re: First time soccer coach

I coached a 12 year old rec team last season. They are gonna suck because if you are playing rec at age 12, you suck. Maybe an exception or two but it won't be great soccer.

That said, just work on something different every practice. Some basic skill or tactic. It might be finishing with your laces or inside of foot instead of with your toe. It might be "switching the point of attack." It might be fricking passing on day one.

Start off by teaching the skill. Lock your ankle, chest over ball, etc...Demonstrate if you can. Then run a drill or two to practice the skill. "Shoot" with a partner (basically passing but using shooting form) or set up cones in the corners of the goal to aim for and run lines. Any kind of drill you think of for the skill. If you have lines, Keep the lines moving and have every kid with a ball at their feet. Limit standing and waiting in line. This might mean two short lines on separate goals or something but avoid waiting however possible. Any time you see someone use their toe or incorrectly execute the skill being taught, use it as a teaching moment. Stop the drill a time or two to expand on the skill and correct mistakes or even introduce a further step kids can try if they are comfortable with the basics.

Next, move to a game incorporating the skill. Two teams and you get points for hitting the corner using your laces or some shite. Three points if it hits the net in the air above the knee. Play "power and finesse" or similar shooting games.

Finally, play. Whether it's small sided or whatever, play regular soccer with a bonus incentive for finishing with your laces or hitting the net in the air or something. Incentivize the skill or tactic that was taught that day.

That was long winded but basically
1. Teach a skill or tactic
2. Practice skill using drills or structured exercise
3. Practice skill using a fun game/have a winner
4. Play while incentivizing skill

Couple that with a warm up and water breaks and shite and you got yourself a practice template. You probably need to throw in some work for shite like set pieces but honestly they will be terrible at those regardless so it's not worth much time. Maybe set up a fun corner kick and some general direction for goal kicks, free kicks, etc...Don't do fitness with a 12 year old rec team. That's horse shite.