Help! I volunteered to coach...what do I do?

Many first time coaches volunteer or are volunteered to the job. First things first…Relax. Relax and think about how much fun you are going to have with these little Under-6 and Under-8 soccer players.

Goal: Create a fun, learning soccer environment for your players in training and in games.

How?
Often resources are available, it’s just a matter of knowing where to find them:

• Talk to the Instructional Coordinator and request helpful coaching materials and coaching aids.
• Talk to other Soccer Coaches in the program or in your community who have worked with these age groups before.
• Call your State Youth Soccer Association and request helpful coaching materials and coaching aids.
• Call your State Youth Soccer Association and ask to speak with the State Director of Coaching about specific age appropriate coaching courses and age appropriate training materials.
• Call US Youth Soccer at 1.800.4SOCCER or visit their web site at www.USYouthSoccer.org and request and/or order helpful coaching materials and coaching aids.
  

Team Management:
Prepare a list of simple and clear rules for your players and their parents (see sample memo). Conduct a preseason meeting to review these rules and to go over other important information and to complete important administrative paperwork. Consider the following:

• Schedules and locations for training sessions and games.
• Drop off and pick up times for training sessions and games.
• Player responsibilities and behavior at training sessions and games.
• Parent responsibilities and behavior at training sessions and games.
• Player equipment (soccer ball, shin pads, soccer shoes or sneakers, water, appropriate clothing).
• Coaching equipment (soccer balls, cones, basic first aid kit, small cooler of ice and zip lock bags).
• Discuss the procedure for canceling training sessions and games.
• Discuss your philosophy of coaching…it’s about player development, not winning and losing!

Risk Management:

• Provide proper age appropriate activities at training sessions and games.
• Assure that training and playing areas are safe.
• Make sure that all players are wearing the correct equipment and that it is appropriately sized.
• Make sure that you are assisted by another adult when coaching the players (This includes the time when players arrive and when they depart from training sessions and games).
• Create a plan for any medical emergencies/injuries.

The Training Session - Under-6 Format

• Duration is 45-60 minutes.
• Every child has a ball.
• Individual activities.
• Warm-up activities include movement education approach…with and without a ball (10 minutes).
• Fun games activities with and with out a ball (20 minutes).
• Conclude with 3v3 games to two goals, with no goalkeepers.
  

The Training Session - Under-8 Format

• Duration is 60 minutes.
• Every child has a ball.
• Individual and partner activities.
• Warm-up activities with and without the ball – dribbling and passing (15 minutes).
• Maze games and target games (25 minutes).
• Conclude with 4v4 games to two goals, with no goalkeepers.