| On coaching soccer, the key to motivating soccer | | | | frustrated that they are not getting it right they will |
| players is to help them to motivate themselves. | | | | feel good about themselves for getting at least part |
| First, you need to set the example. This means that | | | | of it right and they will be eager to do it again. |
| you need to use the Golden Rule and speak to them | | | | Of course there are times when they will get part of |
| the way that you wish them to speak to you and | | | | a technique right and not do something else in the |
| the way you hope they speak to themselves. | | | | proper way. Begin with pointing out the areas in |
| Using positive reinforcement will go a long way to | | | | which they performed well and then tell them you |
| helping players feel good enough about themselves | | | | want to see it again with another part added in. |
| and their soccer game to want to strive for more. | | | | This way they will try again from the positive outlook |
| How? It is really very simple. Focus on the positive | | | | that they can do it and they just need to adjust |
| things and do not focus on the negative things. | | | | something. For example, instead of saying, "that was |
| We live in a rat race society and we tend to | | | | a good try, but when you kick the ball you need to |
| compare ourselves to others much of the time. | | | | kick through the ball. You are stopping short," try |
| Children go through school constantly being compared | | | | saying, "Great kick! You foot positioning was bang on. |
| to others and then move to their post-secondary | | | | Now let me see it again and this time kick your foot |
| education looking to be the best so they can receive | | | | all the way through the ball and see how much |
| scholarships and awards. | | | | farther it will go." Whether you are working with kids |
| They want to please their parents and they want to | | | | of adults, they will respond to this sort of |
| do well. They often focus on what they did wrong | | | | encouragement. |
| or what they did not do. In the end they can feel | | | | It is also important to teach the players to positively |
| very frustrated, angry, and can even feel like a | | | | reinforce their soccer team-mates and to encourage |
| failure and this attitude can be carried onto the | | | | each other. In this way, players will feel even better |
| soccer field. | | | | about what they have accomplished, especially when |
| Using positive reinforcement means focusing on the | | | | they are nearing adolescence and their peers begin to |
| positive or what went right. There is no need to look | | | | have a greater influence on them than the adults in |
| at what a player did not do properly. You may ask, | | | | their lives do. |
| how do you help a player correct poor technique or | | | | Motivating soccer players is about helping them feel |
| improve their soccer game without looking at what | | | | good enough about themselves and what they are |
| they did improperly. | | | | doing that they desire to strive for more. They will |
| On soccer coaching, the key is to look at what they | | | | want to improve themselves and their game from |
| did right and say that you want to see them do it | | | | the positive frame of mind that they are good |
| again. Instead of saying, "That was a good kick, but | | | | players who are improving all the time, instead of |
| when you kick the ball, place your foot here," try, | | | | feeling that they are inadequate and need to improve |
| "Hey, on that last penalty kick you had great follow | | | | their game to become good enough. |
| through and made the shot. Let's see that again and | | | | Follow these soccer coaching tips and I'm sure you'll |
| this time try placing your foot here." | | | | motivate your players or kids to love the game. |
| This is much more effective. Instead of feeling | | | | |