Soccer coaching tips for
coaches at ALL levels

Soccer coaching Tips for New Coaches

Congratulations! You've just been selected to become the soccer coach of your child's soccer team. (And you thought you were just dropping them off at the practice field!) 

Early on, have a team meeting. You can get help more easily at this stage of the season, because most of the parents on the team are just happy that they are not the coach! They have faith in you because you have a vested interest, your children and their friends.

Now, here are some initial soccer coaching tips; dive in!

What do kids want?

To have fun and learn new things.

These are the two most important things to remember.
Winning and scoring goals are more the parents' field of importance.

So now that you have this combination clear in your mind ... lets get organized. Planning is worth every minute.

Get Help

Have a parents' meeting and ask for help. If you're not careful "coach" covers a LOT of activities while all you really want to do is coach... basically show up at the field and have fun while helping the kids have fun and learn.

This means that you should have a minimum of two other people helping you out... a manager and an assistant coach.

The manager makes sure that the players are called for the practices and the games and that all the equipment is in good order and ready to go.

The assistant coach helps you plan, carry out and evaluate the players, practices and games.

Three heads are better than one and you are ensuring that more people participate and are responsible for the team.

You need to understand the requirements of a coach.

My Basic coaching program is exactly what you need to review here.

Together the coaching staff should learn the rules of the Game.
I recommend going to FIFA Laws of the game.

Now if only I had some drills...oh yeah...
For drills and thrills go to this site - they have some of the best I've seen, and I've seen a lot!

You need all the help you can get 

• If you are in a large club ask for help from those coaches that have been around for a while. They have a lot of soccer coaching tips. 
• Don't be afraid to ask for assistance, your team will benefit from additional and a variety of training. Equally important, you will pick up great new tips and methods for your team and yourself...because you know what?? You will get hooked on coaching especially once you hear all the players laughing and having fun. Want to look like a hero? Take the time to sit back and analyze the players (take notes).

Please don't have the "go it alone" attitude because if you get sick things fall apart.

Build a dynamic team with respect for ALL - between you and the team; you and the parents; you and other coaches; and of course, within the team itself.

Build relationships!

Also realistically, life for a coach (especially an inexperienced one) can have its ups and downs.
All coaches face serious issues at some time or another.
Get some help with these by going to
Problems with parents,
and Youth Stress.

Coach what you see

Coach what you see...coach at the level of the players, in other words choose drills that are;
1) age appropriate and
2) meet the skill level of the players.

If a drill is not working go back to basics. After the practice try and analyze the reason why. 

• Was it your explanation?
• Was the drill too hard?
• Was the drill too easy?
• Does the drill flow out of one aspect and into another aspect of practice?

Go back to the drawing board or the web-site and find additional materials to help you develop
yourself and the players.

Try and remember that the players are very creative and really don't need to be "over coached".
Most are living a dream of being their favourite player.
They will even wear jerseys with players names on the back.

If you are coaching youth over 12 years of age, consider the following practice
routine at On The Ball Soccer Skills Training.

Intermediate Coach

So now you are graduating to the bigger leagues and are hungry for more info to heighten your team's performance.

Get the latest information on innovative training methods.
Remember the three pillars:

1. Fitness Training
2. Technical Skills Training
3. Mental Training

For better understanding of the levels and phase/age of the players, go to
Long Term Development.

To gain a better understanding of the specifics of soccer fitness development,
please try the two following links
Soccer coaching tips on stretching,
and Flexibility enhances performance

Concentrate on the mental aspects of the game.
You can get help from this page on mental focus.

Advanced Coaching

Your team is at the top of their game... and you should be there with them.
Where do you go from here? How do you get the best out of your team?

Encourage your players to stay active with other sports in the "off" season.
This will help them develop different muscle groups also known as "cross training".
When they come back they will have "missed" the sport and be ready to go for another great season.

Far too many times I've seen a great player at 11 years old leave the sport at 15-16 years of age because they are "tired".
They are tired because they ave not had a break in five years.
How often do you go on holidays? 

High Performance Training

Getting ready to "peak" and understanding the idea and value of periodization.
Also recommended is spending some time getting to know the general aspect of
combined training.

I strongly recommend this site on mental preparedness.
To give kids a head start go to this site.
For links to more information go to Soccer Coaching Tips Links.