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Started By
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Anyone Coaching young soccer team?
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:24 pm
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:24 pm
Got a dilemma. I coach a coed U7 soccer team. Got a squad that has played together for 2 years. They gell together and have pretty good fundamentals for their age and were undefeated this past fall season. We did this with 4 very good players and 2 not so good ones. They are learning though. Coachable players that can hold their own, just not as well as the top 4. I can live with that. Fast forward to spring ball and I lost one of my better players to another sport. The league gave me a player who is light years behind my squad. So bad to the point of kicking the ground and tripping today. Twice. So I had take time from my other players and try to catch this player up as much as I could. Keep in mind this is a one man show as far as coaching goes. How does one manage this situation without completely losing it? This player wouldnt make it on a 4 year old squad and I dont know how to properly handle it. Any experienced coaches with this young of players have any advice??
This post was edited on 1/27/13 at 9:29 pm
7
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:27 pm to RAGINTIGER
Processed.
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:28 pm to RAGINTIGER
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:29 pm to RAGINTIGER
Dude. They're six fricking years old. This isn't the World Cup. Teach the kid some fundamentals. All they do at that age is chase the damn ball anyway.
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:29 pm to RAGINTIGER
A. Move this to the Soccer Board
B. Watch this.
C. Set him up as a target striker until he becomes a bit better. That way he'll be contained in one area and shouldn't be too much of a bother.
B. Watch this.
C. Set him up as a target striker until he becomes a bit better. That way he'll be contained in one area and shouldn't be too much of a bother.
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:30 pm to GeorgeTheGreek
Guess not...Thought id try for the almighty OT advisory committee 
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:31 pm to RAGINTIGER
Sounds like you only have one option... Bounty
Posted on 1/27/13 at 9:38 pm to RAGINTIGER
I coach a young soccer team as well. Some kids develop faster than others and some are just better athletes in general.
The player is "terrible" right now, but that is a challenge to you as a coach.
#1 How can you help this player stay engaged and improve (be patient and positive on even the little things they do well)
#2 Where can you put this kid in order to have fun while not putting himself in a position to get embarrassed or hurt the team (avoid goalie or forward).
Keep in mind that there are much bigger things at play in U7 soccer than being undefeated. You want this kid to have a positive experience with team sports, soccer, and working hard and improving at something. He may develop some soccer skills or use these lessons as motivation elsewhere.
The rest of the team will get over it, assuming they are even as into the wins and losses as much as the parents and coaches. Again, just be really positive and instructive while minimizing the damage to his ego and the team. And don't forget to have fun.
Remember that you are serving as a role model for the other players on the team in how they should work with somebody that is not yet up to speed.
Yes, you can't spend every second getting this player up to speed. So just let him do his best and pick your spots for instruction. Stay positive, though.
The player is "terrible" right now, but that is a challenge to you as a coach.
#1 How can you help this player stay engaged and improve (be patient and positive on even the little things they do well)
#2 Where can you put this kid in order to have fun while not putting himself in a position to get embarrassed or hurt the team (avoid goalie or forward).
Keep in mind that there are much bigger things at play in U7 soccer than being undefeated. You want this kid to have a positive experience with team sports, soccer, and working hard and improving at something. He may develop some soccer skills or use these lessons as motivation elsewhere.
The rest of the team will get over it, assuming they are even as into the wins and losses as much as the parents and coaches. Again, just be really positive and instructive while minimizing the damage to his ego and the team. And don't forget to have fun.
Remember that you are serving as a role model for the other players on the team in how they should work with somebody that is not yet up to speed.
Yes, you can't spend every second getting this player up to speed. So just let him do his best and pick your spots for instruction. Stay positive, though.
This post was edited on 1/27/13 at 9:44 pm
Posted on 1/27/13 at 10:00 pm to Bayou Tiger
solid advice 
Posted on 1/27/13 at 10:02 pm to bamabenny
quote:
Teach the kid some fundamentals.
Easier said than done. Some kids are really uncoordinated
Posted on 1/27/13 at 10:12 pm to bamabenny
quote:
Dude. They're six fricking years old. This isn't the World Cup. Teach the kid some fundamentals. All they do at that age is chase the damn ball anyway
Yeah, if you are playing in a shitty league with coaches that don't know how to teach the game. My nephew's U7 is far beyond the chase the ball stage. He was past that at 4 and so were most of his teammates.
AS to the OP, involve the parents. Print out a few drills for them to work on with the kid at home. Emphasize that you want him to have fun this season, and he will have much more fun if he improves to the level of the other kids. He will likely improve fairly quickly. Kind of like how a second child tends to learn to read faster than the first. They want to catch up with their peers.
This post was edited on 1/27/13 at 10:14 pm
Posted on 1/28/13 at 12:14 am to RAGINTIGER
I coach different sports, but at that age winning isn't important. The biggest issue I have faced in that position is the parents of the "undefeated" kids.
For the kid who's behind stress to him to work hard and improve week to week, and work close with him. If the kid gives effort compliment him the confidence builds, and you will see leaps and bounds of improvement.
Anyone who tries to say winning is important in youth sports has their own agenda. Kids "glory years" in sports shouldn't be when he's 7.
Teach the game, teach the enjoyment of the game.
Just a thought
For the kid who's behind stress to him to work hard and improve week to week, and work close with him. If the kid gives effort compliment him the confidence builds, and you will see leaps and bounds of improvement.
Anyone who tries to say winning is important in youth sports has their own agenda. Kids "glory years" in sports shouldn't be when he's 7.
Teach the game, teach the enjoyment of the game.
Just a thought
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