Behind a small church, a dozen 7 and 8 year old boys were placed in my care. Armed with hours of Google research on how to coach youth soccer, I led the kids through numerous drills that I assumed all good soccer coaches did. We lined up in two lines and passed back and forth in pairs. We played sharks and minnows. We did 1v1’s. We did some individual ball work learning how to pull the ball back. I even enlisted the help of some teenage cousins that played soccer to demonstrate some skill moves.
I held other soccer practices with this framework. Always a different drill teaching a new skill because of course the kids learned the concept I was teaching the first time around and were ready for more. We did not play much real soccer to be honest, just the typical scrimmage at the end of practice for 10–15 minutes. But not too much scrimmage though, because they needed me to drill them more. This resulted in a one win season (via forefit) and one goal scored in ten games. Let me get this straight, I do NOT believe that team results is or should be an accurate measure of success for youth. Individual ownership and enjoyment of the game is the success gauge that matters for youth.
Despite the results I felt like there was potential in this group. I just had to figure out how to coach them better. Unfortunately, I never got that chance. Of the twelve kids, only 2 came back the next season, one of which was my son. I figured the other 10 kids just wanted to play baseball or football. It turned out those other 10 kids and their parents just preferred to be coached by someone else. Rude! I was crushed. In truth, it’s not all sour grapes as I ended up working with some great kids that I have had the pleasure of coaching for the past few years.
4 years plus hundreds of — dollars in equipment and coaching courses, hours of practice, and Lord knows how many Tweets, blog posts, and YouTube videos, I finally feel ready for my 1st soccer practice. I’m not perfect and I read and reflect enough to know that my coaching philosophy (so fancy, I know) is always evolving. If I could catch a ride with Marty and Doc in the DeLorean to my first soccer practice, for the sake of the kids, I would give myself the following advice for my 1st soccer practice.
- Play soccer.
- Play more soccer.
- Don’t be a douche!
I don’t know where I got the idea that I have to drill and teach the kids to play soccer before we can just play soccer. Maybe it’s just an automatic expectation since our schools teach like that. Maybe it’s my ego having to put on a drill to make the parents feel good. Maybe I just didn’t know what the hell I was doing. It doesn’t matter. Play soccer. Play small sided games (SSG’s). The kids absolutely love playing non-stop SSG’s and then ending with a larger scrimmage. They go home tired and happy!
For the 1st soccer practice and most soccer practices thereafter, minimize the coaching and directing. It’s a drag! The only coaching point I would introduce: KEEP THE BALL. This one idea requires players to stay on the ball and to find ways to escape/attack with dribbling mainly. It opens up the possibility of doing more with the ball than kicking and chasing. Reminders during a water break and intermittently while they’re playing is all that’s needed. These reminders would come in phrases: “try to get around” “try to get away” “can your friend help you” “can you keep protect it”.
I have a few core basics/principles and some team structure ideas to bring up during subsequent practices but the formula that they should be playing for at least 2/3’s or more of the practice should always remain. I believe in play. I also believe in coaching demeanor that creates a relaxed and playful environment. This makes a huge difference for the kids’ level of enjoyment and their ability to play as carefree as possible. In lieu of chastising kids, I find everyone reacts better to positive reinforcement. That just takes some real self-awareness and self-control to refrain from pointing out what you don’t like seeing.
If 2016 Mike listened to this advice I’m certain more kids from that first group would be playing soccer today. My greatest regrets have been the kids that stopped playing soccer.
