Coaching very young kids

[Grizzlierbear]

I very much enjoyed reading this thread as it was a positive, sensitive and heartfelt display of ideas and attitudes.

The game is the teacher!
The ball is a toy!
Let the kids play and simply enjoy!

In general youth coaches tend to talk too much and try to hard to make young players follow explicit directions.
As Coach you are a coaxer. Know well the cognitive abilities of your age group to discern and ingest information. In matches where a coach is constantly yelling from the touchlines or having parents about the field doing the same is detrimental to their game. Well intentioned, well meaning as the information may be, the kids try hard to fullfil the sensory overload.


Pick your spots and keep the information delivery specifically orientated to something the youth can reconcile with his or her cognitive ability to discern info and actually apply it to the game. This is far superior to a litteny of expectations in what the youth could have done, or should have thought or needed to try harder at or MUST NOT do. Easily confused and frustrated young players need reassurance far more than a detailed list of what they are doing wrong and the 10 steps needed to correct it.

A young player scored a goal with a great toe punt and was excited did the coach congratulate him? No he spent 30 seconds on telling him not to kick with his toe again as it was wrong? A 6 year old just scored on a 25 yard toe punt and it was wrong?
Kids kick with the toe because it is a NATURAL position in which they can lock their feet into a hard rigid object. Ask kids to think and get them to answer until you hear the reponse you feel is needed. Rather than berate a youth for what he didn't do get him to feel great at the accomplishment but have him look for other ways to do even better.
On the toe punt you could say
Wow that was a great goal. What did you do?
I kicked it real hard. big smile
What part of the foot did you use to do that?
He points to his toe. "My toe!" still smiling
Wow you made that great shot with only that little bit of the toe? I need to use my whole foot cause it is bigger and easier for me to kick the ball.
Sometimes I use my toe too though. It just that I am not very accurate with it like you. Can you score goals with other parts of the foot?
Sure? a look of concern appearing
What other foot parts could you score with?
"Well this!" pointing to his instep remembering the push pass we had talked about in previous practices "and this!' points to the heel.
Wow you got a whole arsenal of shots if i was a keeper I would be worried.
Big smile, " I can even score with this foot pointing to the other one!"
Amazing look at the things you could do with your feet.
Big smile chest out "I sometimes use my toe to fool them."
Awesome

Parents are your best assests and at times your worst nightmares in how they buy into what you as coach are doing. Expectations is a real key in harmonizing the flow and interaction of the kids. The involvement of the parents is a blessing when they listen, provide quality feedback and are there to help you help their kid. A possible curse when they are grooming little Johnny for the prem league at age 6.

It is so true those that have soccer balls all about the house if the mentoring is within the parents as former players or sibling who also enjoy the game chances are that young player will be a good player in time. A thousand touches gets you started a million get you good is a fundemental precept to a youth developing those ball control skills.

Mini-soccer with small fields and limited numbers is the most effective teaching situation I can envision. Consider a 20 by 30 grid that gives attention to depth, width and support concepts and can be used to envision defending, middle and attacking portions of the field. Consider the concept of no designated keeper at the younger ages. Positions are irrelevant in the youth setting far more important is keeping shape, triangles and diamonds

If you move into a gym setting use the basketball courts for training. Keeping a slightly smaller heavier ball within the boundries rather than smashing them off the boards gives a better foundation for ball control.

Many systems of play exist in the world but we all appreciate the flair of South America the excitement of the Africans, determination of the Europeans and the Technical proficency of the asians. In North America with the influx of every nationality immigrating to this region we find nearly every system taught or in use at some point or someplace in the country. The USA with the dogged determination to be the best at whatever they turn their attention to have made great strides in the calibre of play and it should only get better.

It is worth while to involve yourself if able in the systems used in these areas if you get the chance. I know of dutch, german, brazilian soccer clinics that operate through out the nation. Almost every major centre has a usefull clinic in operation at somepoint.

If you take it seriously, certainly this does not mean only competetion and winning but it doubles the FUN because it motivates one to be the best we can, at what we do. Do not demonstrate what you can not do properly and avoid seeing yourself as the ruler but more in the position of developer passing on the young minds to others with a love of the game and the talent they posess having a chance to evolve.

[Bleacherbutt]

I currently coach a GU9 travel and have coached kids this age or younger for six years. The biggest tip I could give is to ELIMINATE "NO", "NEVER", "DON'T" and ANY OTHER NEGATIVES from your vocabulary and expressions. Kids tend to tune that out. You will have to frequently re-frame/re-phrase what you are saying. It sounds easy, but it can be quite a challenge, but the results are very much worth it. If you tell kids what they CAN do, they respond much more positively.

BEFORE: DON'T pass the ball to the middle in our defensive third!
AFTER: Pass the ball toward the sidelines when we are near our penalty box!

BEFORE: DON'T pass the ball behind the player!
AFTER: Pass to where your teammate will be!

The upside is when you must use "No" or "Don't" for safety reasons, the kids are much more likely to listen to these warnings.

The other thing is to build up with praise. Find the things that the kids are doing right. Then the coach needs to identify the next step that will lead to improvement. For example, say to Missy, "That was a GREAT pass! Now, what could you do next to help your team? (she shrugs) How about moving to get open? (she nods) Can you do that for your teammates next time? (she nods again) When Missy does move after the pass, you need to praise her and offer a next step. It works.

[blackdog]

First off, this is a great thread! To those who have coaced younger kids my question is this - Is it necessary to scream/yell/use a loud voice to instruct the players during the game? I ask this because I have ref'd many games for kids under 10 and the coaches are yelling to the players the entire time. Not necessarily in a bad way but telling them where to kick the ball, who is open when to pass. Watching the players it would seem they hear none of this. Is this what has to be done during a game or is this just the ability of most 5-9 year olds that dictates?

[SpongeBobSquarePants]

Originally posted by blackdog
First off, this is a great thread! To those who have coaced younger kids my question is this - Is it necessary to scream/yell/use a loud voice to instruct the players during the game? I ask this because I have ref'd many games for kids under 10 and the coaches are yelling to the players the entire time. Not necessarily in a bad way but telling them where to kick the ball, who is open when to pass. Watching the players it would seem they hear none of this. Is this what has to be done during a game or is this just the ability of most 5-9 year olds that dictates?

Well, we coaches do want them to do certain things during certain times. I only get on my kids about where they are on the field, making sure they are playing their position and not running amok the whole field.

Ironically, every kid I have ever coached goes completely deaf when they get on the soccer field.

I see nothing wrong with yelling as long as it is positive. I, probably, couldn't stop myself anyhow.

[DC Braveheart]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
I have a 3 year old and a 17 year old. I coached my 17 yr old from when he was 8 to 13 -- then he moved to higher level teams beyond my coaching ability. One thing I did when I got re-married was convince my wife that we should have soccer balls just laying around the house. From the time my older boy was 11, there were 3 to 6 balls just laying around -- all sizes from the little nurf type soccer balls, size 3's and size 5's.

Every once in a while, I'd do something like -- ok, this entire week whenever you are in the house, you ALWAYS have a soccer ball at your feet. He had to learn to dribble up stairs (really not that hard) and to dribble down stairs (very hard).

The practice of having balls laying around has continued to this day and the older boy still can't hardly walk through the living room without doing some little move or two on a ball -- usually involving doing something to flick it at his little brother.

When my younger boy was 4 months old, his brother was holding him up and taking a foot and "kicking" a nurf ball with it -- "Here's what you do with balls."

So the 3 yr old has literally grown up with balls at his feet. He plays soccer in the house EVERY DAY. He runs around dribbling, doing step overs, drawing the ball back with his foot on top, every move he's seen his brother do, he tries to emulate it.

Here's the point of all this -- our kids grow up good at things like baseball and basketball because from a VERY early age they are handling balls with their hands -- throwing, catching, etc. My 3 yr old does it too. But if they did things with their FEET from day 1 as well, they'd be much more comfortable with the ball. Encourage the parents of these pee-wees to let them have balls around the house. Start with soft balls, teach them to control them and things don't get broken.

My 3 yr old can chip the ball, drive it with his instep, receive it with the inside of his feet, drop kick it, punt it, hit rolling balls from lots of angles. He shoots to a rocking chair that has an open front and closed back for his goal. He does all this with BOTH feet. I haven't spent hours teaching him things either (in fact I haven't really spent ANY time teaching -- just playing with him) -- he sees it at his brother's games & practices & on TV and he just does it because the balls are right there.

And my wife tells me I'm the only lunatic coach who encourages this kind of behavior :) My 5 year old daughter literally took her first steps with a mini-soccer ball at her feet. Even my (soon to be, or maybe not unless she's careful) 13 year-old daughter, who professes to 'hate' soccer, can't resist taking the occassional kick at one of the many soccer ball lying around our house.

[Grizzlierbear]

Originally posted by blackdog
First off, this is a great thread! To those who have coaced younger kids my question is this - Is it necessary to scream/yell/use a loud voice to instruct the players during the game? I ask this because I have ref'd many games for kids under 10 and the coaches are yelling to the players the entire time. Not necessarily in a bad way but telling them where to kick the ball, who is open when to pass. Watching the players it would seem they hear none of this. Is this what has to be done during a game or is this just the ability of most 5-9 year olds that dictates?

I personaly think loud constant yelling is not benifical. Even those who belive they are positive in their comments. You need to pick your spots to deliver advice during a match. If you distract or try to think for them it may seem they are evolving but it is in spite of your efforts instead of because of them. PRAISE is different, it is a needed thing by the parents, as a coach you give it, tempered with reason, as too much for anything takes away the effect.
I really support Bleacherbutt's advise of eliminating the negative by rewording the advise.
Originally posted by Bleacherbutt
The biggest tip I could give is to ELIMINATE "NO", "NEVER", "DON'T" and ANY OTHER NEGATIVES from your vocabulary and expressions.

I believe we are more of a coaxer for the wee ones As they advance in cognitive abilities and motor skills like someone mentioned they are sponges awaiting absorbtion of all the information you can bestow.

In coaching youth I specifically request that parents do not coach only praise. I can not tell you how often a young player trying to discern the yelling from touch as the ball sails by and then being yelled at further for not paying attention. Talk about a no win situation.

If a parent has great coaching abilitities I try to add them to the roster as assistant coaches and we direct information often by quick substitutions and relaying information one on one. We encourage our substitutes to watch and listen to out comments so when they replace a player they can perhaps avoid the errors or continue the good play as the case maybe.

Like I mentioned in picking your spots after play is stopped, a quick reminder to think about a particular action can be ideal. Often we try to refer them to the training and practise concepts we work at on a regular basis. Space, pace, angles and movement.

In spite of my preference of quieter communication I do not like a too quiet sideline. The passion and edge to motivate are important and a vocal effort of support reassures the youth it does not always distract them.

The wonderful thing about youth soccer is even if our tactics or approach could be slightly flawed if the kids see in you the love and concern on their behalf they are only too willing to give it back 10 fold. If we are not creating the elite of players we are in part creating the elite of tomorrows society.

[Father Ted]

What size balls should I get for my 4 year old twins (and on the small size)? They fumble some times on the size 5 ball and fall over it!

[SpongeBobSquarePants]

Originally posted by Father Ted
What size balls should I get for my 4 year old twins (and on the small size)? They fumble some times on the size 5 ball and fall over it!

Size 3.

[soulman]

3 or 4. "Experts" recommend not using a 5 until 12 or 13. I have been using a 4 with my kids since age 5.