14 replies to this topic

[TYCLAYHOPE]

The city sponsors youth soccer teams and coaches are in short supply. Anyway, I was told that if I couldn't coach, my daughters would not have a team. I am excited to coach but really nervous. I don't recall ever having played the game. I don't know the rules, the terminology or anything. I was told not to worry to much about it, these kids just play around anyway. But I would like to be able to at least teach them something! Have them get something out of this. Can anyone help me, please?!? I need a mentor!

[BamaDevO]

I am no mentor, especially at coaching children this young. However, I am also coaching my daughter's team (4-5 yr. olds) through the YMCA and I may can help a little.

First, Do not expect much from these kids. There will be a few that will stand around and look spaced out. Then, some will be grabbing at the other kids and playing their own games.
If you are lucky you will have two that can follow quickly what you are trying to teach them.

Secondly, I would use the resources on this site to it's fullest. Games and drills for young kids are on here and I have used several of them.

Speak to the kids and get to know their names quickly. Make them feel like they are a part of your group and they seem to pay attention much better.
I have four soccer teams practicing at the same time my team is practicing so it is total chaos. When I speak to the kids and give them jobs to do they seem to pay better attention.

Games such as "Monkey in the middle" and "Red Light-Green Light" have been hits so far and they want to play them everytime we get on the field.

Try to teach the few basics... do not touch the ball with your hands, kick the ball with your instep and not the toe of your shoe, no pushing, and last...but not least....PASS the ball!.

If you cannot find these games just post here and I will post them.

[SoccerRob]

Hello TYCLAYHOPE,

I wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I am coaching 18 4-5 year olds for the exact same reason. My daughter wouldn't have a team if I didn't volunteer. My first practice is tonight. I can't believe how nervous a bunch of 4-5 year olds have made me

I plan on taking BamaDev0 advise. Sounds great! Thanks!

Will post tomorrow to let everyone know how it goes.

Rob.

[jice36]

At this level basically the kids are all there to have fun and run around. Trying to keep the kids spread out and learning all positions is one of the first things we always try to do. You cant expect too much. I think that BamaDevO had some great ideas for games to do with the kids.

For practice we usually would start the kids off with a warm-up run, and some jumping jacks or something fairly easy and basic. Maybe try placing the kids in positions for a few minutes so they get a feel for where they are supposed to be... (depending on the group this may not be productive at all but if it seems to work only spend a few minutes on it because the kids will get bored rather quickly) There are tons of links on the internet that I would look to for some very basic drills. Just get the kids to run around a cone, or do some dribbling routines with them, or practice then kick the ball towards the net. Like I said the internet has all sorts of drills for all ages.

And as you go you will get a feel for what works with the kids and what doesnt. Dont worry too much though, as long as the kids have a chance to play I think that is all that is important!

Good luck!

[SoccerRob]

We had our first practice last night. 15 of the 18 4-5 year olds showed up. I used BamaDev0's advice and made the drills games. I also tried to learn their names a best as I could so they felt more comfortable. Our practices are 45 minutes and I was able to play three games with breaks in between each. We played freeway which is having them pretend the ball is a car and they "drive" it around the field making car noises. We then played "Body Ball" which has the kids dribble the ball around until I blow the whistle and yell out a body part (head, ear, leg, arm, hand, etc) and they are supposed to put that body part on the ball. I did this will several body parts. They liked both of these games a lot. The one game that was a failure was "Monster Ball". I had the dribble around and I was a monster who tried to catch them. If I caught them they would become a monster also. The main problem was when I would get near one of them they would run off leaving the ball. I was hoping this game would help with evasive dribbling but it didn't work out as planned. The other small problem was a couple kids got scared when I came close. Needless to say I ended that game pretty quick. Overall practice was fun. I had fun and feel a little more comfortable. I think as long as they have fun it will be a success.

I hope things go as well for you TYCLAYHOPE. jice36 and BamaDev0 have some great wisdom. I plan on coming back here quite a bit during the season looking for more advise.

Thanks!

Rob.

[BamaDevO]

LOL!! Sounds like my first practice! Good report SoccerRob!
I am glad things turned out like they did.

Remember that if you can just teach the kids basics and keep them happy they will play in years to come and eventually learn this great game.

Good luck!

[BamaDevO]

By the way, if anyone can give me something to do with one of my kids.
This child just doesn't get it. Nothing against him, he is just four and cannot catch on.

I would like to get him to learn anything, but he won't even go after the ball when it is coming toward him.
It is funny, but I would like to know I taught him something this year.

Any help would be appreciated. I am working to let him be my helper and that has worked a little.

[hollad6636]

Thats a tough one as you can't make the other kids give them the ball or let them have it when their on defense.

I recognized early on that with the really young ones you have to do alot of drills where everyone has there own ball because you always have a few kids that are a little more advanced and they will dominate the ball. The other ones will never get a chance to develop. We work on a lot of individual dribbling drills, one on one attack drills and pairs passing so that everyone is getting alot of touches.

You don't see a big difference in game situations right away, but when they are ready at least they will have some skills to help them be decent players.

[BamaDevO]

I have been doing those things and have used almost everything I have read on the net to get this child to understand that he is supposed to kick the ball when I roll it to his feet, but so far it hasn't worked...

[SoccerRob]

I can't think of any of ideas either. I would have done the same thing you have done BamaDev0. All I can think to do is keep trying the same drills over and over with. Hopefully repitition will eventually break through.

We have our next practice tonight. I plan on doing a couple of the same dribbling drills from last week and adding one or two new passing drills. I figure if I can teach them the basic skills of soccer this season and they have fun learning them then I didn't do so bad.

Talk to everyone later.

SoccerRob.

[BamaDevO]

Well, I have to come back here and post that I made a break through with this young boy!
He has not cared at all about the game, and kicking, dribbling,etc.. hasn't even phased him.
I thought there was no hope so I decided to try just praising him very creatively for the things he actually did right!

Last practice I had them dribbling the ball around each other and scoring in an open goal. When he came through the goal box I told him to kick it as hard as he could. He looked at me standing in front of him and then looked at the ball. Just when I thought it was going to fail miserably I told him to see if he could knock me down with the ball. His eyes lit up and he put the foot into it!
The ball grazed me but I acted as if it was a boulder knocking me to the ground. I rolled over several times as he laughed about it! That caused him to go get the ball and try it again!
Needless to say, I told him to see if he could knock the goal down as well and he paid more attention during that practice than any other.

I guess sometimes you just have to try weird stuff to get them to do what you want.

Thanks for all the posts in this thread!

[Bobbo0212]

First of all, never put 4-5 year-olds into positions. They are too young to understand what they are supposed to do. By telling them where they are to go and what they are to do, you are restricting their creativity. Just let them go out there and touch the ball. Thats what you want, the more they touch the ball the more they are learning. And guess what, you don't even have to teach, they are learning on their own. Who cares if they are in a bunch, thats natural at this age. Just let them touch the ball and have no restrictions, let them have fun.

[BamaDevO]

I agree, if you can just let them have touches with the ball it will help them alot.
To do that you must have everyone bring a ball to practice. It not, someone will not be able to dribble/kick/pass/etc.. while the others are doing a drill.
Also, as I said before, the drills should actually be games that teach them the game.

Lastly, get to know your kids personally. All my kids hug me and run to me when they do good. I am trying hard to promote a positive atmosphere for each child no matter their skill level.
You have some that can pay good attention and then you have some who never pay attention. The thing to do is make sure you are paying attention to them!

[Bobbo0212]

The biggest thing that most youth coaches tend to forget is how they felt and thought when they were the same age as these kids. When you coach a team or teach a class, you cannot assume these players know where you are coming from, you need to understand where they are coming from. You need to understand that for many of these kids, they are just on the team cuz mom or dad decided it would be fun for them. So get the best out of every child and you'll do fine. Remember they aren't going to do anything special if you don't practice it, and at this age they probably won't progress as fast as you wish, but do they progress? If they have then you have progressed as a coach. Remember the character traits that you teach these children are far more important to them than the skills of the game.

[BamaDevO]

Remember the character traits that you teach these children are far more important to them than the skills of the game.

I have to agree with your statement here.
Yesterday we had a game and with the YMCA they have a devotion at the half. When the whistle blew ending the first half I had all my kids sit down around the center circle and get quiet for the devotion. The other team were standing up/running around/hitting/kicking/etc... during the whole thing.
I was really proud of my team and glad that they acted as good as they did.
As far as soccer skills go, I think they have learned a more important lesson that soccer is fun. They have the rest of their lives to be yelled at by a coach!