Looking back as a youth soccer coach – what was your biggest epiphany? That ‘Aha!’ moment or a long term realization of ‘Wow I wish I had been doing that sooner!’. What was it that made you a better coach?
Mine was moving from direct instruction to asking the players for solutions. The whole ‘Coaching By Question’ where you ask leading questions to get the players to really THINK about what they’re doing. I think above all else, that change in my coaching style has helped my players learn, discover, and better understand the game. I used to think it would only work with older players, but found if you adjust your questions, even 4 year olds can start to think about the basics.
How about you all?
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August 5th, 2010 at 3:27 am
I found this to be a really great way also to get my kids to think more about the game. I run through a review with them each week where i ask ‘what did we do well’ and ‘what do we need to improve’. i give each child an opportunity to voice their opinion. it is always interesting to see what they think, and i then work the coaching sessions around the areas they have identified.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:44 am
The one thing that I’ve noticed as my players have gotten older is that they are more comfortable speaking up in situations like you describe. I don’t know if it’s just because they’re older of if it’s because I’m always asking them questions. I see these players who are flat out intimidated by their coaches and feel sorry for them. Players should feel comfortable talking with their coaches about the games. Now I’ll admit, I’ve had a few rare instances of sass or talk back and that’s been addressed immediately. But so long as you make VERY clear where that line is – I think the benefits of open communication far outweigh the risks.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:57 am
At this time (it may change 5 yrs from now), it must be the importance of spending time on footwork and individual skills at an early age. When I had coached 4 yrs olds, we were doing sharks/minnows, red light green light, etc. Then when they were U5-6 for that, we worked on passing, dribbling the fall around cones, throwing in, etc. After that, we have kids (U7) in position learning about creating space, making better passes, moving to an open position, etc.
I think all these things are age-appropriate. But in a rec league, we will have new players entering who has never played soccer at U9. But the progression of the team practice is moving on to fitness building, corner kicks, direct kick, heading, chesting, etc. To catch up with their peers, those new players really need to spend time on foot skills – toe taps, side to side, step over, etc.
Having coached these different age groups (at different times of course), I am working with my 5 yr old individually more on the fundamental footwork – and less on shooting and passing,
August 5th, 2010 at 11:25 am
No doubt – footwork, footwork, footwork. Course I’ll admit to not focusing on shooting enough at U11/U12 and now we’re catching up big time there. We can defend opponents fiercely, allowing only a handful of goals. But we just won’t shoot because the girls aren’t confident doing so. Yet… 🙂
August 5th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Hi Mike good to have your posts back. This year I’m DD of the GU10 group (10 teams, 80+ girls) and will coach in GU10 and BU10 so I’m working with kids who are now expressing their opinions and can process situations more strategically. I do like the idea of getting into the Q&A with them, esp. the girls who are at times much more thoughtful and focused than the boys. One thing that I introduced last year and will do this year as a coach is to focus on a super fun, high energy, no lecture practices. A technique I use is to try to build reactive speed to circumstances that may develop on the pitch. For example, in a short sided 4 on 3 (I usually put stress on the defense) I will introduce a second or even a third ball into the mix so that every player focuses on what happens in front of him or her at that moment, instead of standing and watching the action of other players, and everyone learns how to jump on a situation. Sometimes makes for a bit of bedlam!
August 5th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
What a great question! Mine was when I realised it’s okay to give players different tasks within the same exercise or game.Â
So for example, in a game designed to teach dribbling skills I might previously have had a target zone that every player tried to get to, and then I’d progress the practice to include some defenders and make it game-realistic.
But in fact this doesn’t meet the needs of all the players, who will all be at different levels and will benefit from staggering of progressions and varying challenges.
Nowadays instead, I might give multiple targets worth different numbers of points according to the size, shape, conditions etc and let players decide which to go for. The stronger players will automatically challenge themselves to get the most points but weaker players will also get a sense of achievement from completing a different individual goal – plus every player in the practice will have had hundreds of meaningful touches.Â
When it comes to progressions, I might have several guards but some of them will have a ball they must keep under control or have multiple areas to defend at once – meaning dribblers can avoid direct confrontations and wait for opportunities to attack space if they are more comfortable doing so.
This approach also means players are constantly making decisions about risk and reward which makes the practice much more relevant to the game of football than any drill.
Thanks for the really good articles you continue to produce, we need as many resources as possible for youth soccer coaches who want them.
Pavl from BetterFootball.net
August 6th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Hi Mike
My biggest move was telling my athletes to put ‘perfect practice makes perfect’ aside, the ability to improve and act on-the-fly is just as if not more important and more practical than repeating drill after drill.
Cheers
August 6th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Very good advice – I tell my older girls ‘Do the unexpected’ Over and over. The boring tedious drills give you the basic tools to do whatever you want – create whatever you want. We got beaten in the final minute of our State Cup semifinals because our opponent did something unexpected and executed flawlessly. Strong motivator 🙂 Hope to get a post up about that soon – was a fun Spring season for us.
August 10th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Great points, thanks for the discussion. I typically set up games that have restrictions or scenarios they need to play out and then spend time with each team in a pre-game planning session (lasts no more than 3-5 mins). I let the players organize and set out tactics only jumping in to steer and guide where I fell necessary. I let them play for 5 mins or so and then bring them back to their respective team huddles to ask what they did well, what they could improve on etc. Repeat fro a couple of times and then bring them in as a team. Works great and the kids benefit as they are in charge.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Using the typical 10 yard square exercises marked by cones, then pulling up the cones one by one, asking the players to imagine the square is still there. Then asking them to do a pass move exercise around the imaginary square while making the square move around the field. It teaches them space and how to use it on the field.