Practice Resources

The US Youth Soccer Resource has plans for all of the skills taught at each age group: US Youth Soccer Lesson Plans 

The American Youth Soccer Organization has a wealth of content from logisical to technical: AYSO Coaching Resources 

• Including Summary of Law (Rule) Changes for 2020-21 

Rule of thumb for learning a new drill, game, or skill: Repitition works! Often it can take three or four practices to learn. To keep things a little fresh when repeating something try to add a small twist or advancement.

Being a Coach

What is covered in this section:

Mindset

Before each practice or game follow the three keys to coaching:

1. You’re here for fun. The kids are here for fun.

2. Instead of saying no look at it as a teachable moment now or in the future.

3. Create an environment that is fun, rewarding, and consistent.

There are different aspects of learning sports; physical, intellect, and fun. All of your athletes will connect at different times to different parts to the coaches and the games or drills you are running. A lot of school instruction can be very serious (and for good reason) so look to be goofy and funny.

Athletes will develop at their own cadence and this will not be linear. 

Coaching Your Own

One of the hardest parts of coaching is providing the same experience for your own children and other children. To do so separate out your emotions as a parent and a coach with this simple rule: 

When you arrive at the field you are a coach not a parent. And when you leave the field you switch back to being a parent and not a coach.

Look at your team equally.

Assistants or Co-Coaches

Coaching a team needs 2-4 adults to make it happen. This provides cover for when needed and allows for breaking practices into stations that the athletes can rotate around. It is also great to have some adults to bounce ideas around, reflect, and talk with before, during, and after team events.

What to look for in an assistant? 

• Parents with soccer knowledge — especially if you are light in this area

• Parents without soccer knowledge — those who are athletic or work with kids are often great

• Find those with opposite behavior skill sets to yours

• Role models

How to recruit?

• In-person "Hey, it would be great to have you come help out and bring your experience of being a teacher / a runner / someone the kids relate to"

• Individual requests. While a blanket request is always a good idea, personalized, individual requests have the greatest chance of success!

• Be persistent

Practices

The key? Be prepared!

The weekly cycle goes: Practice(s) > Game > Reflect > Plan

Look to have a season plan based on the skills laid out by US Youth Soccer Lesson Plans and a week plan to improve on things you saw in the game. Having both allows for overall practice and adjusting to things that come up such as throw ins or corners.

Try to send the week plan to your assistants a day or two before practice. An example plan:

0-10 (minutes): Warm Up 

10-12: Water break, divide into groups

12-30: Two circuits: a) drill/game/skill 1, b) drill/game/skill 2

30-35: Water break, social

35-40: Relay races

40-45: Team drill

45-55: Scrimmage

55-60: Water, team chat

The First (Couple) Practices

As a new team comes together there are some good groundrules and team bonding things to cover:

• Coaches Rules, Clearly Establish 2-3 Rules that you want all players to follow such as "When the coach speaks no one else does"

• Player Introductions: Do this a couple times along with asking them to answer a question 

• Team Name: Let the players come up with a team name!

• Scrimmage: Every athlete wants to play so have a few scrimmages. 

Games

The key? Be prepared! (Yes, the same as practices!)

Playing games is the main focus, and, generally the most enjoyable part of the week. They can be stressful for coaches due to the increased focus from parents and players. Some tips for having an enjoyable game

• Arrive 30 mins early

• Request players arrive early, between 15-30 minutes before game

• Greet every player

• Conduct a warm up to get players engaged physically and mentally, and allow players to connect with each other

Playing Time & Lineups

For all SOTH games each player should get at least 50% playing time. Past that look to have athletes play an optimal amount so that they leave feeling good. While short term the objective of a game is to win it keep in mind the longer term aims to grow players and build a team. There are a couple ways to run line-ups to help with this:

• Rotate Forward. Great for 4v4 games, players enter in defence, at the next sub go to forward, and then get subbed off.

• Running List. Start with a list of your whole team and at each substitution sub the put in the next 1-3 players. This helps ensure very even playing time, however, can lead to a lot of in-game decisions as will need to sub every 5-10 minutes.

• Timed Line Up. Break the game down into segments (generally 3 per half) and by each postion work out who will play their for each segment of the game. While this takes work up front the pay off is that the coach can concentrate and watch the game without constantly thinking how to get players in.

Generally push players to play 2 positions although some will develop quicker and further by sticking in one position (just be aware of stagnation and deal with it by a change for game or scrimage). 

Coaching from the Sideline, Do's and Don't:

Do:

• Relate to players with fun and instructive pre-game, half-time, and post game chats

• Be Positive

• Write down notes

Don't:

• Provide over technical or “life-and-death” speeches 

• Show disappointment

• Shout out complicated instructions

Parents

Parents view the team mostly through how their child is improving and enjoying practices and games and, overall, feel it is worthwhile. There is a connection between parents and child motivation levels. Some ways to motivate parents: 

• Send weekly communication

• Be concise 

• Provide positive feedback on games

• Explain what is happening in practice

• As Coach be positive and be approachable

What to Ask of Parents

• Turn up on time

• Send kid with water 

• Bring snack once

• Let know attendance 

• Cheer, not coach

One great activity for parents to participate in and to help the team is to have a snack for games. This helps by providing a focal point for half-time, some energy for the second half, and acts as parents contribution “to the cause”. Make a schedule for the season of who should bring snack and include it in each weekly communication. Generally fruit works really well and costs between $5-$10 a game.