What to expect from your coach

Coaches Guidelines

 

Coaches, thank you all for volunteering your valuable time to provide quality soccer experiences for the players in Bellbrook Soccer. Without you the program would simply not exist.

 

Among you, you share a diverse range of soccer backgrounds, from first time coaches to those whom have played the game, to those who are licensed. Please share your talents with your fellow coaches; it makes us all better, which in turn helps the players.

 

Below are some tips for structuring your practices and games, which are taken from the US Youth Soccer player development guidelines. We ask that you follow these basic rules to ensure our league remains fun, fair and above all provides the best possible experience for all players to learn.

 

Listed below are basic practice and games/ practice schedule guides.

 

Playing Time

 

 

All players must have equal playing time and play all positions. (The only exception is in U10’s where a player does not want to play in goal. Players should regularly be encouraged to play goalie but not forced. No player can play more than one half of each game in goal).

 

 

Game and Practice Frequency

 

 

U-5/ U-6 - Two 45 to 60 minute practices per week.

Once games start no additional practices should be held.

 

 

 

U-8 – Two 60 minute practices, before games start per week.

Once games start one, occasional and additional voluntary practice may be added, it should be noted that non-attendance cannot affect playing time or playing positions.  

 

 

 

U-10/ Strikers - Two 60 minute practices, plus one occasional practice per week before games. Once games start this can be two games plus one additional voluntary practice may be added, it should be noted that non-attendance cannot affect playing time or playing positions.

 

 

 

 

Basic Practice Guidelines

 

Follow the 75/25 rule by keeping drill-like activities to a maximum of 25% of the practice time. This is of utmost importance, over emphasis on drills retards player development. Let the game be the teacher.

 

Understand the value of limited feedback during natural stoppages.

 

Understand the value of extended periods of uninterrupted play.

 

Understand the value of excitement and positive reinforcement.

 

Balance the volume of coaching information against the natural facilitation of discovery learning, let the game be the teacher!

 

Show your enthusiasm when something good happens; temper your frustrations when the inevitable mistakes are made.

 

Appreciate the slow pace of learning.

 

Appreciate that mistakes are necessary and important for learning.

 

 

From Coach-Centered to Player-Centered Coaching

 

The traditional teaching model in the United States places the onus for generating knowledge and information on the shoulders of the coach. For novice coaching in particular, this expectation can be quite overwhelming. In this traditional model, the coach is responsible for game strategies and technical analysis and practice drills and team discipline and all other aspects of individual and team development. In short, the coach is regarded as the fountain of all knowledge, while the player’s role is to simply listen and follow directions. Sadly, the model fails to address the most important aspect of learning; the motivation of the learner!

In the street soccer cultures there are no coaches. Players learn by repetition and by imitation and by observation and by experimentation. Passion is derived from ownership in the process of organizing and managing games. It should be no surprise that the Brazilians, Argentineans, Mexicans, Portuguese and the Spanish are still regarded as the most talented players in world soccer. These countries still possess a thriving free play culture. In parallel, almost half of Major League Baseball players now come from free play cultures, such as Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Think of Michael Jordan, did he learn such great moves by lines and lectures or by free play, imitation and experimentation? Note that he also did not make his varsity team in his sophomore year, do you want to be that coach? Don’t discount anyone!!

 

 

Lopsided Games

 

 

Lopsided games in youth sports are inevitable and care must be taken to appreciate the sensitivity of young children to such events. Playing short-handed, adding players to the opponent’s team, playing key players out of position, sitting key players for longer periods, playing with limited touches, restricting scoring from close range, and only scoring from crosses are some possible options for dealing with blow-out situations. We should all be able to manage this.

 

For further information on coaching tips and licensing, contact your commissioner, or the Director of Coaching, Jim Woeste at coaching@bellbrooksoccer.org He has a wealth of knowledge and is a great resource for all of you.

 

Also check the website for links under the coaching drop down menu.

 

Thanks again and enjoy the season!

 

Stewart Phillips

 

President,

Bellbrook Soccer