Coaching Little League Soccer
The best part of returning to coaching is, coaching my two sons. My eldest is now in U12, and my youngest is in U8. I am looking forward to coaching this season since my U12 players will be displaying self decisions, analytical thought, verbal communication and advanced techniques development. The Under 8 players’ techniques & capabilities have also advanced and should now be able to implement two players-one ball concept, ball possession, control and scoring.
Our U12 team has strong players, and a few beginners. This season, my goal is to implement complex drills to all my U12 players. Make slight corrections and allow for kids make their own decisions on the field. At the end of every practice, I will recap with analytical thought, let them ask for feedback and remind them to implement learned techniques at every game. This will allow for our players to verbalize and communicate effectively, before & during the drills. During practice, I will let my players decide who is on what team, and practice techniques in a scrimmage 5v5. As a coach, it is important to end every practice on a positive note, praise the players, and instill on them that there is always room for improvement.
My youngest son’s soccer skill have improved a lot during the last soccer seasons, he now dominates the ball faster & more efficient. My goal for my U8 team is to pair the well developed players with the more less developed kids. This will push the less developed kids to catch up to the more developed kids. During practices, I will incorporate advanced techniques, so the players use skills they already know with the new ones they will be learning during this soccer season. Once the positions are allocated, I will coordinate friendly scrimmage 4v4 drills. After practices, I will recap techniques, and remind all my players to use them at games. As with my U12 players, I will finish all practices & games with a positive note, praise the players, and instill in them that there is always room for improve.
Coaching is a challenge, yet along, little league soccer with kids under 12 years. My goal is to teach them that in soccer, there are no mistakes, just choices. Once a player make a choice, go with it and that it’s important that your team mates back you up. I convey to them that we are a team and that one player does not win a game, but that a TEAM wins a game. This last part is the most important part of being a coach, it shows all our players that they belong to a team, whether we are winning or loosing games. This boost their confidence & makes for better players. Have you ever had the opportunity to coach little league soccer?