|
Coaches Resource Manual
for U-6 to U-12
Essential Concepts
(Philosophy, Sportsmanship, Team Management)
Philosophy
FUN!!!!! FUN!!!!! FUN!!!!!
“Teach Them Well and Let Them Lead the Way”
First ask yourself Why Do You Coach?
•Build your own resume (SERIOUSLY hope not)
•Experiences
( you enjoyed your experiences playing the game)
•Most Qualified (you
actually played a sport in Junior High)
•Enjoy Kids! (should be the number
one reason)
Mission as a Youth Coach
•Say “Do This” instead of “Don’t Do This” (Catch Them Being
Good)
•Focus on what has been accomplished, not what hasn’t.
•Be a
“Positive” Role Model
•Keep them coming back! They should sign up again next
season!
•Fans For Life
The Youth Soccer
Coach
•Facilitator of Activities (You are not the “Sage on
the Stage but the “Guide on the Side”)
•Uses Activities and Games that
Teach! Doesn’t use or say the word “Drills”
•Understand that success is a
byproduct of player development
•Teacher in Training-Not The Game. Soccer is
a players game, not a coaches.
•Develop An Enthusiasm For The Game
•Enhance Development (Are your players better at the end of training? End of
the season?)
Positive Coaching
•Create Your Own Philosophy (should reflect fun and
development)
•“Winning isn’t Everything, nor is it the only thing”
•Failure is not the same thing as losing.
•Success is not equivalent to
winning. •Effort is a controllable variable-Outcome is not. •“Catch Them Being
Good” then when you do-----TELL THEM IMMEDIATELY!
Sportsmanship
“Leader Is As Leader Does”
“Young players play with
great deal of fairness and
sportsmanship. Once
they learn how important
the game is to the adults,
they’ll learn how to cheat.”
Dr. Ron Quinn
“Once we give the children access to the forbidden fruit
of adult information (competition) we expel them from the
garden of childhood” From “Developing Youth Players” Horst
Wein
“They’re only kids. It’s only a game.”
Soccer can teach life long skills, building character, self
esteem and awareness of others. It is vital as both a coach
and a parent that good sportsmanship is exhibited throughout
practices and games.
• Young people learn by example (Leader is as leader does).
• Cheer for both teams and ask them if they had fun and
tried their best.
• Have end of the game rituals such as the line handshakes,
the world cup style applauding, shaking the referees hands
and saying “thanks”.
Team Management
Philosophy
• Ask why do
you coach?
• Philosophy should be player driven, not coach driven. Therefore
practices need to be geared towards their development, not winning.
• Taking
Players Somewhere New
• Remember why they are here?
• Biggest compliment
you will get is if they sign up again next season/year.
• FUN! FUN! FUN!
Parent-Coach Meeting
At
the beginning of every season, you should take a moment to meet the parents of
the children that you are coaching. In this meeting the following should be
done:
• Explain your philosophy
• Player Information
o
Medical Information
o Previous experience of children
o Family
situations, such as custody that may affect rides to and from practice.
•
Parent Information
o Emergency Phone Number
o Rides-who is taking player
to and from practice
o Obtain Work Phone Numbers and Emails
o Proper
behavior on sideline (no coaching or screaming )
o Hand out Do’s & Don’ts
and Guidelines For Parents from our website under Parents Corner.
•
Responsibilities of Players, Parents, and Coaches
o Players-proper gear be
worn including shin guards, ball and water
o Parents-Notify coach that they
are taking child(ren) home
o Coaches-Plan for training (Fail to
Prepare-Prepare to Fail)
o Coaches-Arrive early-End on time
o
Coaches-Provide proper training equipment (cones, vests, balls, air pump)
o
Coaches should all have a first aid kit
o Coaches and Parents-Provide for a
“Safe” Environment-Be Positive!
| 
