How to Follow the ABCs of Youth Soccer Coaching (M-P)

To do a good job with children, see yourself first as a child educator and second as a soccer coach. The ABCs of Coaching, created by Ashley's Soccer Camp in Montclair, New Jersey, and adopted by coaches nationwide, can help you do that.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer Apparel
• Soccer Cleats
• Soccer Goalkeeper's Shirts
• Soccer Shin Guards
• Soccer Uniforms
• Soccer Videos
• soccer balls

1. Make sure there's movement. You must have activities that entail continuous movement by all players to mentally and physically awaken and then engage them.

2. Enforce "no talking while the coach is talking." It reinforces basic good behavior to keep children quiet while you are demonstrating or explaining.

3. Stress organization. A successful team needs to be well-prepared. Ensure that your paperwork is up to date. Help your efforts by instituting a phone chain. Frequent contact with parents is also a good idea.

4. Remember planning. A lesson plan for every training session is essential. Take into account the age and skill level of the players. Organize your sessions to include a warm-up (always with a ball), stretching, conditioning, individual skills work, group games and activities, scrimmage time, and a cooldown.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep track of medical records. They should be carried to all games, along with signed waivers so that a child can be treated in the event of an emergency.
• Organize a refreshments rotation for game days. Fruit and/or sports drinks should be consumed at halftime.
• Watch for the dreaded lines. Plan activities in which children are always moving, not standing in line.
• Praise your players. Praising behaviors that you want repeated will enhance success.
• Aim high. Make your standards high but attainable, and the children will strive to reach those standards.

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