Coaching Youth Soccer: How Does a Youth Soccer Player Learn?

To be effective when coaching youth soccer, it is important that the coach has an understanding of how a young player learns. The youth soccer coach needs to be aware of the following factors before he starts coaching a young player.

1. The youth soccer coach and the soccer player need to have the correct attitude towards learning. To expand on this a bit further, by having the correct attitude, I mean that when undertaking a soccer coaching drill, both the coach and the player need to demonstrate two qualities:

· An open mind
· An inquiring mind

The open mind is important to receive new concepts and ideas. This is important to be able to develop and move forward. If either the coach or the player has a closed mind, they are giving the impression that they know everything. If you are a soccer coach and have been coaching youth soccer for a while, I'm sure you have experienced some players that have a closed mind! From a coaching perspective, if you have a closed mind it can also mean that you may have become stuck in old ways and negative to change.

To have an inquiring mind means that you are receptive to new ideas and practices. However, not all ideas are good and it would be a mistake to accept a new idea on the sole basis that it is new. Both the coach and the player should question new ideas including new soccer coaching drills and only after evaluation, then consider whether the idea should be accepted or rejected based on their own circumstances.

2. The player must be interested and be seen demonstrating enthusiasm. If the player is displaying signs during a soccer coaching drill that he is not interested and does not really want to be there, this can be very damaging if allowed to continue.

3. A young player learns by watching. They need to watch soccer, either at the game or on television. Let them have their heroes and idols and let them copy their moves and style. This is a way of learning through experimentation. Its great to see young players practicing the latest soccer move or soccer trick they have seen.

4. A youth soccer player will learn by being set targets and milestones. Targets that raise the bar a bit higher and make them strive to be better. A player enjoys seeing improvement in their abilities and should be made aware of their progression. It is important to note here that the soccer coach needs to be careful when increasing the challenge for a player. When implementing the soccer coaching drill, ensure the player is ready and the target is not set too high to make it unattainable.

5. A youth player will learn through quality and correct practice. Incorrect practice of a soccer coaching drill can be very harmful and difficult for a soccer coach to correct the older the player is. The quality of the practice is more important than the quantity.

Coaching youth soccer can be one of the most rewarding experiences you undertake. I hope this article has provided information that will help educate you as a coach, which in turn will assist in the development of your youth soccer players.