Tips for Youth Footy / Training
- Thread starter McBain
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allezlesbleus
Player Valuation: £35m
Wear Everton kit!!!
Make them practise on their weaker foot a bit.
Play lots of small-sided games to ensure they learn pass and move and get lots of touches
Get the defenders to play as attackers sometimes and vice versa
Have a few regular keepie uppie competitions
Keep your cool with parents especially of other teams
Have the calmest parent in your group stand on the opposite side of the pitch from you so they have a familiar voice on both sides but not one who will get involved with other team's shouting parents!!!
Make them practise on their weaker foot a bit.
Play lots of small-sided games to ensure they learn pass and move and get lots of touches
Get the defenders to play as attackers sometimes and vice versa
Have a few regular keepie uppie competitions
Keep your cool with parents especially of other teams
Have the calmest parent in your group stand on the opposite side of the pitch from you so they have a familiar voice on both sides but not one who will get involved with other team's shouting parents!!!
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Don’t touch the children
Frang
Player Valuation: £70m
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Good luck with that mate, ran the same kids team for 3 yrs from 5 till they were 8 and it was great, but the story's I heard from the lads running the older boys team was a bit disheartening, boys not turning up, can't get them out of bed the onset of an intrest girls and booze. Hope your experience is a good one because it can be a great time.
Coaching kids is great ... it’s the parents who are a nightmare
zzr45
#MURDERINGSCUM
Get the kit that matches the club you are at. It’s a small thing but it helps build that culture of belonging.
As allezlesblues said above - small sided games are your friend. Try to plan sessions with about 3 games linked to a certain theme as well as a ‘skill zone’ e.g. if you’re looking at improving passing you’ll have 3 games which stresses the need to pass and then a skill zone which breaks down the technique. At that age worry more about developing the footballer as a whole rather than into specific positions.
Don’t be a coach that tries to problem solve for the kids, let them guide their own feedback during sessions - use questions effectively to do this.
In terms of engaging with parents I fully recommend checking out https://non-perfectdad.co.uk/ a lot of strategies and ways to get parents understanding their role in talent development.
Be humble, what will be will be, Make sure those kids are enjoying playing and the rest will come.
As allezlesblues said above - small sided games are your friend. Try to plan sessions with about 3 games linked to a certain theme as well as a ‘skill zone’ e.g. if you’re looking at improving passing you’ll have 3 games which stresses the need to pass and then a skill zone which breaks down the technique. At that age worry more about developing the footballer as a whole rather than into specific positions.
Don’t be a coach that tries to problem solve for the kids, let them guide their own feedback during sessions - use questions effectively to do this.
In terms of engaging with parents I fully recommend checking out https://non-perfectdad.co.uk/ a lot of strategies and ways to get parents understanding their role in talent development.
Be humble, what will be will be, Make sure those kids are enjoying playing and the rest will come.
A ref at one on my grandsons matches said to me ... “ Give me the two teams and coaches , keep the parents away , and we’ll have a good game of football “
Just make it fun, and enjoyable, and make sure the kids are in a league/division that is right for their development. No fun in getting tonked every week, likewise no fun in giving out tonkings every week. Allow them to be kids/teenagers, but don't be a pushover, let them learn at their own pace and find out about them and what makes them tick, who their fav teams/players are. Try to get an assistant you trust to help if you can, inputting scores, collecting subs, sorting out fixtures and refs can be a thankless task, and you cant do it all by yourself, so best to share.
Plan your sessions, but not all training sessions go to plan, and sometimes you wont even get through a third of what you've got planned. Go with the flow. They don't have to be perfect, and you'll stress too much by trying to make them so. Mini games with a key message or theme is the way forward. Line drills died a long time ago and get boring very quickly.
Document your sessions, until your confident of doing them from memory, spend a little time after each session to critique, how it could of been better, delivery, organisation etc. See if you can get coaching support from your local football association, we get FA coaching mentors here, they can help a lot in terms of advice, planning, delivery and critique. Don't be afraid to ask and watch other coaches, you can harvest a lot of info this way, don't be afraid to copy the good sessions either!
Above all enjoy it.
Plan your sessions, but not all training sessions go to plan, and sometimes you wont even get through a third of what you've got planned. Go with the flow. They don't have to be perfect, and you'll stress too much by trying to make them so. Mini games with a key message or theme is the way forward. Line drills died a long time ago and get boring very quickly.
Document your sessions, until your confident of doing them from memory, spend a little time after each session to critique, how it could of been better, delivery, organisation etc. See if you can get coaching support from your local football association, we get FA coaching mentors here, they can help a lot in terms of advice, planning, delivery and critique. Don't be afraid to ask and watch other coaches, you can harvest a lot of info this way, don't be afraid to copy the good sessions either!
Above all enjoy it.
B
Big Fat Sam
Guest
This 100%.
My tip would be to speak to the parents and ensure that none of them are screaming on the sidelines. It can destroy a youngster's confidence when his out-of-control dad is yelling at the top of his voice the entire game.
We had it for one of our lads when I was around 11/12. Mr Mouth on the sidelines, all red in the face, huffing and puffing throughout the game and absolutely screaming at his lad to do this, do that.
Sure it's ok for them to get involved and shout during the match from time to time, but they need to realise kids will make mistakes and it's all part of the process of improving. My dad was similar to the screaming guy, and one time I had to have a word with him and tell him if he didn't calm down I didn't want him there. He soon stopped.
Put the fat kid in goal.
This. Every parent thinks their kid is the top player plus you have no control over the parents behaviour at the side of the pitch, try and keep the parents at arms length,saying that I admire anyone who has the time and patience to coach kids best of luck.
This.
Work on their fitness (they'll likely be on their devices all the hours you dont have them) try and get a decent none diving attitude into them
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