F.C. Revolution

There are 4 basic components to teaching the beautiful game of soccer;  Physical, Psychological, Technical, and Tactical.  Youth soccer coaches should ALWAYS try to incorporate at least 3 of the 4 into every training session activity. 

If you read the last post about the 1st grader, then you realize that most inexperienced soccer coaches don't do this.  You do not have to be a former player to coach rec soccer.  However, a basic knowledge of kids, the game, and an enthusiastic demeanor will take you a long way to a fun time, and give your players a positive experience.

Laps and line drills should be eliminated from your practices.  Let's think about a lap.  The ONLY component used in laps is the physical one.  OK...you might say to have the players dribble a soccer ball as they run laps - GREAT, right?  Well...now there are only 2 components - physical and techincal ... and there is absolutely NO THINKING involved in running laps with the ball.

What most rec coaches don't realize, is that soccer is DIFFERENT.  It is a player oriented sport.  Football and basketball are coach directed sports.  The point guard on a basketball team dribbles down the court...looks at the coach and hears what play to run - bang... a pass to the flank...and a screen to the opposite side...the forward cuts toward the basket....and hopefully a shot is taken...etc...etc.  Football teams are given the play in a huddle...everyone lines up...and the play is run. 

Soccer is the complete opposite.  PLAYERS need to make decisions instantly!  They need to change their minds instantly!  They need to adjust to a new situation every second!  The only way to make sure good decisions are made in games, is if coaches set up activities in training sessions that replicate what happens in games!

We have to set up activities that force players to make decisions!  There are NO DECISIONS when coaches tell players to run two laps.  There are NO DECISIONS made by players when coaches line them up and tell them to dribble through cones...as the rest of the players stand in line with boredom.  There are NO DECISIONS being made by players when they line up in front of the goal and the coach rolls a ball and tells that player to shoot it on goal ... plus, there aren't too many goalkeepers who will do that for opponents in games!

Coaching soccer is really a common sense thing.  I often hear youth coaches complain about discipline problems and players like troublemaker Sammy.  If you want good, productive, and fun practices, eliminate the laps and line drills!  Make it more soccer-like...make it more fun!

Allow the PLAYERS to make the decisions.

Have a great day.