How to Teach Kids With Disabilities to Play Soccer
Exercising and playing soccer is an excellent way to help disabled kids get exercise, improve coordination and meet other kids who face the same challenges that they do. Remember that coaching disabled kids is much different than coaching kids without disabilities. It can be a challenge but also one of the most rewarding experiences of your life!
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Instructions
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Keep directions simple. Most kids are not capable of doing drills with complex instructions and many different steps. Keep drills down to doing just one or two things. Focus on one specific skill at a time. For example, having players catch a pass then pass it back, or catching a pass and then shooting a goal.
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Be patient. You may have to explain things several times before they understand it. The coach getting frustrated will not only take the fun out of soccer practice, it may upset and intimidate the players. Remember your purpose and keep your composure.
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Don't push the players too hard. Disabled kids do not have the same stamina that able-bodied kids do. Accommodate the rules of soccer for your special needs players. Make the field and the halves shorter. Increase the number of players if necessary. Tweak the rules to make sure they are successful.
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Keep it fun. Integrated sports are meant to get kids together that face similar challenges and difficulties in life. Avoid focusing on winning. Play fun games like knockout and World Cup at the end of practice to end on a positive note.
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Celebrate all the little successes that the children have. Watching these kids play and have fun is more rewarding than coaching any team of elite athletes. The experiences that you help create will last a lifetime.
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Tips & Warnings
Play small sided soccer games like 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 to develop their skills and keep their attention.
