How to Determine if a Youth Soccer Coach Is Good

MegaBonus · Post by **MegaBonus** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:18 pm

A good coach is absolutely necessary for your child to have a fun and meaningful soccer education. You'll know if you've found one by your child's response, but there are also other ways to tell.

Steps

Check out qualifications. A coaching license alone does not mean you have a strong all-around coach, but a basic license is important, not only to teach the game, but because a licensing course stresses safety rules and teaching principles.

Ask about experience. A good coach usually has previous experience, either as a coach or an assistant coach, or has been trained by qualified teachers.

Remember safety. A good coach has knowledge of, or certification in, first aid.

Look for preparation. A good coach always plans the practices and works from written lesson plans.

Pay attention to fairness. A good coach is fair, but that doesn't necessarily mean all children play an equal amount of time, which is not always realistic. It means that the coach is consistent in behavior and philosophy.

Pay attention to equal treatment. Girls should be coached with equal enthusiasm and intensity as boys.

Tips & Warnings

Ask about playing experience. It helps if a coach has played organized soccer or, at the very least, other organized sports.

Notice the teaching. A good coach teaches skills one at a time, and in proper order. That person also has a system for accommodating players of varying abilities.

Understand cutting-edge coaching. A good coach stays abreast of modern coaching and teaching techniques.

Look for understanding. A good coach accommodates the lives that children lead outside of soccer, and recognizes how that affects their participation.

Check the record. A good coach has a record of success, not just with winning, but in all aspects of management - such as dealing with parents and retaining players.

Post by **johnydep** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:16 pm

Thanks, good post.

povman_2009 · Post by **povman_2009** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:59 am

MB, I need to lift my game , thanks for the tips....

Drusetta · Post by **Drusetta** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:26 pm

Megabonus

I would add that a good coach would also display a genuine passion for the game and a be a very good communicator (includes listening).

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:36 pm

MB, great post, like the honesty about pitch time.

Drusetta nice add-on

would love to meet you guys and shout you a beer. Mind you depending on how long you have been coaching (and how old you are) i probably have already !

the juggler · Post by **the juggler** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:49 pm

:? A good youth coach also has to deal with parents who throw a strop when their child doesnt get picked in the squad. Coaches do not deserve some of the abuse hurled at them during or after trial periods. It is a very difficult job and made that much harder when Mum or Dad throw a wobbly. Mainly it is because they are not at the level of development required by that coach. Doesn't mean they are not good enough at all. GOOD COACHES RISE ABOVE THAT AND CONCENTRATE ON THE POSITIVES. Give the coaches a break for the sake of the kids.

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:54 pm

is that a common thing ? I would see that as a sure way to get noticed for all the wrong reasons. on a 50/50 decision this would be the last reason a playerwould want to get noticed.

BTW. My son did not get selected but a least the coach told all the players of the other trials that were still on

MegaBonus · Post by **MegaBonus** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:03 pm

sc1 Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject: r

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A good youth coach also has to deal with parents who throw a strop when their child doesnt get picked in the squad. Coaches do not deserve some of the abuse hurled at them during or after trial periods. It is a very difficult job and made that much harder when Mum or Dad throw a wobbly. Mainly it is because they are not at the level of development required by that coach. Doesn't mean they are not good enough at all. GOOD COACHES RISE ABOVE THAT AND CONCENTRATE ON THE POSITIVES. Give the coaches a break for the sake of the kids.

many parents try to live out their fantasies through their children. they also use the childrens ability to break into certain social footballing circles. thus when their child gets cut from the squad, its not their childs feelings and image they are concerned about but rather their own.

that is why, i would never promote a volatile situation by naming the squad in the presence of parents. it may cost a little more but i would post a letter to ALL trialist.

the letter should also give the parents of those children who didnt make it an opportunity to get some feedback as to why. it is more work but if your club is serious its worth it!!!!!!!!

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:24 pm

Megabonus you seem really in the konw. Waiting for a letter is fine, a no thank you can be released by ripping up the letter and putting it in the bin, significance is -move on.

naming players in front of each other,

not good.

telling a player why he did not make it

leaves you open for discussion, what is the coach going to say . . . . . .

"Oh i never knew that, ok he's in" like he will change his mind.

hang on,

we are always saying coaches as a he, soccermum, you coaching ?
Any female coaches out there ?

Drusetta · Post by **Drusetta** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:30 am

Football Freak

Sc1 is right regarding many parents. Unfortunately it is a common thing.
All the children want to do is play the game. Some parents are hell bent on winning, or as Sc1 said reliving their missed opportunities from their own childhood, through their children. This of course applies to all sports.

Some player's worst enemies are their parents. Constant pressure, high expectations, criticising their every mistake, not complementing them, building them up to something that they are not...yet.

A friend of mine had a good suggestion - coach a team of orphans!

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:30 am

A good coach also has to lead by example - not to abuse officials and others. Too often I have seen coaches be abusive to referees and linesman (often with no good reason), and this translates to the team and before long everyone has lost the plot.

Take the "bad" call on the chin and get on with the game. By all means protect your teams rights and from harm, but show some restraint.

And stop players from bagging each other, even if it means substitution, a team will produce much more if they work together.

Drusetta · Post by **Drusetta** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:35 am

Vagrant

Leading by example - good call.
Coaches are role models (as are parents, teachers, etc).

Not questioning (questioning not abusing you understand) a referee is difficult to do for an extremely bad decision in the heat of battle though.
I've seen some awful decisions in my time - for and against my team.
It's hard to hold back the "What was that for?" question, I can tell you.

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:12 am

Drusetta - "what was that for?" is reasonable, "you cheating, f-ing so and so" isn't. As long as you keep the tone down, and don't carry on with it. Sport is emotional and you would be a saint if you never queried a decision.

It also tends to get the parent group agitated as well.

I was once in a situation where MY linesman (a parent) argued with the ref, and wouldn't leave it alone, to the point where the players were more interested in the by-play and the parents strarted to follow his lead. I eventually had to tell the linesman and parents to be quiet, and that the lineman was wrong and the referee was correct.

Meanwhile I should have been coaching...

Drusetta · Post by **Drusetta** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:17 pm

I agree. I too have had to calm down one of my linesmen (a parent) after he threw the flag down in disgust and started arguing with the referee.

A coach swearing in front of players and parents is irresponsible as well.

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:04 pm

A team of orphans eh ? I reckon that will be a great idea.

I think i will change my name to mother theresa

soccer mum · Post by **soccer mum** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:45 pm

football freak
No i'm not a coach just a mum who watches a lot of soccer.

My son didn't make his first choice but hey at least he went and trialed else where just in case and got in there so all is good and will be playing soccer next year and will make some new friends along the way

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:50 pm

well that is good news, well done; not making it in your first choice team is disapointing but more importantly he will make new friends and keep his old friends as well.

Just wait until he plays against his old team ! They will see him in a different light

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:52 pm

What team did he get in to ?

Is it a north, south, east or western team ?

soccer mum · Post by **soccer mum** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:02 pm

yer it's a northern team and yes he will have a good game when he play's against his old team and i'm sure he will stay in touch with some of them to

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:08 pm

Well thats nice, in reality i expect his former coach will be pleased for him if he is a genuine coach.

I am still looking for another club for my son, E & D is always a fair option which we can look at.

povman_2009 · Post by **povman_2009** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:45 am

FF , some quality coaches in E&D (*ahem*, Pick me

)

Seriously the older age groups are well set up , they do struggle for coaches in the loawer age groups where there are just soo many teams to look after.

MegaBonus · Post by **MegaBonus** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:34 am

ive just had my first experience as a parent of a child trialling. when i played club football (in the 80's), things were different, the numbers playing werent so great, thus there was no need for trials.

brief observations

positives

number of kids and parents present
quality and size of ground
ample equipment
motivated committee and coaches

negatives

trials involved large numbers thus inaffective (one coach was playing 9v9 in a very small area with under 8/9's)
one coach made his group do laps (what the ??????)
one coach was smoking on the park
committee allowed parents to hang around near the playing area

otherwise my lad enjoyed himself

dont ask which club... i dont kiss and tell!!!!!

MONEY-MAN · Post by **MONEY-MAN** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:53 pm

Well said megabonus great coaching tips for all the coaches out there! if only there was more coaches with your philosphy and commitment to the development of the kids!

Jeda · Post by **Jeda** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:18 pm

MegaBonus wrote:ive just had my first experience as a parent of a child trialling. when i played club football (in the 80's), things were different, the numbers playing werent so great, thus there was no need for trials.

brief observations

positives

number of kids and parents present
quality and size of ground
ample equipment
motivated committee and coaches

negatives

trials involved large numbers thus inaffective (one coach was playing 9v9 in a very small area with under 8/9's)
one coach made his group do laps (what the ??????)
one coach was smoking on the park
committee allowed parents to hang around near the playing area

otherwise my lad enjoyed himself

dont ask which club... i dont kiss and tell!!!!!

I can understand getting the kids to do laps (depending on age), some kids can't run. A coach may be looking for speed or fitness, or it could just be a warm up.

Smoking around the kids should not happen.

Come on, which club?

pol pot · Post by **pol pot** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:14 pm

Our club has had 50ish or so players trialling at the u/15 level which is an absolutley huge number. This is for 2 teams of 30 players whuch means we dont have room for 25 players. Hopefully a third side in another gae group may be an idea.

I have been blown out of the water by the reponse and it appears that this has been a universal thing for most clubs. The players who have come to trial, many of them have never played club football before and there are many from other clubs.

There are no "safe" positions, they are all up fro grabs. It is true that players are trialling elsewhere but that woul dbe a smart thing to do as nothing is garaunteed, especially in the current environment.

The thing that has to be properly managed is dealing with parents and their asperations for their kids. Generally, when one looks at thr players on offer objectively, the team picks itself but parents dont see it that way.
One has to deal with them with tact and offer positive advice on the chil's future. Its not a nice experience to make decisions that affect kids futures but they have to be made and generally looking at it objectively, the players chosen are usually the ones that most have their eyes on.

To other coaches I say....."keep it simple and be honest"

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:06 pm

soccer mum wrote: yer it's a northern team and yes he will have a good game when he play's against his old team and i'm sure he will stay in touch with some of them to

Well then that is a positive 4sure, in reality he is expanding his horizons and if his last coach is honest he will acknowledge your lad as he slams home the winner when he next plays against his old team !

Football Freak · Post by **Football Freak** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:14 pm

Yo, pol pot,

from wot i have seen there has been a great interest in trials this year. The organised clubs will be able to deal with this but the FFSA policy has a new second or "B" team scheduled to start in DivIII. We need to implement junior developement at U11's.

Agreed there are no "safe" positions, i was at trials recently for MJ and their coach said the same to all the players, "you want to wear this shirt, go out and show me why, and u won't do it by scoring goals!"

My lad didn't score any goals and didn't get selected but i got his drift. So i s'pose at least this coach was honest