Any youth soccer coaches here??

[GCS]

Well I just got "volunteered" to be the coach of my son's soccer team (5 & 6 year olds) and I was wondering if anyone here had experience or suggestions on good drills/practice things to do with them.

The league gave me a few things I can do but not a lot. Practice starts this week and I just want to make sure the kids have a good time and to maybe learn one or 2 things over the season. Not trying to turn them into Pele' or anything of course.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Greg

 

[D1gger]

I was assistant coach for a year for my son's school team (age 11), but I was terrible and had no idea what I was doing so I will spare you my advice.

 

[O2Deprived]

My daughter played about 2 years ago (I wasn't a coach) at that age group, and she had a great coach. For the most part, he just showed them to have fun, with a little bit of passing and shooting on goal (he or assistant were in goal). Come game time, they never kept score, and both teams won. For that age group, very appropriate.

 

[wyvrn]

I coached 3-4 years olds last year at the Y. It was fun and a good learning experience for me to be in charge of that many little ones for a few hours a week. Everything should be fun. It's easiest with two coaches at that age, their minds tend to wander really fast. I suggest breaking into 2 groups, one coach working with each and rotating. You can do drills but switch them up often to keep their interest. We did shooting and passing drills, but we tried not to make it drill like but more of a game. Let the kids compete in a friendly way with each other. At the end of practice we got the parents involve by doing a team chant and some clapping. They loved it. It is not about the competition at this age, it is about having a good time and getting some exercise in. Good luck.

 

[GoingUp]

Have a lot of patience and emphasize sportsmanship.

How much do you know about the game itself?

At that age, youre still working on how to kick and pass as well as keeping the kids in position.

 

[GCS]

Well I have 5 kids on my team 3 boys, 2 girls most are 5 and 1 is 6. My son played season (a few months ago) and loved it.

I am coaching by myself. Practice is 1 hour per week and games are on Sat -- no score, no goalies.

I played soccer when I was kid, I do have an understanding of the game, and I am an athletic person at my ripe old age of 37 but I am no "super skilled" player.

Most of the drills I have learned in the last few days are definitely game related. One game is "ouch" -- I wander around the field and the kids have to dribble the ball up to me and kick me with it and when they do I yell ouch .. I am sure this will be a winner. Several other drills are like this one.

Greg

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: GCS
Well I have 5 kids on my team 3 boys, 2 girls most are 5 and 1 is 6. My son played season (a few months ago) and loved it.

I am coaching by myself. Practice is 1 hour per week and games are on Sat -- no score, no goalies.

I played soccer when I was kid, I do have an understanding of the game, and I am an athletic person at my ripe old age of 37 but I am no "super skilled" player.

Most of the drills I have learned in the last few days are definitely game related. One game is "ouch" -- I wander around the field and the kids have to dribble the ball up to me and kick me with it and when they do I yell ouch .. I am sure this will be a winner. Several other drills are like this one.

Greg

Dont forget the old standby of dribbling through cones. They need to learn ball control.

Knockout is a good one too where you mark out a big square and people dribble around and try to kick each others ball out.

 

[GCS]

Thanks fellas.

First practice is tonight .. wish me luck!!

Greg