Before starting, there are a few things to keep in mind when instructing young football players. Coaching children is different from coaching teenagers or adults since each child will have extremely different requirements and developmental stages. When teaching young children, it is important to have patience and understanding.
As an effective kids’ football coach, your goal should be to help your players get better at fundamental movements like running, jumping, kicking, catching, and throwing. As a result, their agility, speed, balance, and coordination naturally advance and grow.
Coaching kids is more about laying the groundwork for a child to develop physically and emotionally than it is about developing the “next great thing.”
Continue reading this article if you want to know how to make football practice enjoyable for kids, whether you are a young coach or simply want to be a better footballing parent.
1. AIM FOR FUN, NOT WINNING
Football should always be a fun pastime for kids to participate in, whether they are playing or practising. While it is crucial to building the groundwork for mastering the fundamentals at this early stage of the children’s playing journey, it is equally crucial that there is a high level of fun for the kids to experience.
In a child’s formative years, acquiring and mastering their fundamental skills is more crucial than winning. You should be giving your child the resources they need to advance because this might be seen as a transitional stage in which they move toward playing frequently and in a more competitive setting.
No matter how skilled they first seem, the expectations of winning or getting things right every time can cause a young mind to quickly lose interest in the sport. Football practice should never seem like a hassle.
2. LESS SPEECH AND MORE ACTION
No youngster, whatever of their age, wants to wait outside in the chilly weather while you blather on about what they are about to do. The attention span of a youngster decreases as they get younger. They simply want to carry on.
Children enjoy themselves more when they are actively engaged. So, gain practice making your case swiftly before starting the drill. If you need to add more points to the discussion, do so only briefly before returning to the action.
3. BUILD A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Young football players need to feel comfortable when training – offering a supportive and nurturing environment will be the key to getting the best out of each player. Every child will have different circumstances to contend with in their lives, from social to home to school pressures, and so playing football with their peers will often be the ideal outlet for them.
Whether that be burning extra energy, letting off some steam or just wishing to have some fun, the setting you build around them will be an important aspect of their football training and help shape their attitude towards others. Have zero tolerance for bullying and ensure you are patient with children that make mistakes – remember you are setting an example.
Consistency is also key with all training sessions – you will get more out of a child if they know what to expect each week.
4. DESIGNATE BY ABILITY
If you are confident in your knowledge of your players, think about dividing them into groups according to skill. Let’s face it, some kids are inherently talented in certain things, while others may use some work.
Players will be better able to test themselves by being paired with others of a similar skill level, and those who need more practice will have room and confidence to improve.
5. MIX SOME THINGS UP
The same activity being done every week will not only impede progress but also bore everyone. We all know that an interested child will probably benefit more from the game.
Change is the cure for boredom. To keep everyone on their toes, be sure to constantly cycle a decent selection of drills.
6. SET UP SIMPLE GAMES
After the primary training session is over and you’ve covered everything you needed to, switch things up with a ridiculous game or challenge that’s solely for fun.
Ask each player to take a penalty, for instance, but first, make them spin around for 30 seconds to make them queasy. Alternately, attempt the crossbar challenge, in which players take turns firing shots from the edge of the 18-yard box at the crossbar (adapt this to suit younger players and smaller goals).
You can start the hour with a traditional game of British bulldog to warm up and set the mood, or you can include other classics like Simon Says. Anything that shows the kids that exercise can be enjoyable and something to look forward to.
7. PRESENT POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS
Giving kids constructive criticism without demoralising or upsetting them about their performance is one of the hardest tasks while teaching them football. There are strategies to combat what could seem like negativity, which can help them improve their performance and confidence and become more aware of the steps they can take to steer clear of errors.
Avoid using phrases like “you’re losing control of the ball too rapidly” when offering constructive criticism in a way that benefits the child. Use motivating language instead, such as “if you slow down, you’ll give yourself more time to guide the ball.”
Although you might come across the occasional football starlet during your coaching career, training at this age is all about learning and growing. Nobody should be perfect the first time around. You may also give them a retro international football shirt as a gift for the great job they’ve done.
8. APPLAUD INDIVIDUALS
Giving constructive criticism is crucial, but it’s equally crucial to offer credit where credit is due. When kids feel valued and are aware that their colleagues are proud of them, it is simple to motivate them. This may also encourage their teammates to give it their all since they want to win the respect of their friends, family, and, of course, the coach.
Be careful to recognise your players when they behave appropriately, make wise judgments, learn a new skill, or just follow directions.
9. INSERT PLAYTIME
You may only have a short window of time to try to drill in a new method, but keep in mind that most kids just want to play around, chat with friends, and have fun.
It is in your best interest to schedule some free time during the session so that they may do whatever they want, whether that be trying to wedgie their colleagues or performing keep-ups by themselves. Whatever makes them happy.
Aim to include some playtime at the beginning and the middle of the session. They will be able to expend some of the surplus energy that kids often have thanks to this little period of total freedom, which will make them more likely to calm down more quickly when you want them to concentrate.
10. CELEBRATE WINNING
With all of the helpful feedback, that gamer will certainly succeed, so rejoice!
You might not think much of their first successful pass, but to them, it might have been the same as scoring a goal in the Champions League championship game.
Make sure they are aware of your presence and that their efforts have not gone unappreciated. Do the same after their first successful goal, successful tackle, or successful space creation.
