As the Fall soccer season approaches here in the US, there are thousands of parents who said Yes somewhere along the line and are faced with coaching a U6 or U8 team, having never coached soccer before. I’m working on a post that is a sort of ‘Welcome to Coaching’ resource, but I’m only one coach. So I figured I’d ask all of you coaches out there that have coached younger players before:

I’ll compile the best answers in the comments along with some of my own thoughts into a comprehensive post in the next week or so.

UPDATE: If you’re a new coach, I’m curious what worries you most about the upcoming season. I started a new thread over at Talk On The Pitch for you to share your thoughts and concerns.

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1. Comments
   
2. 

   This is what I tell people what I do regarding my son’s U-7 team. Next years he’s in the NCYSA U-10 Academy…
   - During a soccer match the coach is not in control…the player with the ball is!
   - Individual technique is more important than detailed team tactics and formations.
   - Emphasis is on players to go forward and attack, to develop scoring opportunities, to shoot and score.
   - Defense is a skill that can learned at a later age. Most young players naturally have a few basic defensive talents, even if they were never formally taught.
   - Ball handling skills should be developed in the early stages of soccer growth.
   - Teach the fundamentals to improve soccer skills.

   Comment by Bill 07.25.08 @ 1:15 pm
3. 

   I love this question. I am a beginner coach as well, and last year the Rec. Dept. told me absolutely nothing about how to coach. So I decided to change that. I started a company that will train youth soccer coaches how to coach. Specifically parents that volunteer to coach. I started http://www.completesoccercoach.com, and have over fifty drills in video! And this fall we are releasing our “crash course for the new coach” This is an online course that prepares the new coach for coaching. Its over an hour long, with quizzes, and over 10 video drills! This course can be found http://www.certifiedsoccercoach.com I would be happy to give the writers of this blog free access to this course if they would like? I will create an account and you can have at it! I know that you will find it to be an excellent resource for any coach! you can email me for free account activation.

   Comment by Andrew Hemingway 07.26.08 @ 2:58 am
4. 

   Here are the three things I learned by coaching a rec U6 team made up of 50% pure beginners:

   applaud each child’s improvements loudly and frequently even if the other kids have long passed that development point

   make practices lively, with lots of action, as few lines and standing around as possible and only one lesson per session

   get the kids to practice running towards the opponent’s goal without the ball and quickly running back towards their own goal, which gives them a sense of keeping in motion instead of becoming part time spectators

   if your child is on your team try and treat him or her the same as you treat the other kids, at least in public.

   [ok 4 things]

   Comment by Coach Tim 07.28.08 @ 3:24 pm
5. 

   Use the 85-10-5 rule.

   85% praise “great job”, 15% challenge “you can do better”, 5% correction “not like that”

   Comment by Joel Maners 07.31.08 @ 2:04 am
6. 

   Just like any level: lots of touches.

   But, since it’s REC: Make every practice FUN. Make every game FUNNER. 99% praise. You are the first coach many of these kids have and you WILL make a huge difference in whether they continue loving and playing soccer.

   Also…it sounds minor, but from experience, If your child is on the team, at the end-of-year banquet when giving out trophies, please don’t call up your son by saying “And now my favorite player……Bob Jr.” Believe it or not, every other kid on the team thinks he’s your favorite.

   Comment by Juicebox mom 08.23.08 @ 8:35 pm

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