re: Signed up to coach my kids U8 soccer. Any advice is appreciated.

Why not just let someone that knows something about soccer be the coach. You could designate yourself “team manager” and handle other things.

You did good Slingy.
Most parents sit on the sidelines or have work.
Good job.

Go for the gold

Xanax.

Gotcha. . I’d probably watch some YouTube videos or something similar. You’ll be fine-let the kids have fun, it’s only a game. Hardest part will most likely be dealing with some of the parents. Best of luck.

Watch out for child molesting coaches, not as bad as boy scouts, Karate or Catholic clergy, but it's worth keeping an eye out for.

We have a soccer academy deal here. They follow guidelines set forth by US Soccer.

Basically stopping the practice of standing in line w drills. Practices all go something like this: Introduces concept (ie defending your side of the field). Then they scrimmage for like 10 minutes with ques. Then break down in two groups and run a couple drills or walk thrus to build on the concept. Then finish w another scrimmage.

They are trying to let kids develop w more creative play than drill, drill, drill.

It has been a few years, but when I coached kids about this age (and older in subsequent years), there were 2 very helpful things:

1- a site called soccerhelp.com. If it is still there, check it out. Lots of great games & drills as well as practical advice.

2- if you can find anybody in your league or area that had been doing this awhile, get to know them and learn everything you can from them.

If you can learn even a moderate amount, you'll be well ahead of most.

Your focus must be on technical development. The ability to move the ball with all surfaces of the foot is one that will set them up for success later as a player. At this age I have all my players be brave and try to dribble as much as possible. I want them to take players on with feints and turns.

Educate the parents as best you can that winning will come with time. Many teams will have a kid who is bigger/stronger/faster and that naturally leads to parents thinking that is ‘success’. Good technical development will help them separate themselves once the growing stops.

Ask players to come up with their own moves and have two a week show it and others to practice it. This gives players ownership off the field.

I like to teach some ball striking when doing shooting drills, but the main focus is on moves. Show them how to look for space behind a defender to dribble into. They will then realize when another defender is there that they should pass.

I like this site:
Utah Youth Soccer