Coaching U6 soccer

Bench anyone who toe-pokes the ball.

But seriously, enjoy it. I did it a few years back.
Don't get angry or take it too seriously, you'll have laughs for days.

I have a bit of experience coaching youngsters that age, and I’m trying to develop my 5 year-old nephew into the next Pulisic. Got my F license about 3 years ago, and working on my D license now.

At that age, their energy is limitless and their attention spans are short. They learn by doing, teaching themselves through experience with the ball. Your job as coach of that age group is to limit down time and keep them moving. You can’t really introduce technical skills beyond the very basics, and certainly not formations or patterns of play. That starts around 8-9.

Keep it fun, and let them play lots of small-sided games. It won’t feel like doing a drill, and they’ll improve their ball skills and awareness.

Don’t expect too much from them attention-wise and keep instructions simple and brief. Kids that age can be absolutely hilarious. One of mine congratulated an older, fat coach on his pregnancy. Hardest I’ve laughed in a while.

Any recommendations on drills/games?

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.

And enjoy coaching at that age, because that's the most fun you'll ever have being involved in youth sports.

Don’t do “drills”.
Let them play games where every kid has foot on ball in small spaces. There are tons of them.
Finish with scrimmage
If you make them stand in lines taking turns at anything have your assistant slap you.

Have fun, Don't critique or criticize or try to coach, just praise and encourage them. even when they mess up. its U6
they have plenty of time to learn later. I tried coaching my boy in soccer and he hated it he also plays hockey and loves it because i know nothing about it and just tell him he did good out their after games.

Do they make sock guards for kids that age?

Getting kicked in the ankle will end love of the sport for most.