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From 2006...

It looks like I'll be coaching for my son's Under-6 soccer team. I went to sign up our 4 year old and found out there was a coaching shortage. He wasn't going to get to play unless I volunteered, so I agreed if they would let his cousin play in from a neighboring city and join our team.

The coaches get to pick the team name and colors. I wanted to be the Parrotheads with tropical shirts, but he didn't go for that. We settled on Pirates with red and black uniforms, and I think it will be fun.

Any advice from soccer coaches out there? I've refereed before but never coached...

Advice: Make sure the kids have fun!! Win, lose, eh...it doesn't matter.

Maybe get them all plastic pirate hook hands so they're not tempted to touch the ball??

Have fun.. let the kids see that..

If they are kickin bU** too bad, make them use peg legs.

Get ready to do some running. Drink plenty of water.

Enjoy yourself.

Sliced oranges and Sunny D rules!

Be prepared for A-HOLE parents

I'm a big fan of "hustle" prizes and privaleges for the youngsters

Yelling and screaming might get you in the newspaper

Tequila Revenge wrote:Sliced oranges and Sunny D rules!

Be prepared for A-HOLE parents

I'm a big fan of "hustle" prizes and privaleges for the youngsters

Yelling and screaming might get you in the newspaper

Sliced oranges were awesome! So were Dunkin Donuts Munchkins for after the game!

It helps too if you set up a schedule so that each parent brings oranges and munchkins to one game per season.

Ya just need to locate DA COACH to help ya out

Big Jimmy wrote:Ya just need to locate DA COACH to help ya out

Forgot to add - my 6 year old's coach played professional soccer when he was younger, and he owns a soccer store in town, so I think I've got a good mentor there (not to mention the discounts he's giving me). I'm going to a coaching clinic Friday night to learn about techniques and drills, so hopefully that will help too.

I haven't done this before and I want to do a good job, so I appreciate the input from everyone. I guess my biggest concern is being harder on Colton than the other kids, so I'll try to be careful with that one.

Well remember you're not going to turn them into Pele overnight!

Find yourself a good assistant coach to help with the mayhem of games and practice and a great team mom/dad to coordinate refreshment lists and post-season parties and such.

You are not only coaching the kids, but also coaching the parents. Be firm and clear that at that age, the kids are playing soccer to learn the game and have fun. It's important for parents to cheer for all kids either by their names or by the team name, and not just for their own kid.

I damn near got in a brawl (yes, you read that right) with my BIL for being an absolute penis-head at his daughter's soccer game. Our team was decidedly ahead, but BIL kept yelling comments at the opposing team's coach about how he had his girls lined up (he had a defender hanging back but this was pre-goalie league and I guess that wasn't OK). His wife (my sister) was the team coach and he was just absolutely mortifying her and his own daughter so I had some choice words with him. I prolly woulda decked the guy (yep, you read that right) but hubby stepped in and calmed me down.

I have HUGE amounts of tolerance for people, but being an a**hole to children is not a place where I display much patience.

Do y'all keep score at that age? I don't think the leagues in my city keep score at 4. Not 'til 6 and up I believe.

buffettbride wrote:post-season parties

Now you're talking - I guess we'll be invading Hoot Island sometime in November

buffettbride wrote:Do y'all keep score at that age? I don't think the leagues in my city keep score at 4. Not 'til 6 and up I believe.

No scorekeeping until 8 yrs old here. Mrs. Play coached middle school girls sports for a while and has a lot of experience dealing with parents, so hopefully she can help me deal with some of the BS.

Mr Play wrote:

buffettbride wrote:Do y'all keep score at that age? I don't think the leagues in my city keep score at 4. Not 'til 6 and up I believe.

No scorekeeping until 8 yrs old here. Mrs. Play coached middle school girls sports for a while and has a lot of experience dealing with parents, so hopefully she can help me deal with some of the BS.

yeah I'd hate to move to Dallas to be an assistant for you

Mr Play wrote:

Big Jimmy wrote:Ya just need to locate DA COACH to help ya out

Forgot to add - my 6 year old's coach played professional soccer when he was younger, and he owns a soccer store in town, so I think I've got a good mentor there (not to mention the discounts he's giving me). I'm going to a coaching clinic Friday night to learn about techniques and drills, so hopefully that will help too.

I haven't done this before and I want to do a good job, so I appreciate the input from everyone. I guess my biggest concern is being harder on Colton than the other kids, so I'll try to be careful with that one.

That's what therapy is for! My sons are in thier 20's and I went through the same thing when I coached. And, bcause you love kids, your son will be fine

BTW, a big THANK YOU for being a great Dad and parent

conched wrote:If they are kickin bU** too bad, make them use peg legs.

Or maybe an eye patch over one eye?

Mr Play, you truly rock.

Get ready to rumble, because you are going to use your legs and your voice more than you could have imagined. But as long as you keep their attention for the first ten minutes, they have the energy to take it from there.

(and just so you know, three things motivate players of that age: snacks, motion, and going against the grain -- so make up some crazy thing like, "They say we're not allowed to pass the ball more than three times before we score a goal. Heck with that! Then let's get Slurpees.")

Tequila Revenge wrote:Sliced oranges and Sunny D rules!

Jimmy can bring the oranges.

Mr Play wrote:

Big Jimmy wrote:Ya just need to locate DA COACH to help ya out

Forgot to add - my 6 year old's coach played professional soccer when he was younger, and he owns a soccer store in town, so I think I've got a good mentor there (not to mention the discounts he's giving me). I'm going to a coaching clinic Friday night to learn about techniques and drills, so hopefully that will help too.

I haven't done this before and I want to do a good job, so I appreciate the input from everyone. I guess my biggest concern is being harder on Colton than the other kids, so I'll try to be careful with that one.

unless you are not at the hospital

My ex has coached soccer for 9 years now... I Think he knows a couple of good websites.... you will have fun! I love watching 7 kids go after a ball at the same time. Take lots of pics!!

mermaidindisguise wrote:I love watching 7 kids go after a ball at the same time. Take lots of pics!!

We play 4 at a time here with 8 kids on the roster. No goalie yet, and they all get equal playing time.
We'll probably set up a little website with pictures and game info. I'll post a link here if we do.

Sounds like a lot of fun, unless you have to deal with wacked out parents.