How To Coach Soccer

How To Coach Soccer - Tip #1: Get to know the parents!
This is very important because these are the people that will be screaming from the sidelines. As soon as you get the players roster introduce yourself to them via phone, email or in person.

How To Coach Soccer - Tip #2: Practice Time
Practices should be no longer than 45 minutes to an hour. Especially when working with younger kids because they tend to get bored fairly quickly.

How To Coach Soccer - Tip #3: Stretching
Have the kids stretch first thing. Spend about 5 minutes doing some basic stretches. You may want to have one of the kids choose a stretch or two to make them feel like more of the team.

How To Coach Soccer - Tip #4: Practice Passing The Ball
During practice have the kids practice passing the ball. You won't see much of this in an actual game for the real young ones, but they have to get used to it so practice is the best time for that.

How To Coach Soccer - Tip #5: Shoot at the Goal
Use at least 10 minutes of your practice time and have the kids shoot at the goal (that is the point right?) Make sure they all each have several shots at it.

How To Coach Soccer - Tip #6: Scrimmage
End each practice with a scrimmage. This will teach the kids which goal their team is attacking, but it's OK if they get confused. Expect it to happen.

Here are the simplified rules and laws for soccer. As you will notice some of them have modified version for youth soccer. Of course you may want to get in touch with your local league to verify all of this.

Law 1. Field Dimensions. Modified for youth to promote lots of touches. Fields can be 20' wide X 30' long for micro soccer and up to 70' wide X 110' long for 11v11 games.

Law 2. Balls size. A #3 is used for players U6 to U9. A #4 for players U10 to U12. U13 and up use a #5.

Law 3. Number of players. Modified from 3 players to 11

Law 4. Player's equipment. Shin guards with socks that completely cover Shin guards. No jewelry and no baseball cleats because the front cleats stick out.

Law 5. Referees. Modified. The referee's main concern is the safety of the players. The ref enforces all the rules of the game. Most 3v3 leagues do not use a referee.

Law 6. Assistant referee. In 11v11 games there are two assistants helping the referee control the game.

Law 7. Duration of the game. Modified. The official time is two 45-minute halves. With youth leagues it can range from two 20 min. halves up to 45. Some leagues have 4 12-minute quarters which is the time recommended for micro soccer.

Law 8. Start of play. The kick off is taken at the center spot and is determined by a coin toss. The ball has to move forward to start the half. Each player must be in his or her half of the field and at least ten yards away from the ball. If a referee has to do a ball drop, the play resumes when the ball hits the ground.

Law 9. Ball in and out of play. The ball is out of play when it COMPLETELY goes over the goal line or touch-line. It doesn't matter whether it's in the air or on the ground.

Law 10. Method of scoring. The ball must COMPLETELY go across the line into the goal.

Law 11. Off sides. One of the most complicated laws of the game. Most leagues don't apply off sides till they start playing 11 V 11. The basic concept is that a player must have at least one defender (not including the goalkeeper) between him and the goal WHEN the ball is played to him. Also to be offside the player must be in the opponents side and looking to gain an advantage.

Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct- At the youth level most fouls are due to pushing, holding or tripping and result in a free kick. Other ones to watch out for are handballs and charging.

Law 13. Free kicks. There are two types. A direct and indirect. At the youth level most free kicks are classified as indirect. This means a goal may not be scored until the ball has been played or touched by a second player of either team.

Law 14. Penalty Kick- If a play commits a foul in their own penalty area a Penalty kick will be awarded. The kick is taken twelve yards out from the goal. I highly recommend that penalty kicks not be called in the micro soccer leagues.

Law 15. Throw in. The thing to teach your players is both feet have to be on the ground, must have two hands on the ball, and the throw must come from behind the players head. The penalty for a bad throw in is that the opposing team get the ball. Some leagues don't enforce this rules or give the player two chances.

Law 16. Goal Kick. A goal kick is granted when the attacking team kicks the ball over the goal line. The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has left the penalty area and has been touched my another player on either team.

Law 17. Corner Kick. A corner kick is awarded when the defending team kicks the ball over their own goal line. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.