Here is our list of the 5 most common mistakes among youth soccer coaches. Feel free to apply our advice during your next sessions.
1. Not demonstrating
Many coaches make the mistake of simply explaining a drill or a game without demonstrating it immediately. Not only does the explanation take time and cool down your players, but it is also not always effective for some players. Demonstration is the best way to ensure that all participants have a clear picture of what they are supposed to do. We advise you to demonstrate everything: the sequence, the specific rules, and also the goal of your exercise. Do not hesitate to involve your players in the demonstration.
2. Using too many technical drills at the expense of more complete games
In any sport, the best way to learn is to practice the sport as a whole. Recently, there has been a shift from an exercise-based approach to a more game-based approach. We advise coaches to constantly challenge their exercises:
- Is the drill realistic enough?
- Is the drill really more suitable than a simple game phase?
The old model suggested that dribbling could only be learned by doing slaloms around cones. That era is over. In other countries like the Netherlands or Spain, the game is prioritized above all. This way, players can directly apply their learning and have more fun in the process. This is very important for youth sessions such as U11 or U12. Coaches must understand that exercises should be as realistic as possible and contain as much game time as possible.
This advice is also valid for the warm-up. Too many coaches do not incorporate the ball or realistic game elements and instead opt for a "lap around the track." Avoid this approach as much as possible and prefer a ball-based warm-up.
3. Using elimination games
Elimination games should be banned from your sessions. These exercises, where some players are eliminated before the end, are bad for many reasons. First, elimination games do not give all players an equal chance to succeed because they punish certain players. Who in an elimination game will be out first? Generally, those who are least comfortable. Yet, who needs to practice their skills the most? Those who are least comfortable. Again, this does not give every player an equal chance to succeed and progress.
Secondly, in some elimination games, when participants are "out," they are simply told to stand aside, sit down, or wait for their more talented friends to finish the activity. Again, this does not allow participants to practice their skills and learn, which is what the exercise is supposed to do!
We advise you to avoid elimination games and instead use point-based games like this dribbling and stop-start exercise. You will keep the competitive spirit, which can be interesting and stimulating, while allowing each player to benefit from your drill or exercise.
4. Not making player safety a priority
Coaches are sometimes so absorbed in what they are doing that they neglect to take care of their players' safety. Ensuring that all balls are properly inflated, goals are clear, and players remove their jewelry is essential before the session starts. As a coach or sports educator, safety must be one of our top priorities, but it is too often neglected. The safety of your players is your responsibility, take it seriously.
5. Not having the attention of your players
The fifth and final mistake coaches often make is not capturing the attention of all players before starting to speak. This is especially important with youth soccer players. If you do not have the full attention of the participants, it will take you longer to convey the game or activity, and thus you will waste a lot of time during explanations. It is very important that players give their full attention to the activity to understand all its subtleties and benefit from it. In public speaking and rhetoric, it is often said that it is the speaker's responsibility to capture the audience's attention. It is your responsibility to capture your players' attention, no matter how young they are. Take the time to clearly explain (and demonstrate!) your drills and exercises, trying not to turn your back on your players. A good tip for younger players: ask them to sit down before you start your explanations.
