re: Coaching U6 soccer

U6 - let them play...everyone of them. End every practice with a drill letting them score goals and they'll all go home happy.

Your league will probably have a requirement for each kid to play a certain amount of time. There is an app that makes substitution changes for you. I scoffed when somebody told me about it, but it's the best thing you can do (easy out to satisfy parents).

If you want to win your games, find a tough kid or kids who likes to play keeper. Tell him every single ball that crosses mid field is his ball, and if the other team scores, show him that you don't care, because it's no big deal. You can change a kid's life by showing him not to make a big deal out of a mistake in a game. I always told keepers that you're not supposed to stop every shot, and they always responded positively. If you have any speed, put them on the front line and tell them shots on goal are all that matter.

If you have the misfortune of having an overbearing rec league board or parents, tell them you're the boss and to kick sand. Seriously.

And if your kid takes a shot and his cleat comes off his foot and goes over the goal, don't laugh. I learned that lesson the hard way.