Coaching Soccer Drills: 5 Things You Must Know
Even though I’m not very sure about how you work, I’d still like to discuss some simple yet effective teaching techniques in coaching soccer drills before you start your practice sessions. Work out a common objective for the team as well as yourself as a coach, for instance; during soccer practice the players must enjoy the game while they are a part of it.
Herein, you must remain careful otherwise you’ll not be able to follow the fun part. I therefore recommend that you decide on more specific objectives for yourself and your soccer team. For example; develop a sense of team spirit and a sporting attitude in your players, help them identify their individual soccer skills, and emphasize on improving their physical fitness.
Since you are the coach, you only are responsible for setting high standards of sportsmanship for players. Support them in developing a sporting attitude, a feeling of team spirit, and an attitude of fair play. When teaching soccer, you have the option to include any number of relevant objectives along with the ones stated above.
The theory of winning is one concept that I’d like to stress upon when it comes to coaching youth soccer. Infuse an open concept of winning in your player’s minds when you are coaching them. Make them understand that so long as their play is up to the mark, they are the winners, irrespective of the final outcome.
The players as a result will feel totally relaxed but much more responsible to play the game sensibly with the team’s objectives in their mind.
When coaching soccer drills, always keep in mind the importance of giving clear and correct instructions if they are to be helpful. There are some clear dos and don’ts in soccer on which the players must be taught before you go ahead with your coaching sessions. The disparity between coaching and teaching is obvious in the fact that coaching deals with the bunch of players who already know the game to some extent.
In the process of coaching drills, it is nice to first impart 5 to 6 demonstrations about a drill to the kids and then let them practice it themselves. It is effective because young players are more receptive to seeing than listening. If you endeavor to explain in instructions, they will not understand it. Instead, they take demonstrations more enthusiastically.
Consequently, at all possible times, give a demonstration.
Lastly, but still no less in importance is to keep the kids engaged in meaningful activities. This is all the more important when it rains or the weather is extremely cold. It is well known that the kids love playing in the rain. Therefore, in place of cancelling the training session, rearrange it in a way that the players make the most of their energy and time.
Just be sure that the kids have additional layer of clothing and proper shoes in situations like these.
Move forward now and start using these tips to your training sessions. You will be surprised by the results.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Coaching soccer drills.
