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Game day for new coaches:
what to do

By Gabe Ramos · U.S. Soccer Coach Educator · Updated November 2026

Your first game can feel like a lot. There are parents watching, a referee, a schedule and a pile of children who all want to play at once. Here is how to keep it simple.

Before kickoff

• Arrive early, and check the field and goals.
• Write down your lineup and subs before anyone arrives.
• Greet each child by name.
• Say hello to the other coach and the referee.

The warm-up

Keep it simple and keep the balls moving. Use something the players already know, so nobody needs instructions. Older teams do well with the same routine every game. The 30-minute game-day warm-up is a good one, and by the fourth week the players can run most of it themselves.

Say one thing

Before kickoff, give the team one job, and only one. “Head up” or “get big” is plenty. A child who has been given five instructions remembers none of them.

During the game

Say the habit, not the play. “Get big” helps a player decide. “Pass it to Maya” decides for them. The less you shout, the more they think. Keep an eye on your subs, and try to notice one good thing each player does.

The referee

At youth games, the referee is often a teenager. They will miss calls, and it is not a big deal. Treat them with respect, and expect your parents to do the same. The players are watching how you behave.

Halftime

Water first. Then ask two questions and listen. “What’s working?” and “What should we try?” are plenty. Keep it to a couple of minutes, and do not use it to correct everything you saw.

After the game

Line up and shake hands. Bring the team in, say one good thing, tell them when the next practice is and let them go. Save the serious thinking for later. Nobody learns anything in the five minutes after a game.

Questions coaches ask

Fair playing time ›Dealing with sideline parents ›Free practice plans ›