Coaching kids' soccer

Howie Bodner's "Soccer Folklore"

• Line l : 3 full backs (right/center/left)
• Line 2 : 3 half backs (right/center/left)
• Line 3 : 4 forwards (right wing/center/center/left wing)

1. Never put a lazy runner at goal, he/she will typically be a lazy goalie as well (try full back, not much running).
2. Put your best players down the middle with the best all around player at center half back (e.g., a player who'll control the attack anywhere on the field and who knows what to do next). .
3. All other things being equal, if two of your forwards are physically big, put them at center (inside) forward and the short scrappy ones at wing (outside forward). There's nothing like size down the middle to overawe the opposing defense on your offensive charge (which should be backed up by your center half).
4. Full backs are brave, strong headers and kickers; and, the backbone of the team - give them publicity in shut-outs as an incentive since they rarely score.
5. Train two or more goalies - it isn't a "fun" position to play the whole game!
6. Novice Player Assignments: If the player is an "ace", let him/her play at any position. However, if the player is new and only normally good - let the youngster learn one position tolerably well in order to gain self-confidence and then have him/her try other positions. A worthy goal is to have all players know two positions by the end of the season. Some initial assignments:
1. Center half - your "ace"
2. Center forwards - slower, big players with savy and poise
3. Wings - smaller, scrappy players with savy and poise
4. Center full - strong, brave, mobile and savy
5. Outside fulls - Sturdy, strong kickers
6. Outside halfs - every-one else
NOTE:
1. This sacrifices outside halfs with weaker players which a good team can not afford - but it's a starting point
2. Best players are down the middle: center half, center forwards, center full, and goalie
3. Do what's best for your players - a good coach initially, however, can identify players by skills and put them at their best potential positions. This gives the team it's best chance and therefore the ability to try out more things - change later when you're able.
7. Make all positions seem important (coach's children somehow migrate to center forward) because they are! (e.g., a good team can not win without a good defense - they can with a great defense).
8. If a child will jump into the air to stop a ball, you've found a good player.
9. Substitute outside halfs frequently - they should be running up and down the field constantly (for novice players, provides for 4 weaker players an opportunity to play a half of a game with a good reason for substitution). Their presence is mandatory on defense - threatening on offense - you cannot sustain an attack with only 4 or 5 attackers (nominally, your forwards plus center half).
10. Teach the players to be aggressive on defense and "go to the ball" (but not the player) - BUT NOT en masse. One should go and the other back-up.
11. To aid coordination, while players can not use their hands, they can use their voice which, while taking minimal effort, gets the least exercise in a game. Players may talk ONLY to other players (team mates) on THEIR side, however.
12. Name a captain of each of your three lines:
    • Center forward for forward line
    • Center half for half back line
    • Center full for full back line.
    Let him/her be responsible for moving the lines up and down the, field - these are your best players and so recognized by the others - let them have responsibility and help teach the newer players.
13. On a break-away, one offensive player will almost always beat your goalie (note the effect of penalty kicks) - therefore have the goalie come out and charge the single offensive player.
14. Make your goalie the boss over your full backs. Have them invent a "secret" word (“goalie" or "keeper" are good choices) which allows the goalie, upon so yelling, to have exclusive rights to get the ball (defenders drop off) - isn't it frustrating to see your full back kick the ball away from your goalie? Note: if the goalie calls for the ball, he/she had better be sure they can get the ball.
15. In defensive half of the the field, center full should take all "free kicks". If not, the kicker will be the one you would have wanted to receive the ball and go! Note that if the goalie is doing "goal kicks“, who is protecting the goal as the ball comes rebounding in? (In the pros, goalies can kick the ball beyond the midfield mark; our youngsters are sometimes lucky to clear the penalty area.)
16. Outside halfs should do.all throw-ins - they're usually and supposed to be nearest the ball on the touch lines - otherwise, the player doing the throw-in will be the one you would have wished to receive the ball and go. A good play is to have the throw-in done immediatedly with the center half breaking down the sidelines.
17. Take all “free throws" and "free kicks" immediatedly - before the other team gets time to set-up (penalty kicks have to wait for the referee, however, as the only exception).
18. COSMOS do all their "throw-ins" from a standing still position - are two extra yards worth the chance of a turn-over?
19. Design a play for "indirect kicks“ in front of the goal (e.g., forward taps to center half) - otherwise that beautiful kick into goal won't count.
20. Keep center forwards up! They'll only get into the way of your defense (if 9 players can not do it, it won't get done) and you need them to turn the attack around when your defense finally clears the ball.
21. Conversely on offense, use your fulls to keep the ball in the offensive half of the field by sweeping at midfield and making sharp passes forward. Ping-Pong (aimless kicks) soccer may win but doesn't teach good soccer.
22. On your corner kicks, why not bring your fulls into the offensive part of the field (edge of kick-off circle) to help keep the ball in. On their corner kicks, bring back your wings to check an opposing player. 
23. If you ever (rarely) find yourself losing, try shooting a full back (in our league, center full is a good choice) on offense. This is one of your best players and will seem to come out of nowhere - besides it's fun to see how nervous and on their toes the remaining two fulls become. Remember, two players should be able to stop a break-away; otherwise, you have off-sides in your favor. Make sure that the center full drops back, however, when defense is needed.
24. If a player can not kick the ball, a short individualized lesson should solve the problem. Two things influence whether the ball moves smartly when kicked:
    • Follow through of the leg (players should only punch the ball after they've learned to kick properly - remember you're tennis lessons?)
    • Placement of the non-kicking foot - If beyond the ball, youngster will hit the ball on the down-swing (too low). If in front of the ball, youngster will hit top of the ball and it will skitter along the ground.
    Go through in slow motion a few times as the youngster learns placement of his/her feet and the feel of the follow-through. Kick the ball against the back of the net or a baseball back stop to alleviate fetching.
25. I like two hour practices to build endurance for the one hour game. Make sure, however, to compose drills lasting only about 10 minutes each. After one hour (midway through), relax with a strategy session of about 15 minutes. Alternate boring skill drills with fun exercises and always conclude with a "game" that the players enjoy.
26. A fun conclusion is a half-court game (if a scrimmage can not be set up) with optimally 7 against 7 - 4 forwards and three halfs against 3 halfs, 3 fulls and a goalie. Score 5 points for each goal and one point if the defense dribbles the ball out of the offensive half of the field, but not across the kick-off circle. Guess who wins?
27. Invite parents to participate in the practices so they can help teach the players (have them run on the field, one-on-one with the players during drills and the half-court game) and also so that the parents learn the game and can then help teach their youngster at home.
28. Drills which can be made into informal contests or races add excitement to otherwise boring drills. Keep the units for such drills small so that each player is participating frequently.
29. Emphasize in practice the handling, dribbling, and passing of the ball. If you run a lap, do it NOT for speed (we're not training track stars) but for endurance and ALWAYS with a ball to learn ball handling. Have each player also practice at home by dribbling around their house or playing in pick-up games.
30. Most accidents seem to occur at the beginning of the game when the players are not yet loosened up. This is alleviated by warm-up exercises WHICH ARE MANDATORY. You are requiring players to be at the field l/2 hour before game time for warm-ups, not to make life difficult for the parents.
31. NEVER argue with referees - simply instruct your players to go the other way - aren't we fortunate to have people donate a couple of hours for our children. Some of my best friends are referees.
32. Don't let your players worry about accidental penalties - use them as a learning experience. Notice that one player does not lose a game, a whole team wins them.
33. BUT DON'T MAKE WINNING EVERYTHING SINCE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE CHILDREN EVERY WEEK WILL NOT WIN (ABOUT 1/2). I like to win but this is an instructional league among local friends.
34. Spend time early in the season introducing the players to each other and memorizing their names. Soccer is very much a team sport depending on everyone - let's get to be friends with ice cream and pizza parties.

COACHS: