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As a parent, it is an exciting and proud day when you watch your children join their first sports team. It is important to you to be involved, which may be leading you to think about coaching. Nervous about the possibility? Don't be! With the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer, you will quickly and easily learn how to become a successful youth soccer coach. This comprehensive, user-friendly reference guide will help you create a fun and effective learning environment. You have limited practice time and resources, and you need to know how to make the best of them. With this book, you will cover several key concepts that often elude rookie coaches, including:
Communication Keys for Coaching Youth Soccer
Introduction
How This Book Is Organized
Special Elements
I. COACHING BASICS
1. Your Coaching Approach
Your Coaching Philosophy
Physical Development
Mental Development
Emotional Development
Social Development
Some Final Thoughts on Your Coaching Philosophy
10 Attributes of a Good Coach
Take Your Role Seriously
Be Comfortable with Being in Charge
Be Dependable and Stable
Be Patient
Be Flexible
Enjoy Getting to Know Your Players
Desire to Help Kids Learn and Grow
Be an Encourager
Be Willing to Learn
Have a Sense of Humor
10 Keys to Being a Good Coach
Know the Basics of the Sport
Plan for Your Season and Practices
Conduct Effective Practices
Teach Skills and Tactics
Correct Players in a Way That Helps Them Improve
Teach and Model Good Sporting Behavior
Provide for Players' Safety
Communicate Effectively
Coach Effectively During Games
Know What Success Is
Final Thoughts on the Keys to Being a Good Coach
What to Expect As a Coach
What Is Expected of You As a Coach
Equipment and Insurance
Last, But Not Least: Why Kids Play Soccer
2. Rules of the Game
Basic Youth Soccer Rules
Field
Equipment
Game Length
Players
Starts and Restarts
Moving the Ball
Fouls
Offside
Goalkeeping
Scoring
Officials
Terms
Keep on Learning
Teaching Rules to Your Players
Situational Plays
Practice Games
Brief Discussions
Players' Experiences
3. Communication Keys
10 Keys to Being a Good Communicator
Know Your Message
Make Sure You Are Understood
Deliver Your Message in the Proper Context
Use Appropriate Emotions and Tones
Adopt a Healthy Communication Style
Be Receptive
Provide Helpful Feedback
Be a Good Nonverbal Communicator
Be Consistent
Be Positive
Communicating with Parents
Preseason Meeting or Letter
Preseason Call
During the Season
Be Understanding-and Set Boundaries
Challenging Situations
Communicating with League Administrators
League Information
Coaches' Meetings and Clinics
Questions and Concerns
Communicating with Opponents and Referees
4. Safety Principles
Communicating the Inherent Risk
Being Prepared
CPR/First Aid Training
Chronic Health Condition Awareness
First Aid Kit
Providing Proper Supervision
Plan Your Practices
Inspect the Field and Equipment
Provide Proper Instruction
Supervise Each Activity
Responding to Minor Injuries
Cuts and Scrapes
Bruises
Sprains and Strains
Responding to Emergency Situations
Heatstroke
Heat Exhaustion
Respecting the Weather
Heat Guidelines
Lightning Guidelines
Severe Weather Guidelines
5. Practice Plans
Planning Your Season
Purpose
Tactics and Skills
Rules
Adjusting Your Season Plan
Sample Season Plan
Planning Practices
The Best Option: Simultaneous Stations
Player Safety
Coaching Instruction and Feedback
Sample Practice Plan
Conducting Your First Practice
12 Keys to Conducting Effective Practices
1. Be Prepared
2. Set the Stage
3. Involve Parents
4. Be Active
5. Be Active with a Purpose
6. Make It Fun
7. Provide Instruction
8. Give Feedback
9. Be Encouraging and Supportive
10. Promote Teamwork and Camaraderie
11. Discipline Players As Necessary
12. Wrap Up the Practice
6. Player Development
The Process for Teaching Skills and Tactics
Set the Stage
Show and Tell
Practice the Skill
Provide Feedback
Six Keys to Error Correction
Be Encouraging
Be Honest
Be Specific
Reinforce Correct Technique
Explain Why the Error Happened
Watch for Comprehension
7. Game Time!
The Practice Before the Game
Game Particulars
Game Focus
Before the Game
Team Warm-up
Last-minute Words
During the Game
Your Approach to the Game
Player Substitutions
Appropriate Behavior
After the Game
Team Meeting
8. Ingredients of a Successful Season
A Tale of Two Coaches
Evaluating Your Season
Did Your Players Have Fun?
Did Your Players Learn New Skills and Improve on Previously Learned Skills?
Did You Help Your Players Understand the Game and Its Rules?
Did You Communicate Appropriately and Effectively?
Did You Provide for Your Players' Safety?
Did You Plan and Conduct Effective Practices?
Did Your Players Give Maximum Effort in Practices and Games?
Did Your Players Leave the Games on the Field?
Did You Leave the Games on the Field?
Did You Conduct Yourself Appropriately?
Did You Communicate Effectively with Parents and Involve Them in Positive Ways?
Did You Coach Appropriately During Games?
Did You Win with Class and Lose with Dignity?
Did You Make the Experience Positive, Meaningful, and Fun for Your Players?
II. SKILLS AND TACTICS
9. Offensive Skills and Tactics
Ball Control
Dribbling
Foot and Ball Position
Head
Shielding the Ball
Changing Direction
Passing
Inside of the Foot
Outside of the Foot
Longer Passes
A Few Final Notes About Passing
Receiving
Receiving with the Foot
Receiving with the Thigh
Receiving with the Chest
Heading
Shooting
Formations
6v6
8v8 and 11v11
Support and Space
Providing Support
Creating Good Passing Angles
Passing the Ball into Open Space
Attacking
Crossing
Give-and-Go
Throw-ins
Corner Kicks
Goal Kicks
Free Kicks
10. Defensive Skills and Tactics
Basic Concepts
Winning the Ball
Getting Behind the Ball
Jockeying to Buy Time
Protecting the Danger Zone
The Closer to the Goal, the Tighter the Marking
Closing Down the Attacker
Forwards Play Defense, Too!
Zone Versus Player-to-Player
Marking
Tackling
Goalkeeping
Basic Concepts
Gathering Ground Balls
Catching Balls in the Air
Diving
Distributing the Ball
Defending Restarts
11. Games and Drills
Dribbling Games
Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Passing Games
Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Receiving Games
Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Heading Games
Game One
Game Two
Shooting Games
Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Defensive Games
Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Game Four
Offensive Games
Game One
Game Two
Restart Games
Game One
Game Two
III. APPENDIXES
A. Sample Letter to Parents
B. Medical Emergency Form
C. Injury Report
D. Season Plan
E. Practice Plan
F. Season Evaluation Form
1. Did Your Players Have Fun?
2. -Did Your Players Learn New Skills and Improve on Previously
Learned Skills?
3. -Did You Help Your Players Understand the Game and Its Rules?
4. -Did You Communicate Appropriately and Effectively?
5. Did You Provide for Your Players' Safety?
6. Did You Plan and Conduct Effective Practices?
7. -Did Your Players Give Maximum Effort in Practices and Games?
8. -Did Your Players Leave the Games on the Field?
9. Did You Leave the Games on the Field?
10. Did You Conduct Yourself Appropriately?
11. -Did You Communicate Effectively with Parents and Involve Them
in Positive Ways?
12. Did You Coach Appropriately During Games?
13. -Did You Win with Class and Lose with Dignity?
14. -Did You Make the Experience Positive, Meaningful, and Fun for
Your Players?
Index