The Truth About Coaching Soccer Drills
In coaching soccer drills, there are certain training tips that I’d like to share with you before you initiate your training program even if you have been doing this for quite a long time. 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. I therefore recommend that you decide on more specific objectives for yourself and your soccer team. For example; develop a sense of team spirit and a sporting attitude in your players, help them identify their individual soccer skills, and emphasize on improving their physical fitness.
It is your duty to set reasonably high standards for players in relation to sportsmanship. Cheer them to have an attitude of fair play, sportsmanship, and team spirit. In addition to the above goals, you are free to set as many goals as your feel necessary while teaching soccer to your team.
The theory of winning is one concept that I’d like to stress upon when it comes to coaching youth soccer. When you coach your kids, you must instill an open concept of winning in their minds. Make them understand that so long as their play is up to the mark, they are the winners, irrespective of the final outcome.
This will take away the pressure off the kids and they’ll focus more on playing their best game rather than just winning it.
Coaching soccer drills requires you to give clear and precise instructions to your team so that they get the desired results. There are some clear dos and don’ts in soccer on which the players must be taught before you go ahead with your coaching sessions. 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 coaching drills, it’s best to give the players 5 or 6 fine demonstrations of some specific skill and then let them perform it themselves. It is because kids have a tendency to learn quickly by watching than by listening. If you attempt to explain an action in words, they won’t understand it. Instead, they take demonstrations more enthusiastically.
Therefore, consider giving demonstrations wherever you can.
Last but by no means the least; keep your players active with several purposeful activities. This becomes even more important when the weather is windy, wet, or cold. You must understand that kids are just thrilled at the prospect of playing 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.
Just keep in mind that the kids should be wearing additional protective gear in such weather.
Now, it is time to add these tips to your training program and make the most of them. The results will make you happy.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Coaching soccer drills.