Just Kickin' It: A Short Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer

Coaching youth soccer is more than a whistle, cool uniform, and winning.  Coaching youth soccer is about fun and setting the foundation for children in the sport of soccer and in life.

Many individuals miss out on the opportunity of coaching because they simply feel they do not have enough knowledge or ability regarding the game of soccer.  However, there are several coaching classes and coach licensing programs within the sport of soccer and with today's technological advances, the amount of coaching information for youth soccer is endless and easily accessible.  And remember, not all coaches can play and not all players can coach!

A few equipment essentials you will need to start coaching:

1.)   A lot of soccer balls!  Young children will begin developing their technical skills and abilities during this time so it is important that each child have their own soccer ball, as hands on drills are the best way to teach these skills.

2.)   A whistle!  Although not necessary, it is sometimes helpful to have a whistle to get the attention of your players since they may be overly excited and less focused on you at practice.

3.)   Lots and lots of cones!  Since boundaries need to be more defined, setting up drills for children will require more cones than for teenagers or adults.  Without plenty of cones, you will spend more time explaining boundaries and rules for the drill than you will coaching!

4.)   Pinnies!  Necessary when trying to divide players into teams for drills or scrimmages.

5.)   Small soccer pop-up goals!  Odds are you will already have goals set up on the fields where you will practice but if not, pop-up goals are perfect (and easily mobile) for youth soccer practices.

6.)   Extra shin guards, cleats, etc.!  Some children may want to play but not be able to afford the necessary equipment.  Donations or sponsorships are always nice for coaches to arrange for their players in need.

* Many organizations provide coaches with these materials or you can receive these items through donations, if you do not wish to purchase equipment.

Though not equipment, coaches should also be prepared to reach the organization's coordinator to schedule practice times and locations, create a lineup that includes all players, and teach the importance of teamwork through fun and stimulating soccer drills.

I found that soccer drills such as "Sharks and Minnows" and "Red Light, Green Light" were perfect for younger-aged teams because the children were already familiar with a form of these games and adding a ball simply allowed the children to work on their technical dribbling skills.

Sharks and Minnows

Section off part of the field using cones (younger players should have a smaller grid space, ~15' x 15').  Pick a player to act as the shark.  The minnows will dribble their soccer balls around inside the grid and the shark will try to knock their balls out of bounds using his/her ball.  Another variation of the game is to allow the shark to tag the minnows while they are dribbling.  Make sure to change the shark after each game!

Red Light, Green Light

Add cones to mark the starting and finish points for the game.  Line the children up, with a soccer ball, at the starting point.  Stand at the finish point and call "red light" or "green light" cues to the players.  Any player that does not stop dribbling when red light is called goes back to start.  The game teaches dribbling and listening skills.

Keep Away

Divide the players into teams (usually 3-4 people per team).  Determine the boundaries using cones or sections of the field.  One team starts with the ball and tries to keep it away from the other team.  If the team without the ball wins the ball, they go on offence.  Keep Away is an excellent game designed to teach children the importance of teamwork and communication.

Remember to have fun and be patient when coaching youth soccer because it is you that will ultimately set the tone for the child's future in this sport.