| The first difference between players is the level of | | | | different physical and mental characteristics of your |
| competitiveness. Not all players feel a drive to win. | | | | players together and get them all playing together as |
| Some of your players like soccer for the shear fun | | | | one team. But that is what learning how to coach |
| of the game, they like to play, and the like the | | | | youth soccer is all about. It is about learning how to |
| chance to run around and do things with their friends. | | | | tone the overly aggressive player down, while at the |
| You will also have players that may not really care | | | | same time getting the overly timid player to turn it |
| about the game. They came out for soccer either | | | | up. It still boils down to creating an environment that |
| out of curiosity, or because their parents told them | | | | your players can have fun at practice and during the |
| they had to do something, and soccer seemed like | | | | games; where they are free to learn, and free to fail. |
| the best alternative. Winning is not as important to | | | | It is about coaching soccer in a way that allows your |
| these players, and you will not be able to push them | | | | players to be kids, while still learning more about |
| quite as hard as players that are motivated by | | | | soccer, and about being a team. |