Parent guides › Parent coaches
For parent coachesFirst time coaching?
your first week
Someone asked for volunteers, and now you have a team, a bag of balls and a practice on Tuesday. You do not need to know much about soccer to do this well. Here is what to do in your first week.
You do not need to be an expert. You need a plan, a ball for every child and a good attitude.
Before the first practice
- Get your roster and message the parents: when, where and what to bring.
- Find out the format and rules for your age group.
- Collect your gear, and ask every player to bring a ball.
- Pick a practice plan and read it once. You do not need to write your own.
- Ask one parent to help. Two adults make everything easier.
What to bring
- A ball for every child, plus a couple of spares.
- 20 to 30 cones.
- Pinnies in two colors.
- Water, a basic first aid kit and your roster with phone numbers.
Your first practice
Read the plan once in the car, and set up the first activity before anyone arrives. Start the moment the first child gets there. No lines, no laps, no lecture.
Learn every name. Coach only two points for the whole session, and say them often. Finish with a real game, because that is what the children came for. If you run short of time, cut something else. Never cut the game.
Three mistakes to avoid
- Talking too long. If the children are sitting down, you have lost them.
- Lines. A child waiting in a line is not playing soccer.
- Coaching everything. Pick two things and let the rest go.
What parents want from you
Less than you think. They want their child to have fun, to feel welcome and to come home tired. A short message before each week helps a lot. So does knowing every child’s name by the end of the first night.
Something will go wrong
You will forget the pinnies. A game will fall apart. Someone will cry. The children will not remember any of that. They will remember whether it was fun and whether you were kind to them.
Every practice, already written
You should not have to plan every session on your own. Each season curriculum gives you one page per session and an animated video of every activity. Read it in the car, set out your cones and coach.
Questions coaches ask
I’ve never played soccer. Can I still coach?
Yes. At the youngest ages your energy and organization matter far more than your soccer knowledge. A good plan does the rest.
How long should the first practice be?
About 45 to 60 minutes for the youngest ages, and 60 minutes for U7 and U8. It is better to finish with them wanting more.
What if the kids don’t listen?
Talk less and keep them moving. Children who are playing rarely need to be told to pay attention.
Free practice plans ›Field sizes and rules by age ›Your first parent meeting ›