Kids' Soccer Coaching Tips

Soccer is the fastest growing team sport in the United States, and is considered the most popular sport in the world, according to the U.S. German Embassy website. Communities in all 50 states run youth soccer programs designed to introduce kids as young as five to the sport. In kids' soccer programs, children learn the basics of the game and experience friendly competition and teamwork. Coaches can create a positive and fun learning experience for young soccer players by implementing a few important tips during practices.

  1. Positive Environment

    • Youth soccer practices should be a positive place for kids to gain enjoyment and appreciation for the sport. A mixture of game-like drills, friendly competition and a coach with an upbeat attitude will persuade players to practice harder and ultimately become better players. Coaches should set the example for complimenting players, gently correcting errors and encouraging all team members. During practices or games, the coach should never lose his temper or yell at players in anger or disappointment.

    Ball Handling

    • The best way for players to improve their soccer skills is to handle the ball often and correctly. Ensure that every player has a soccer ball of her own for practices so that players can participate in frequent drills simultaneously, rather than wait for teammates to finish a drill one at a time. Because kids are learning the basic rules of soccer, consistent and steady repetition of the skills will help them become better players.

    Change It Up

    • Kids have shorter attention spans than adults do, therefore a successful soccer coach will provide a variety of activities during practice, according to Esoccerdrills.com. Involving as many kids as possible in drills is a good start, as is changing up the drills every 10 minutes or so and switching up basic formats every two or three practices. Ensure that players interact with each other as much as possible to build up team unity and better prepare for games.

    Be Prepared

    • A successful soccer coach should never arrive at a practice without a plan. Get organized about what skills the players will be working on, the number of drills you'll be running and even the downtime between drills. Soccerdrillbook.com advises coaches to keep kids busy during practice to entice them to keep coming back for more. A soccer coach without a plan may find that unorganized practices, gaps in schedule and distracted kids leads to poor game performances and unhappy players.