Common Problems for Soccer Coaches

If you are a soccer coach for anyone of the soccer organizations in the United States you know how hard it is to coach kids of any age. From the time kids are old enough to play soccer to the end of their high school years, coaches have had basically the same problems year after year.

As kids grow some of the problems change like different situations, different circumstances but there are often similarities. All youth coaches struggle to find the answers but for some there is just no right answer.

For eleven years my daughter has been playing soccer, I have heard probably a million things said over and over again from the players and parents. Why can't I do this? I can only play that position. The coach is wrong! Parents pressuring the coach do this and that. I know more than the coach and there are hundreds more grips and complaints.

What is a coach to do? I have put together a list of situation that have happened and maybe with these suggestions there is help, even if it help just one coach that is out there, that is ready to pull his or her hair out.

1. You have a player that wants to play only one position.
If you are dealing with a young soccer player, explain to them that a true soccer player is capable of playing several positions. You can teach new positions to a soccer player during practice. Help them to understand that this is the way to improve their ability and skill.

2. The coach is wrong.
If you have players that constantly challenge the coach, then the coach needs to let the team know that he or she will not tolerate any negative discussions during a game. These discussions need to take place at practice and if need be on a one-to-one level.

Coaches can learn from the player also so the coach needs to listen, take the information the player is giving and consider it. These players that challenge a coach are usually older and have a sold game sense.

3. Interference from parents.
This is one issue that is tricky but can be handled. Call a parent meeting and explain that your child tried out for my team and these are the rules. Explain them thoroughly.

The next time a parent is constantly yelling during a game, ask that parent to come and help you during practice. Explain that you really appreciate the interest and that you could use the extra help. This usually will stop the yelling because this parent probably doesn't know enough about the game of soccer to help.

4. Substitutions too often
The game of soccer is built on fitness and skill, played from start to finish with no more than two subs. If you are a coach that has never played the game of soccer yourself, then remember, it takes 10 to 15 minutes for a soccer player to become comfortable and to close out the outside world while on the soccer field.

If you are coaching small children then to many sub is quite okay. Little children love to play but their legs are still growing and can't play the whole game.

5. Failure to communicate
No child likes to be taken off the field during a game. When the child does come off the field all coaches need to make a point to talk to the child one on one. Tell the child he or she did a good job and that you need to get so and so on the field. A pat on the back or head makes a child feel good. Even if you have taken the child off the field because he or she wasn't playing good, use that time to talk to the child in a learning matter.

6. Dealing with a disruptive players or player.
Often children get bored pretty fast. This is cause from just setting on the bench and not being active. They can start an argument with another player, then another player gets in on the argument and it can snow ball. The best thing to do is have less talking from the coach and more practice on the field.

During a game the coach can ask questions of the kids setting on the bench. Ask several what they would have done in that instance. This can also be a learning session. You can still keep your eye on the game and your players while keeping the disruption down.

7. Plan for emergencies
Coaches need to plan for the unexpected. What if your goaltender gets hurt, do you have a back up? Can you move so-and-so to left wing? Always have a back up plan as to how you would move players from one position to another.