Our goal as a club is focusing on development of the player and team concepts. Winning is not our main concern!
 Coaching Reminders
Kids are there to play and have fun. Keep the lectures to a minimum. NO long talks! LET THEM PLAY
Incorporate technical work at the beginning of practice (10-20 minutes at minimum)
Try to coordinate the technical work (from your warm up) with the rest of your session, so that you can use coaching points on when and how to use that particular skill in games and exercises. It will help the players understand why they are working on their technical skill, ball control, and first touch.
Practice Reminders
Training Format (No Laps, No Lines, No Lectures)
1. Warm up (usually involves technical work, but not always)
4. game w/ no conditions (keep coaching to a minimum)
5. I try to end practice with a shooting exercise (team vs. team, team vs. condition)
Players should always:
Have a ball (properly inflated) and a water bottle at every practice
Dress appropriately for colder/wet weather
Come with the mentality to listen, work hard, and have fun
Be reminded that training twice a week is not enough time to master ball skills. If they can get in an extra 30 minutes to work on juggling and ball skills it will go along way toward becoming more comfortable with the ball under pressure.
Game Reminders
Standard Game Warm Up
1. U13 and older: bodies moving, technical, possession with direction, shooting/crossing finishing
2. U12 and younger: Windows (2 touch, 1 touch, air control, turning), 5v5 to targets, shooting
Players should bring appropriate uniforms (both colors), water bottle and ball
Coaches will let players know when to arrive to the game. A good motto to live by is: early is on time, on time is late
Parents lead the way when it comes to sportsmanship and encouragement for all involved (opposition included)
Parents please try to remember no coaching or negativity from the sidelines. Cheering is always encouraged
Miscellaneous
A European research study shows that to get the perfect touch for one specific body part, it takes 150,000 touches (i.e. to get the perfect touch using your laces, you must specifically get 150,000 touches using your laces).
This is one example why technical work at the younger ages is important
Also the more technical work you do at younger ages, the more natural it will be as they get older and become more coordinated and with the hope that they will work on ball skills away from practice (on own, w/ friend, in the back yard, at recess, etc.)
Keep in mind though, at the younger ages (specifically ages 5-10) don't expect too much. It is your responsibility to introduce the technical part of the game, don't expect them to master it.
You will hear (especially at the younger ages) "when are we going to scrimmage?" Take a few minutes to explain the importance of technical work (i.e. ball skill, first touch, juggling, dribbling, traps, etc.
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