How To Coach Soccer To Kids

Learning how to coach soccer to kids requires patience, fairness and the ability to have fun. Coaching soccer to kids is much less about winning and much more about having a good time. You need to learn to keep all of the kids happy, but you will also have to keep their parents happy as well. No player should get more playing time than any other player, and everyone should be allowed to play the soccer position he or she wants.

1. When you coach soccer to kids, you need to play everyone fairly. Each child should have an equal chance to play offense, defense, midfield or goalie. At the youngest ages, you will not really have to worry too much about this because the children will generally all chase the ball and not stay in their specific positions. However, as they mature a little more, they will learn to stay in their positions, and you will need to make sure each player gets to try a position that he or she enjoys.
2. You will need to be very patient when you coach soccer to kids. Young children will not know how to play soccer when they first start the sport, and generally, they will be a little too restless to sit in one spot and wait. Until they reach the age of five or six, most children will chase the ball no matter where it is on the field. Let them have fun and try not to worry about forcing them into their positions. As they get older, some will mature more quickly than others. Some children will stay in their positions while others will still chase the ball. Try to teach them, but do not get frustrated when they do not understand or listen.
3. Make the sport fun. When you are coaching soccer to kids, you do not want to worry about have stringent practices and rules. Let the kids have a good time. Play games with them at soccer practice, and make sure to do stuff that they like. As they get older, the amount of games they play should decrease while the amount of actual practice should increase. However, the number one rule should always be to have fun.
4. Talk to the parents whenever you have spare time. Ask them if their child is enjoying soccer and if the child likes you as a coach. Find out how you can improve and what you should keep the same. Ask the parents and kids what games are the best and then use those and remove the games that are not as fun. Mainly, you should just be there for both the kids and the parents when they need you. Remember, you are a role model for the kids, and you should treat and respect them all as you would want your own children to be treated.