anyone ever coach youth sports?

[robphelan]

so, after 3 months of waiting, Fall soccer is about to start. we signed up our 4 yr old daughter to play but never rec'd a call from the YMCA about practice times, uniforms, game schedules etc..

so, I call today and they just found out they have an Asst coach but no head coach. she then slyly asks if I'd be interested in coaching. I told her I didn't know much about it - she replies with "well, you'll be coaching 4 & 5 yr olds - they don't know much about it either".

first game is in 5 days! we haven't had a team meeting, a practice - most parents who haven't called in don't even know when uniforms will be passed out.

i'm going to have to get on the ball if I accept.

any advice?

 

[blackdogdeek]

i <3 google

in the end though, since the kids may not grasp the finer intricacies i suspect your job will mostly be about teaching sportsmanship.

 

[broon]

It shouldn't be that difficult. You will mostly be teaching the basics. Have one practice a week and play games that will get them to kick the ball. You can make an attempt to keep them from playing herd ball but you will probably be unsuccessful. A coaching class would help too. Overall, it will be a good way to spend time with your child and you will at least know she will have a role model that you want her to have...you.

 

[Queasy]

I coached my son's soccer team last fall. He was four at the time. Coaching at that age is mostly like herding cats. But it is enjoyable.

You'll want to primarily focus on ball dribbling skills and getting them to go the right direction.

Here is one of the links I saved that has drills that are more like games for kids that teach dribbling skills:
http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/so...ery_young_children.htm

I skipped coaching this year because I was unsure about my work schedule due to a new position at work.

 

[kranky]

Your biggest problem will be the parents of the kids. It's driving a friend of mine out of middle school coaching. The parents are absolutely nuts.

If you can deal with the parents, the actual coaching will be a piece of cake since it's 4- and 5-year-olds.

 

[shiner]

I coached little league baseball for several years.

The kids are great.

The parents are whiny sacks of shit.

 

[FoBoT]

watch that movie ladybugs or whatever, "SWARM! SWARM!" , just keep yelling that

 

[dman]

I'm coaching my 5yo daughter this year. My first time coaching, but helped out another coach last season. The hardest part is keeping their attention (you have to switch up the drills to keep them busy, and improvise to keep them happy). If you've played soccer and understand the 'rules' it's not so bad. If not they probably have a clinic you can attend to learn some more. You might also want to talk to the assistant coach and see if they are just time constrained and can't commit to the schedule... so they can probably help with the planning.

I had a similar experience except that I had registered to be a coach and nobody contacted me until the weekend before practice. The other 'coach' had to travel frequently and was reserved about taking on the schedule. I'm in the same boat, I have to travel for my job, but so far it's worked out.

Well if you have any questions feel free to ask.

 

[pstylesss]

You can get all the soccer moms

 

[Queasy]

Parents for kids in the 4-5 year old range aren't really a problem in my experience. They pretty much all realize that the kids' abilities are limited in what they are going to do.

Now once you get into the 8 year old and up age range, then the parents can start to really be a problem.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Just look the part. Go get a Beckham soccer shirt and a tan and have your hair frosted.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Just look the part. Go get a Beckham soccer shirt and a tan and have your hair frosted.

Don't forget the girlfriend/wife made out of plastic.

 

[CPA]

I've coached youth football for 7 years now. Kids are great, parents suck.

First rule - Get a team mom to take care of communications, snack schedule, picture day, after season party, uniforms, field maps, contact lists and the myriad other non-sport related issues.

Second rule - First meeting tell the parents this is your team and you are the coach - noone else.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Just look the part. Go get a Beckham soccer shirt and a tan and have your hair frosted.

yeah.. now if i can ony get my wife to look pissed off all the time.. oh wait.

 

[Anubis]

ive coached and refed the 4-5 year olds before, they basicially play magnet ball, there really isnt much coaching other then making sure no one gets hurt and thet everyoen plays, and you kinds sorta explain to them teh runles but many just forget

 

[robphelan]

ok.. just made it official - I accepted the position.

first practice is this Friday 6:30pm.. game is Saturday.

they are supposed to email the roster so I can start contacting parents to give them a heads up.

 

[GenHoth]

lol, good luck dude. I've coached youth, high school and some college. Youth is the most entertaining, but older kids are more rewarding!
Just make sure the kids are having fun, running around and kicking the ball. Once they get older skills will actually matter and you'll have plenty of time to prepare (or find a new coach/assistant coach!)

FYI There are usually plenty of high school soccer players who would love to put ass. soccer coach on their resume, just make sure that you've drawn up the drills and use them for demonstrating!

 

[wheresmybacon]

Originally posted by: CPA
I've coached youth football for 7 years now. Kids are great, parents suck.

First rule - Get a team mom to take care of communications, snack schedule, picture day, after season party, uniforms, field maps, contact lists and the myriad other non-sport related issues.

Second rule - First meeting tell the parents this is your team and you are the coach - noone else.

I've coached all levels of soccer and can verify that, especially with the young ones, these rules are EXTREMELY important. Team mom especially. My least favorite part of coaching has always been contacting the kids and/or parents. Get a team mom (or dad) to relay your message.

And to echo what's already been said, these kids are 4 and 5. The hardest part of your job will be keeping them entertained at practice and shooting at the correct goal during the game.

 

[DrPizza]

That age: EVERYONE gets an equal playing time, as close to the second as possible. Keep track to show any parents who complain.

Forget all the garbage you may remember about soccer drills, at least when coaching a group that young. Check out Queasy's link (about the 4th post.) Everything needs to be a game; they don't need to know the point of certain activities. Make it fun and they'll keep playing the game.

Give all but 2 kids a ball, toss out a few hula hoops on the ground. Hula hoops are "safe" but you can't stay in there when the whistle is blown. The two kids without balls run around and boot anyone's ball they can get to into the next county. Kids learn: keep the ball near them/within their control, ability to stop with their ball inside the hoop, and most importantly: watch what's going on around them rather than fixate solely on the ball.

There are tons of games like that for just about any skills or sets of skills you want them to learn. The odds of you getting the kids not to play magnet ball are slim. If you succeed with some group of 3 kids, use them as an example for the other kids - keep them aware of what their team-mates are doing on the field (in the gym). If you succeed, the scores will be very lopsided in your teams favor, and it'll reinforce what they've learned.