How to Coach Soccer to Toddlers

Many soccer organizations are offering programs for 2- to 3-year-olds, and if you're a parent of a tiny athlete, you could find yourself coaching the tots. At this age, learning the intricacies of the game isn't as important as making friends, breathing fresh air and getting in the habit of exercising. Here are some tips to stay organized as a coach.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your team
• A whistle
• A parent volunteer
• practice cones or discs
• A size 2 soccer ball for each child
• A small goal
• A park

1. Once you receive your team's roster, call the parents to introduce yourself, let them know the time and location of practices and ask if they would be interested in volunteering during practices and games. If they are interested in volunteering, write down their availability.

2. Before the first practice, type up a schedule of when each parent volunteer is expected to attend a practice or game. Type a similar schedule of when each family should provide drinks and snacks after the games. Print a copy of both schedules for each child.

3. Staple the volunteer and snack schedules to the game schedule. This will help busy parents keep all the important dates together.

4. At the first practice, spend 10 minutes telling the parents what is expected from them. This could include getting the children to games 15 minutes early, no negativity toward the children or other parents and picking up the kids on time.

5. Practices should be 45 minutes to an hour; any longer and you risk bored, overtired toddlers.

6. Although they don't need it, spend the first five minutes stretching with the kids. It's a good habit to establish. After they learn the stretches, allow each child to pick one for the team to do.

7. Teach the kids how to pass to each other during practice, but don't expect to see this skill in a game at this age. Every time they kick a ball, your little athletes will improve, so your time won't be wasted on passing drills.

8. Incorporate the soccer ball into children's games. For example, play Duck, Duck, Goose, but whoever is "it" must dribble a soccer ball while she walks around the circle.

9. Spend at least 10 minutes every practice having the kids shoot at the goal.

10. End each practice with a scrimmage. This will teach the kids which goal their team is attacking, but it's OK if they get confused. Expect it to happen.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a whistle to get the children's attention and signal when an activity has ended.
• Use your parent volunteer to calm any temper tantrums so your attention isn't taken from the rest of the team.
• Give a lot of praise to each child. Some kids will be natural athletes while others will trip over their own feet. As their coach, you are there to build their self-esteem, no matter what their skill level is.
• Kids can wander if they are not being watched closely. Do a head count every few minutes during practices.
• Never leave the field before each child has been picked up.
• Never be late to practice or a game. Try to get there at least 10 minutes early so a child isn't waiting alone.