5 Mistakes Youth Soccer Coaches Make

Being a great youth soccer coach is not rocket science. You can do it, but you may need a little help getting started on the right foot. I have made many mistakes over the years as a coach. Most of them weren’t fatal, but having a good understanding of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them will help you have a lot more fun as you develop your own winning team of soccer studs.

5 training mistakes to avoid:

Mistake #1 – The trainer without fun

Members of the media call the NFL the “No Fun League” because the commissioner has banned
the celebrations and other things that really make the game entertaining. unfortunately the same
it can be said of most youth soccer coaches. Remember who you are training.

Remember your age and think about how children this age see things. Put yourself in their shoes if you can and always ask yourself “Would I have enjoyed this as a kid?” I’ll give you a key hint here… Kids want to have fun playing soccer. They enjoy the game more when they touch the ball A LOT! They don’t want to queue.

Mistake #2 – The Survivor Trainer

The basic premise of the hit show Survivor is that a group of people are left on a deserted island to fend for themselves. They are given a couple of items when they arrive, but are not allowed to bring anything with them. I have witnessed numerous coaches come to practice with that same philosophy.

They hardly bring any equipment with them. Fortunately, you don’t need a ton of equipment to have quality soccer practice. That being said, having the right team can make the difference between a losing team and one that gets better every week. There are certain must-have items in your kit that allow you to move quickly from one drill to the next and keep your players motivated and engaged. Make sure you bring plenty of balls and cones to each practice and things will run much smoother.

Mistake #3: Luke’s trainer has a cold hand

One of my favorite movie lines is from Cool Hand Luke, where Strother Martin says, “What we have here is a miscommunication.” Most coaches and parents have this same problem. Establishing a clear line of communication with your soccer parents can be the difference between a fun-filled soccer season and a descent into the depths of hell. Soccer moms and dads can be your strongest advocates or your worst nightmare. If you set up a good phone and email system ahead of time, you can bet that training your team will take less time, be less frustrating, and be much more productive.

Mistake #4: The Drill Sergeant’s Trainer

Most of the drills you find in coaching books take too long to set up, don’t hold your kids’ interest, and keep your players on their feet most of the time. Good exercises should feel more
as games for your children. Your team shouldn’t spend all their time waiting in line to kick the ball.
They need to actively participate in drills, take a lot of touches, and be on the fast track to becoming better players. Look for exercises that involve the majority of your players at the same time. Look for drills that minimize queuing and maximize time with the ball at your players’ feet.

Mistake #5 – The Nutty Professor Trainer

I am constantly in awe of the coaches I see who just show up with a bunch of balls, some orange
cones and NO plan. They either forget what they were going to do, or they don’t have a clue in the first place.

To get the most out of your weekly practices, you need a solid plan for each practice. Have you ever seen a coach whose team is out of control? If you don’t have a plan for your team, they will quickly develop a plan for you. Players must move from one exercise to another and spend most of their time playing soccer. Designing a best practice plan can be time consuming, but it is worth it.

Make sure your players get a good warm up, individual skill time, group skill time, and group game time at each and every practice.

In conclusion

What kind of coach do you want to be? A frustrated babysitter pulling your hair out? Or a fun-loving coach developing amazing soccer players on a weekly basis?