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re: First time soccer coach, please help (4-6 year olds)
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:32 pm to WaveForLSU
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:32 pm to WaveForLSU
quote:
Good suggestions - going to get to work on that F license.
Don't do it. Your kid will decide on the first day that he hates soccer and you'll be stuck coaching the rest of the season. Don't waste money on a license right now.
0
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:36 pm to WaveForLSU
I coached a few years ago for the same age range through the Y. They gave me a practice/game book with age-appropriate drills and it helped quite a bit.
If you don't have something similar, I would suggest to google drills for that age range and obviously understand the rules of the league well enough to explain in simple terms to the kids.
If you don't have something similar, I would suggest to google drills for that age range and obviously understand the rules of the league well enough to explain in simple terms to the kids.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:44 pm to WaveForLSU
I swear to god I'm not trolling but I have to know.
How did you end up coaching a sport you know nothing about?
How did you end up coaching a sport you know nothing about?
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:45 pm to WaveForLSU
1.) there should be no defender/goalkeeper until after U8 in most leagues
2.). Be silly. I lay down and pretend to sleep. I'm the sleeping bear. Their soccer balls are marshmallows. They dribble around while I'm sleeping. But when I wake up, I'm coming after those marshmallows!
They have designated, coned-off hideouts where they are safe, so they dribble away from me to the hideouts.
They love it.
3.) don't worry about coaching strategies until U7. For now, it is three questions:
1.) which one is our goal?
2.) what do we do if they have the ball?
3.) do we steal from our teammates?
2.). Be silly. I lay down and pretend to sleep. I'm the sleeping bear. Their soccer balls are marshmallows. They dribble around while I'm sleeping. But when I wake up, I'm coming after those marshmallows!
They have designated, coned-off hideouts where they are safe, so they dribble away from me to the hideouts.
They love it.
3.) don't worry about coaching strategies until U7. For now, it is three questions:
1.) which one is our goal?
2.) what do we do if they have the ball?
3.) do we steal from our teammates?
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:51 pm to WaveForLSU
quote:
What can I possibly do at practice to make this a fun learning experience for the kids
Keep it fresh, have a variety of drills but try to make it more of a "game" than a drill, and make sure each kid gets a turn in relatively short time (not just sitting around for 5 minutes waiting their turn and becoming bored).
Could setup 2 rows of cones for them to practice zig-zagging between while dribbling the ball and have 2 kids go at the same time and make it a race. Then take a few turns of penalty kicks. Form 2 lines about 10-15 feet apart and have players spaced out a bit from one another and practice passing down the line to player across from them.
quote:
what am I expected to do at the games
At that age, basically just tell which players to get in the game and which ones to get on the bench and to make sure you leave your best player or 2 on the field and rotate all the rest in and out so everyone plays. Also pick your goalie....a kid who tends to always pay attention and doesn't get bored and stare off into space.
ETA: at that age, kids react better to positive reinforcement than negative. In other words, don't start yelling when they screw up. But heap praise and get excited when they do something right.
This post was edited on 1/26/17 at 3:53 pm
Posted on 1/26/17 at 3:59 pm to Donkeypunch
quote:
I swear to god I'm not trolling but I have to know.
How did you end up coaching a sport you know nothing about?
Because so few parents nowadays volunteer to coach. I coached when my daughter played soccer and softball and the park was always struggling to find enough parents who were willing to help coach. I got roped into coaching volleyball (never played v-ball on any organized level) because they didnt have enough volunteers to coach.
Coaching was fun...parents are just a pain. Give them printed schedules for games and practices and they show up 30 minutes late to everything or make 1/3 of the practices and then complain their kid doesn't get as much playing time as another kid (who was at every practice on time).
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:01 pm to LSUfan20005
quote:
Be silly. I lay down and pretend to sleep. I'm the sleeping bear. Their soccer balls are marshmallows. They dribble around while I'm sleeping. But when I wake up, I'm coming after those marshmallows!
I tried to refrain but I couldn't. Don't listen to this bullshite. This is the candy arse style of coaching that will get you a participation trophy and a .500 record if you're lucky. Maybe the kids have a little more fun but you aren't going to win the league like that.
Unless you're into the whole "everyone gets a trophy" snowflake bullshite, be a real coach. Your kids will be better off for it and you all can celebrate a championship. Soccer is a sport. If they want to play games, tell them to join the fricking hide and seek league and not waste your time.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:03 pm to WaveForLSU
YouTube videos are your friend.
Seriously.
Search youth soccer drills by age. Also Google youth soccer practice plans.
Seriously.
Search youth soccer drills by age. Also Google youth soccer practice plans.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:05 pm to WaveForLSU
One thing I learned while coaching that age group:
Always keep them organized and together while practicing or playing. Get them in to a routine of practice and play. When I let them just goof off a bunch before practice it was hard to keep them organized through practice. Got to have a little discipline.
There are lots of good drills to be had online. Youtube for example. Make sure you find ways to make them fun. Like making a certain kid in charge of the ball on a circle drill and rotating out that responsibility.
Get a whistle. You need it.
Don't panic. Remember they're just kids.
Always keep them organized and together while practicing or playing. Get them in to a routine of practice and play. When I let them just goof off a bunch before practice it was hard to keep them organized through practice. Got to have a little discipline.
There are lots of good drills to be had online. Youtube for example. Make sure you find ways to make them fun. Like making a certain kid in charge of the ball on a circle drill and rotating out that responsibility.
Get a whistle. You need it.
Don't panic. Remember they're just kids.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:11 pm to WaveForLSU
At that age you'd be wasting your time trying to teach tactics or principles. The most important thing at that age is to get them comfortable touching the ball and teach them general rules (for example, the ball is out of bounds when it rolls in the parking lot, no need for the whole team to chase it and keep kicking it at that point)
You can do that by playing games designed for them to dribble, stop, protect the ball and change directions.
Sharks and Minnows- Establish a large circle. All but two kids have a ball (minnows), the other two (sharks) try to kick the kids balls out of the circle while they try to avoid the sharks and protect their balls. Last two remaining are sharks next round.
Red Light/Green Light- RL/GL while dribbling a soccer ball.
Hula Hoop- Throw hula hoops out on the pitch (one hoop less than the number of players you have). When you say "go" each player dribbles to a hoop (base), only one per hoop. The kid left out is out of the game. Pick up a hoop and do it again, last one standing wins.
You can find a lot of these games online that will keep the kids attention. At this age keeping their attention is a huge task and as others have said, make sure they are all involved with a ball... That will make your life easier.
Also some easy, beneficial skills to teach at this age are stopping the ball, pulling the ball back and touching the ball laterally with the outside of the foot.
You can do that by playing games designed for them to dribble, stop, protect the ball and change directions.
Sharks and Minnows- Establish a large circle. All but two kids have a ball (minnows), the other two (sharks) try to kick the kids balls out of the circle while they try to avoid the sharks and protect their balls. Last two remaining are sharks next round.
Red Light/Green Light- RL/GL while dribbling a soccer ball.
Hula Hoop- Throw hula hoops out on the pitch (one hoop less than the number of players you have). When you say "go" each player dribbles to a hoop (base), only one per hoop. The kid left out is out of the game. Pick up a hoop and do it again, last one standing wins.
You can find a lot of these games online that will keep the kids attention. At this age keeping their attention is a huge task and as others have said, make sure they are all involved with a ball... That will make your life easier.
Also some easy, beneficial skills to teach at this age are stopping the ball, pulling the ball back and touching the ball laterally with the outside of the foot.
This post was edited on 1/26/17 at 4:14 pm
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:12 pm to Tigerfan56
He's asking about 4yr olds, dude.
The competitive shite comes later.
Hell, I'll bet you $10 a third of his kids won't even want to be there. And at least two kids a gonna lay down and play in the grass.
Unless this is a selective league, these kids are going to need motivation and you can't just trash the kids who don't want to play.
I've coached for 5yrs, ages 4-9.
The competitive shite comes later.
Hell, I'll bet you $10 a third of his kids won't even want to be there. And at least two kids a gonna lay down and play in the grass.
Unless this is a selective league, these kids are going to need motivation and you can't just trash the kids who don't want to play.
I've coached for 5yrs, ages 4-9.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:12 pm to WaveForLSU
Pass it to the Italians
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:20 pm to WaveForLSU
quote:
Requested to be moved to Soccer board
Bad idea. Most dumbasses over there have never even played, and think FIFA is similar to real life.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:22 pm to LSUfan20005
quote:
The competitive shite comes later.
That's the kind of attitude that ruined this country
quote:
Hell, I'll bet you $10 a third of his kids won't even want to be there. And at least two kids a gonna lay down and play in the grass.
And you have to weed out the POS kids there for the wrong reasons
quote:
I've coached for 5yrs, ages 4-9.
Congrats. I've won 5 titles in the 4-6 year old league. 15 years head coaching experience. I've also helped coach travel ball for elementary kids of all ages. My trophy case doesn't lie.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:29 pm to WaveForLSU
quote:
(4-6 year olds)
quote:
I would appreciate any and all advice, even if it is completely basic.
Run
Kick ball
Eat snack
Get a trophy
That's about it.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:35 pm to RedPop4
quote:
If you have 15 kids on your team then 14 of them aren't going to give a shite about soccer. You're going to have to force them to even play in a game. They all want to play before the game starts... then none of them want to stay in. And you'll have 1 kid who is the ringer. He will have the ball 99% of the time and score all of the goals. You'll think to yourself "man, I wish I had 4 more of him on this team
This was pretty much how my 4 year old's soccer was this past fall.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:44 pm to Tigerfan56
You don't "weed out" 4yr olds. Give them time.
Maybe you coached in a pay for play competitive league, but most leagues should not have a "championship" for 4yr olds.
Some 4yr olds are still toddlers and shouldn't be trashed before they have a chance to develop.
Maybe you coached in a pay for play competitive league, but most leagues should not have a "championship" for 4yr olds.
Some 4yr olds are still toddlers and shouldn't be trashed before they have a chance to develop.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:47 pm to LSUfan20005
quote:
You don't "weed out" 4yr olds. Give them time.
I have my 4 year olds sit the bench and learn. I've only had 1-2 good enough to get playing time (other than mop up duty). But if a kid doesn't get it by age 6, he needs to be shown the door.
Sorry, this is how the real world works kiddo.
quote:
Maybe you coached in a pay for play competitive league, but most leagues should not have a "championship" for 4yr olds
Great, you let your kids play in a league like that. I'm not a fan of "everyone gets a trophy"
Posted on 1/26/17 at 4:51 pm to WaveForLSU
At that age the kids will be just starting out so it will be a herd running after the ball. I have no coaching experience, but I started playing at that age.
I would read some books or watch videos if you are serious about it. Like others have pointed out, do drills that can be deemed as fun.
Also learn the rules for that age group at whatever club so you can teach that on the way. Like idk if they call offsides at age 4 but maybe at 6 they do.
I would read some books or watch videos if you are serious about it. Like others have pointed out, do drills that can be deemed as fun.
Also learn the rules for that age group at whatever club so you can teach that on the way. Like idk if they call offsides at age 4 but maybe at 6 they do.
Posted on 1/26/17 at 5:23 pm to WaveForLSU
Assign each kid a position to specialize in.
Put the weirdest kid at goalie. The most aggressive kids as forwards. Fearless kids as defenders. Your best athletes as midfielders.
Put the weirdest kid at goalie. The most aggressive kids as forwards. Fearless kids as defenders. Your best athletes as midfielders.
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