Should coaches be allowed one challenge that could decide the outcome of a game? Former Michigan head coach and CBS Sports Network analyst Rich Rodriguez tells us why this should be strongly considered.
Should coaches be allowed one challenge that could decide the outcome of a game? Former Michigan head coach and CBS Sports Network analyst Rich Rodriguez tells us why this should be strongly considered.
Quite possible you may not agree with me on this, but still, lend me your ears. There is a huge difference in the techniques adopted in kids soccer drills to train kids in comparison to those who are in high school or college. This is because the former are in the first stage of the learning curve while the latter have a good idea as to what is it that they prefer to do and what not.
However, there are many exercises in soccer drills for kids which facilitate the training of young kids become superstars. First and foremost, never forget that kids will remain interested in the game only till the time they find pleasure out of it. If their level of interest is not maintained, they feel discouraged to play. The kids feel stressed and start thinking of doing away with the sport. So persevere and don’t push them too hard initially.
There are kids that play purely out of their choice and there are still others who do it for their parents wish. Neither of them feels motivated by rewards or recognition. In kids soccer drills, it’s common for the soccer coaches to disregard this feature. They get on to the kids nerves to attain the performance targets like their physical capacity and skills. This results in kids not only feeling discouraged but also suffer from low-esteem.
Any new coach, designing soccer drills for youth for the first time is expected to feel nervous. This may be the result of kid’s unruly behavior. But, it’s okay. The kids will surely realize the meaning of regularity and team-work, no matter how much time it takes. They will get the point that it takes a great deal of respect for others that gets them their due.
Here, it is crucial that kids in youth soccer drills are acquainted with new regulations. This is so as they may not be acquainted with them and learn them at their own pace. Also, it makes sense to involve the kids in decision making process before you introduce anything new. This makes things easy for the kids and they follow the system correctly.
As a coach, you must also know how to teach kids certain values in this process. To achieve this, measure the performance of the boys individually. You should make sure that all boys spend ample time on the ground and that you praise them wherever due. In addition to this, make sure to reprimand those as well who create a ruckus and deviate from the set norms. This makes the kids feel answerable for what they do.
But be cautious with it. Do not be abusive with the kid. He should not be mocked or made fun of. For instance you can reprimand the individual by a light penalty such as keeping him off a single session.
Now, you should start acting upon these kids soccer drills. As you work on these regulations, you can learn even more by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community. You will grow with our ever growing community of coaches and players and have access to our range of resources on youth soccer.
Before you get on with coaching soccer drills to kids, let me share with you some teaching ideas that are sure to help you, whether you agree or not. Let’s say that the soccer practice has one broad goal for both the coach and the player and it is to have fun while participating in the practice sessions.
Here, it’s easy to lose track of the fun part if you are not cautious. So, it is suggested that more specific objectives are decided upon that benefit not only the team but also the coach. Some examples are; focus on player’s individual soccer skills, promote the importance of their physical fitness, and help them grow into mature, professional, and sporting soccer players.
It is your duty to set reasonably high standards for players in relation to sportsmanship. Promote the feeling of sportsmanship, team spirit, and fair play amongst team members. In addition to the above goals, you are free to set as many goals as your feel necessary while teaching soccer to your team.
One more concept that needs to be highlighted in youth soccer coaching is the notion of winning the match. Infuse an open concept of winning in your player’s minds when you are coaching them. Teach them that as long as their performance is out of ordinary on the field, they are winners, no matter what the final result.
It has the effect of encouraging the players to give it their best shot and play the game without unnecessary pressure to win anyways.
Coaching soccer drills requires you to give clear and precise instructions to your team so that they get the desired results. Before coaching, you need to teach your players about some explicit do’s and don’ts in soccer. The disparity between coaching and teaching is obvious in the fact that coaching deals with the bunch of players who already know the game to some extent.
In the process of coaching drills, it is nice to first impart 5 to 6 demonstrations about a drill to the kids and then let them practice it themselves. This is because young players generally do not respond to oral instructions very well. If you decide to give them plain instructions, they will not appreciate it very much. However, they are good at replicating things.
Consequently, at all possible times, give a demonstration.
Finally, but still very important is your ability to keep the kids engaged in important activities. This is all the more important when it rains or the weather is extremely cold. It’s a fact that all kids love to play in the rain. So, rather than just telling them to go home, it is more beneficial to find ways so that they can still enjoy soccer in some form.
Ensure that in situations like these, the kids are wearing proper soccer gear as well as additional protection.
Move forward now and start using these tips to your training sessions. You’ll be amazed to see the results.
To know more about coaching soccer drills, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community that offers effective and practical knowledge to help you excel in your career as a soccer coach.