Coaching Junior Football Teams For Dummies

The National Alliance For Youth Sports has been America’s leading advocate for positive and safe sports for children for the past 25 years. It serves volunteer coaches, parents with children involved in organized sports, game officials, youth sports administrators, league directors, and the youngsters who participate in organised sport. The Alliance’s programmes are used in more than 3,000 communities across the USA by parks and recreation departments, Boys & Girls Clubs, Police Athletic Leagues, YMCAs/YWCAs, and various independent youth service groups, as well as on military installations worldwide. For more information on the Alliance’s programmes visit www.nays.org. Greg Bach is the communications director for the National Alliance For Youth Sports, a position he has held since 1993. Before joining NAYS, he worked as the sports editor of the Huron Daily Tribune in Bad Axe, Michigan, where he captured numerous writing awards from the Associated Press, Michigan Press Association, and the Hearst Corporation. He has a journalism degree from Michigan State University, which he earned in 1989. He’s an avid sport fan and has coached a variety of youth sports.James Heller has been involved in football on and off for over 35 years. As a player, he played from youth-team level through into senior football. He has also helped to coach and manage football teams at several different age levels. In his time associated with ‘the beautiful game’ he has seen junior football coaching in the UK improve from a situation where 20 children ran around a muddy park aimlessly chasing the ball, watched by two cold goalkeepers, to one where the focus is on mini-soccer, skills improvement, and ‘one child, one ball’ training sessions.

• Introduction 1About This Book 1Conventions Used in This Book 2What You’re Not to Read 2Foolish Assumptions 3How This Book Is Organised 3Part I: Getting Started Coaching Football 3Part II: Building Your Coaching Skills 4Part III: Beginning and Intermediate Football 4Part IV: Advanced Football Strategies 4Part V: The Finer Details 5Part VI: The Part of Tens 5Icons Used in This Book 5Where to Go from Here 6Part I: Getting Started Coaching Football 7Chapter 1: Coaching Children in Football 9Striking a Balance between Parenting and Coaching 9Kicking around the decision with your kid 10Focusing on family-friendly football rules 11Doing Your Homework 12Working with – and not against – parents 13Deciphering rules and mastering terminology 14On the Pitch 14Planning training sessions 14Match day 15Chapter 2: Getting Organised 17Developing a Coaching Philosophy 17Tailoring your coaching to your age group 18Emphasising teamwork 20Motivating players 22Fostering a positive atmosphere 23Making every kid count 23Focusing on fun and skill development 24Modelling good sportsmanship 25Understanding the League You’re Coaching In 26Knowing your league’s rules 27Playing for fun or first place 28Chapter 3: Knowing the Football Basics 31Inside the Lines 31Taking Up Position 34Positions on the pitch 34Placing kids in the appropriate positions 39Deciphering the Rules of the Game 41Putting the Ball Back into Play 43Throw-in 43Corner kicks 44Goal kicks 44Adjusting the Game for the Younger Leagues 45Smaller pitch size 45Smaller balls 46No-goalie games 46Fewer players 46Special substitution rules 47The Men (and Women) in Black: Referees 48Hand signals 48Major fouls 50Types of penalties 51Minor fouls 52Offsides 53Part II: Building Your Coaching Skills 57Chapter 4: Meet the Parents 59Introducing Yourself 60Explaining your coaching philosophy 61Emphasising good sportsmanship 62Detailing how you determine playing time 63‘Who’s playing goalie?’ and other sticky positioning situations 65Putting Together the Paperwork 66League paperwork 66Team packs 67Assembling Your Parent Posse 68Choosing assistant coaches 68Defining supporting roles 69Going Over Equipment 71Meeting Players’ Special Needs 73Answering Parents’ Questions 73Chapter 5: Evaluating Your Team 75The Art of Evaluation 75Evaluating your players’ skills 76Identifying team strengths and weaknesses 78Lining ’Em Up 80Assigning team positions 80Finding roles for everyone 82Understanding and Interacting with All the Kids 83The shy child 83The uncoordinated child 84The child with the short attention span 85The athletically gifted child 86The child who doesn’t want to be there 87The disruptive child 88The child with special needs 89The bully 90The inexperienced child 91The ball hog 92The average child 94Chapter 6: Running a Great Training Session 97Coming to Training Prepared 97Bringing balls and cones 98Packing your first-aid kit 99First Training Session: Kicking Off the Season 100Greeting the team for the first time 101Making coach and player introductions 102Knowing the skills to focus on first 104Putting smiles on their faces 104Creating a Training Plan 108Putting it all together 109Figuring out how long and how often 111Thinking about practice games 112Ensuring lots of touches for each child 113Letting kids help select training session drills 114Setting the tone 114Keeping things consistent 115Making Training Time Beneficial 116Recognising the high points 117Building skills 118Helping those who need it 119Ending on a Positive Note 120Chapter 7: Match Day 123Understanding Your Pre-game Responsibilities 123Inspect the pitch 124Meet with the opposing coach and officials 124Holding a Pre-game Team Meeting 125Fire up your team with an inspirational talk 126Assign positions 128Keep instructions simple 128Conducting Your Warm-Up 129Kick Off! 131Motivating during the game 132Communicating tactics 133Taking advantage of breaks in play 134Substituting players 134Making the Most of the Half-time Speech 135Winning and Losing Gracefully 140Winning gracefully 140Losing well 141Making an Impact with a Post Match Talk 141Keep the focus on fun 142Accentuate the positive 142Recognising good sportsmanship 143Dealing with defeat 143Chapter 8: Refining Your Coaching Strategies 145Dealing with Shifting Team Dynamics 145Recognising improvements 146Revising your plan 147Undergoing a Mid-Season Review 148Pointing out progress and improvement 148Setting goals 148Making plans for players 150Chatting with Parents 151Part III: Beginning and Intermediate Football 153Chapter 9: Mastering the Fundamentals 155Introducing First-Timers to Football 156Shooting 156Explaining the instep kick 157Ball Dribbling 160Passing 161Trapping 163Receiving 165Heading 166Goalkeeping 168Defending 171Determining What to Do If a Kid Just Doesn’t Get It 172Making a difference 173Recognising physical problems 174Coaching with dignity 174Chapter 10: Fundamental Drills for a New Team 177Warming Up Right 177Drills for Attacking Play 180Passing and receiving 180Shooting 182Ball dribbling 183Heading 185Defensive Drills 186Tackling 187Defending 188Goalkeeping 190Chapter 11: Coaching Basic Attacking 193Planning Different Types of Attacks 193Understanding Positional Play 196Kicking the Attacking Skills Up a Notch 198Shielding 198Square pass 199Through pass 199Chipped pass 200Crossfield pass 200Outside of foot pass 201The one-two 201Bend it like Beckham 202Driving 203Chapter 12: Coaching Basic Defending 205Exploring Different Types of Defence 205Man-to-man defence 206Zonal defence 208Improving Defensive Skills 210Marking 211Block tackle 212Shoulder charge 213Side tackle 214Sliding tackle 214Hook tackle 216Part IV: Advanced Football Strategies 219Chapter 13: Taking It Up a Notch: Drills 221Attacking Drills 221Attacking 222Passing 223Shooting 224Ball handling 225Heading 228Defensive Drills 229Tackling 229Defending 230Goalkeeping 231Putting It All Together: Sample Training Session 232Chapter 14: Upgrading Attacking Tactics and Skills 235Upgrading the Attack 235Two-three-five formation 236Four-two-four formation 238Three-three-four formation 239Three-five-two formation 240Three-four-three formation 241Introducing New Attacking Skills 243Delivering crosses 243Heading crosses 244Feints 245Chapter 15: Advanced Defending and Formations 251Experimenting with Defensive Formations 251Four-three-three formation 252Four-four-two formation 254Four-five-one formation 256Clearing Strategies 257The back pass to the keeper 258Clearing toward the touchlines 258Introducing New Defensive Skills 259Chasing down 259Man marking 260Moving out 260Offside trap 261Chapter 16: Coaching Set Pieces 263Attacking from Set Pieces 263Throw-ins 264Penalty kicks 266Corner kicks 267Free kicks 269Defending Set Pieces 272Throw-ins 272The wall 273Goal keeper’s drop kicks 274Goalie throws 275Defending corner kicks 276Defending penalty kicks 276Defending direct and indirect kicks 277Chapter 17: Implementing Advanced Exercises 279Conditioning Your Players 279Developing Challenging Exercises 281Part V: The Finer Details 287Chapter 18: Keeping Kids Injury Free and Healthy 289Warming Up to Injury Prevention 289Stretching to improve flexibility 291Breaking a sweat 292Cooling off 293Handling Injuries 294Dealing with blood 294Soothing strains and sprains 295Coping with more serious injuries 296Handling emergency situations 298Be prepared for emergencies 298Watching the Weather 299Following a Healthy Diet 300What to eat – pre-game 301What to eat post-game 302Getting enough water 302Chapter 19: Challenges Every Coach Faces 305Dealing with Problem Parents 305Parents who want to win at all costs 306Parents who think you’re a baby-sitter 308Parents who want their child to play all the time 309Disruptive parents 310Coping with Problem Coaches 313Coaches who encourage unsafe play 314Coaches who model poor sportsmanship 314Disagreeable assistants 315Handling Discipline Problems 316The non-listener 319The talker 320The perpetually late child 320Chapter 20: Getting More Competitive 323Enjoying Top-Level Competition: Competitive Football 323I Want You and You: The Selection Process 324Selecting players 327Breaking the good and bad news to players 328Keeping the Energy Up All Season 329Avoiding burnout 329Keeping everyone in the game 330Competing in weekend tournaments 330Hitting the Road 331Part VI: The Part of Tens 333Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Make the Season Memorable 335Challenge the Coach Day 335Bring Your Parent to Training Day 336New Exercises 336Contest Day 337Midseason Report Cards 337Bringing in New Faces 338Team Votes 338Team Captain for the Day 339Carnival Day 339Holiday or Birthday Themes 339Chapter 22: Ten Fun Ways to End on a High Note 341Jazzing Up Team Awards 341Record Your Team 342Create Individual Recordings of Each Child 343Distribute Team Stickers 343Hold One-on-One Meetings 344Create a Team Newsletter 344Create a Team Photo Album 345Schedule a Crazy Training Session 345Take a Football Photo 346Have a Team Memento 346Chapter 23: Ten Recommended Resources and Organisations 347The FA 347Getting a Handle on Small-Sided Games 348Helping Football Parents Be Model Parents 348Being Up to Speed on First Aid 349Exploring the Treatment Room 350Being Part of the Beautiful Game 350Explaining Rules and Regulations 351Developing Skills and Drills 351Going Official: A Licence to Drill 352Finding Answers on a Coaching Forum 352Index 353