"Football is a game. I'm trying to have fun on the pitch, always, just to play.
That's why I do it. The day I stop having fun is the day I retire...I never want to lose that spark, that passion.
Today, teams are playing more statically, more for the final score than producing good football.
For them, it's more important to win than to play well. We need more players with passion coming up for the good of football."
-Leo Messi

Parent/Coach - A Good Article by Sam Snow, Director of Coaching at US Youth Soccer

I am a dad. I am a coach. Wearing both hats at the same time has been a bit difficult for me and my boy. But after a tough time trying to seperate the two at first, my son now often slips and calls me "coach" at home. It is cute, and I love it. And its pretty funny to see the reactions when other parents and coaches hear him call me that out on the fields. I think they think I must have him trained really well.  But he and I both know it has taken some practice to perfect our on field relationship.To be a coach is extremely rewarding. To be able to coach your child and have fun while doing it is even better.

As we start to plan and recruit coaches for the Fall JIYSC Grassroots Micro Program, here is an article that may give you mom's and dad's some great ideas going forward.

 - Coach AV

Coach your kid in soccer

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sam Snow

 

Here are five fundamentals to coaching your own child in soccer. Ditch the over-the-top act for a style that will keep your kid happy and engaged.

 

Level the playing field

Sit your child down and ask if you can "join the team." You’ll probably get an emphatic "yes." The point is to let the kid know you’re both on the same side.

 

Be consistent

When critiquing play, always lead by citing something commendable ("Great job dribbling up field!") before giving feedback ("Now try to keep your head up"). Finish positively with another  encouraging comment ("You’ll get it, keep working hard!").

 

Look beyond your kid

If you’re not a coach, hang out with other parents. Their comments (like "That was a sweet pass" or "They’re crowding the ball") can help you lose the tunnel vision for your child and see the whole team.

 

Stoke inspiration

If you see your child’ motivation starts to drag, whip up a game at home to focus on skills while still having fun. For kicking strength, tack up a target on a brick wall and see if he can hit it with the ball. For ball control, offer them ice cream for stringing together five juggles.

 

[Editor’s note: Intrinsic rewards (praise, acknowledgement, fulfillment from hard work) are better long-term motivators than extrinsic rewards, which tend to lose their positive affect in time.]

 

Discipline privately

 

No kid responds well to public scolding, so if yours is acting out or not being a team player, pull her aside; then you can switch to parent mode. Explain why it’s important that she accept the consequences for her actions just like any other teammate does. Don’t make a scene. If she’s not receptive, say you’ll finish the talk at home – but try to avoid mixing at-home disciplinary tactics with on-the-field ones.

 

Sources: Jimmy Nielsen, goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City; Larry Lauer, Ph.D., of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University

Making my way in the world today

As the position of Interim DOC at JIYSC takes over my life...I couldn't ask for anything more. At least at this time. The challenges laid out, the relationships forged, the hard work and collaborative ideas realized are all worth the effort. This is fun. It doesn't seem like work when it is doing something you love. And I love soccer. I truly, madly, deeply do. For me right now, I want to keep the main focus of my work as an elaboration on my desire to share the game and help these kids fall in love with it as I do. With so many alternative activities and electronics available to stimulate/rot/attack the minds of our children, it is so very important to me to keep things simple and just let them love the game. The ball can become an extension of your body. The pitch an extension of your soul.

And when I think about my Club, the people in it and how good I feel when I'm out there on the grass...an old song comes to mind...

Frustrated Coach? --some good knowlege from Footy4Kids.com

Soccer coaching giving you a headache? Then stop banging your head against a brick wall!

All soccer coaches – no matter how skilled and experienced - sometimes have difficulty with behavioural issues.

But you will have fewer days when banging your head against the nearest brick wall would be easier and less painful than coaching your "little angels" if you follow these guidelines. 

Keep distractions out of sight and the sun behind you

Make sure your players are facing away from potential distractions (such as a training session on the next pitch) and that they are not squinting in the sun. Young players listen and learn with their eyes as well as their ears - don't make it difficult for them to see your non-verbal messages and demonstrations.

Don't speak until everyone is quiet and looking at you

Never compete with players who are chatting by raising your voice. Wait for them to be quiet, even if it takes minutes rather than seconds.

Keep it simple

Only deliver one message at a time. Don't start talking about one topic then allow yourself to get sidetracked or suddenly introduce a completely different subject.

Mind your language

Soccer has its own, peculiar language. "Hitting the channel", being "caught square", "compressing the play", "dead ball", "diving in" and so on might mean something to you but they will only serve to confuse young players.

And six-year-olds won't know that playing "in the hole" means playing in the gap between a team's midfield players and its front strikers, they'll be looking for a hole in the pitch to stand in!

Don't lecture

Your players will stop listening very quickly if you stand in front of them and demand that they listen to your words of wisdom. Remember, they've just spent a day being told to sit still and listen. They don't want you to turn their soccer coaching session into an extension of school.

Don't spoon feed

Ask questions that are designed to get your players to work out the answers for themselves.

If you're talking to your players about supporting the player on the ball, for example, don't simply tell them to move after passing. Ask them: "How can you help a team mate who has the ball?"

When they say move to a place where you can receive a pass, ask: "Where should you move to?" and "how far away should you be?"

And don't assume you have all the answers! Listen to what your players tell you.

Do not tolerate rude or disrespectful behaviour

Remember you are dealing with children who are probably excited and keen to get on with kicking a ball about. So don't immediately crack down on innocent, childish behaviour even if it seems inappropriate to you.

Persistently disruptive, rude or disrespectful behaviour (directed at you or another player) is another matter. Explain why you find the behaviour unacceptable ("if you're talking when I'm talking, you can't hear me") and what will happen if it continues.

Time-outs can be effective but make sure the player knows why he or she is being excluded, keep them short and never threaten a time-out then not carry it out. If you appear weak-willed and "soft", your players will take advantage of you.

I find that telling young players there won't be time for a game at the end of practice if I have to spend a long time getting my point across works wonders.

Never punish misbehaviour by making players run laps or perform press-ups. It's inappropriate, a waste of time and will cause resentment.  

Full Moon days

Sometimes you will have days when your players' energy and mood is such that trying to coach them is clearly a waste of time.

If normally co-operative and hard-working players are behaving as though they've been eating sweets full of E numbers all day, don't fight it. Set up a small-sided game (SSG) that you know your players enjoy and let them get on with it. As long as the game involves a ball, they will learn more by playing than if you try to force them to calm down and listen to you. And you will keep your sanity!