If you have been [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec] for a while, you would have realized by now the importance speed plays in the game, however were you aware that there are three elements of [tag-tec]soccer speed[/tag-tec] that a good player should demonstrate to further his development in this great game. When you think of [tag-tec]soccer speed[/tag-tec], the first thing that probably comes to mind is the ability to run fast and get to the ball first. This is essential, however this is only one of the three crucial elements that are required. The other two elements are…

Read the rest

Are you experiencing your first year at [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec]?  Maybe things are not going so well and results have not been as you had hoped.  Maybe there are a few kids in the team that don’t seem to get on and they are causing you some grief and disrupting the rest of the team.  What do you do?  Well, I have the answer….

Read the rest

There is a misconception that [tag-tec]soccer juggling[/tag-tec] has nothing to do with the game at all and is something that belongs in the circus. If you are new to [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec] or a new [tag-tec]soccer parent[/tag-tec], you may think all that is involved in this game is running up and down the field kicking a ball. There are so many other skills that you need when you want to be a good [tag-tec]soccer player[/tag-tec] and I will discuss these further in coming posts.  There is however one skill that I encourage all players to master and that is [tag-tec]soccer juggling[/tag-tec]. This skill alone will not guarantee success as a player but it will assist in developing a more complete [tag-tec]soccer player[/tag-tec].

Read the rest

If you are just starting out [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec] or if you are a [tag-tec]soccer parent[/tag-tec] that is new to the game, it is a good idea to be aware of the origins of [tag-tec]soccer[/tag-tec].  Having knowledge of [tag-tec]soccer history[/tag-tec] enables you to understand the truly international status and popularity of this great game and discover why it is truly called the ‘World Game’.

Read the rest

Are you a [tag-tec]soccer parent[/tag-tec] that encourages their child and their teammates during a soccer game no matter how they may be playing or what the score is?  Or are you a soccer parent that screams and yells at not only your own child but everyone else including players, officials and soccer coaches?  During my experience [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec], I have found the majority of the parents to be encouraging and supportive of both the players and myself as coach.  However, I have had a few parents whose behavior could probably be described as being “out of control”!

Read the rest

[tag-tec]Coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec] has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I have been involved in, however there have been times when I thought to myself, is all this really worth it?  Soccer training is on tonight, you have had a hard day at work and it’s a typical winter’s night out.  You make it to soccer training because the team hasn’t been going that great and they need this training session. As the training session progresses it is obvious that a couple of the kids seem hell bent on disrupting everything you do as well as disrupting the rest of the team.  You ignore them, hoping they will stop but they don’t and your patience is at the end.  You say to yourself “I have had enough” and you….

Read the rest

It can be very frustrating and embarrassing at times watching a sport and you have no idea what is going on because you do not understand the rules.  If you are just starting out [tag-tec]coaching youth soccer[/tag-tec] or if you are a new[tag-tec] soccer parents[/tag-tec], you need to understand the basic [tag-tec]soccer rules[/tag-tec]. At the end of this article, I provide a link where you can obtain further information on the [tag-tec]official soccer rules[/tag-tec], however I only intend to cover the very basic soccer rules here to give you a bit of an idea of what the game is about.  As a soccer coach, knowledge of the rules is essential, as soccer parents, knowledge of the rules will increase the enjoyment of watching your child play.

Read the rest

When a soccer parent finds himself or herself coaching a soccer team, usually they will find themselves coaching their own child.  This is often the case in soccer.  From my personal experience, [tag-tec]coaching a youth soccer[/tag-tec] team with your child can be very rewarding however it can also be difficult for both your child and you as a [tag-tec]soccer coach[/tag-tec]. Do you treat your child any differently or just as another member of the team?

Read the rest