Ever wondered how to coach soccer or more specifically youth soccer? The phrase looks quite simple and familiar but if you give it a serious thought, a lot of things will start coming to your head.
One of the soccer skills that’s required for a player and a coach to learn is communication. A coach has to give instructions, share feedback, evaluate players, council them, maintain discipline, and all this requires communication skills.
Players, on the other hand, talk about issues with coaches, peers, parents, share feelings (good or bad) with colleagues, and give tips and tricks to new players in the team. The game of soccer acts as a common language for both players and coaches convey their feeling and thoughts.
Soccer coaching has some basic philosophies that the coaches must learn and consequently teach their players.
1. Use your player’s name to call them. It feels good to listen to one’s name and is also courteous.
2.While giving instructions, be prepared by knowing what you want your players to do and achieve.
3. Be considerate: Use communication for connecting with players and not to control them. So try to understand their point of view as well.
4.Watch your body language. It should be relaxed and open to convey positive feelings and get better results.
5. It is important to maintain an eye contact with every player whenever you talk to them. Look the person in the eye while talking to him or her.
6. Your technique of speaking should make an impression on the person you are talking to. So adopt a style that not only defines you but also suits the other person.
7. Pick a topic that needs attention. Communication as an answer to the simple question, how to coach soccer is effective when it is concise and to the point. Decide on a list of items and remain firm on it.
8.Be objective: Always remain cautious of the fact that you are a soccer coach who is speaking to a team or an individual player. So control your emotions and converse with them only on points related to the game.
9.Speak Clearly: It is critical that what you say is understood in the same spirit as you intended.
10.When teaching soccer, repeat the important points. Keep talking about the important points so that the players are always reminded of them.
11.Try to keep the conversation funny by using words that are light and comical.
12.Give your players time and attention to understand and seek clarifications from you. Permit them to ask questions.
A soccer coach or a player without the ability to give and receive the information necessary for the highest levels of performance is bound to suffer in the long run.
In conclusion, how to coach soccer is something that must make get the coach into a mode of trying to understand and make allowances for different cultures. Register for our youth soccer coaching community that has a wealth of articles and videos on coaching young players and how to help them develop excellent skills.
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.
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