How does a question like this sound to you, how to coach soccer or youth soccer? There are many things that’ll start coming to your mind that it’ll confuse you even when the question is pretty simple.
Of all the soccer skills, communication is one thing that is imperative for both coaches and players to learn. Since a coach needs to instruct players, share feedback with them, evaluate and council them and maintain discipline, good communication skills are necessary.
Players, alternatively, need to discuss their problems with coach, peers, and parents, share their feelings with contemporaries, and give tips and tricks to weak players in the team. Soccer is the only language by way of which players and coaches can converse with each other.
Soccer coaching has some basic philosophies that the coaches must learn and consequently teach their players.
1. Call players by their name. This is both courteous as well as soothing.
2. The instructions that you give to the players should be first clear in your mind before going out to them.
3. Be considerate: Use communication for connecting with players and not to control them. So try to understand their point of view as well.
4. Look at your body language: it should make the other person comfortable and transmit positive vibes.
5.When speaking to the players, make an eye contact with them for effective communication. Look into the eyes pf people that you get to talk to.
6. The way you speak should make a mark upon the other person. So choose a style that not only suits your personality but also suits the other person.
7.Select a topic or issue that needs to be addressed. Communication leads to answers to questions, how to coach soccer works best when it is brief and direct. Choose a list of items and stick to it.
8.Be objective: Just remember that as a coach, you are interacting with a team or an individual player. So remain in charge of your emotions and talk only about the points of the game.
9.Speak clearly: The other person should be able to interpret your message in exactly the same way you intended it to be.
10.When teaching soccer, repeat the important points. The players should always keep in mind the important points and this is possible only when you keep repeating them in different situations.
11.Try to keep the conversation funny by using words that are light and comical.
12.Give your players flexibility so that they can seek clarifications from you without any hitch. Permit them to ask questions.
A soccer coach without the capability to speak and distribute the information required for high performance isn’t successful in the long run.
Finally, how to coach soccer is a way for the coaches to understand that there is a difference in cultures and accordingly make room for them. Join our youth soccer coaching community that has ample resources on coaching for young players and provides tips to coaches on how they should train the kids.
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.
