Parents: Leave the Coaching to the Coach

This is a memo from Soccer Journal Editorial Board member Len Oliver to members of his club concerning the U-8 program. Sound familiar?

To: U-8 coed and U-8 girls coaches/U-7 coaches
From: Len Oliver
Re: Observations and ideas

Observations: Playing 4 v 4 (5 v 5 with keepers) seems to be working, especially for the U-8s on the larger field. Kids are getting more touches on the ball, using space, stopping the swarming and playing more than one-touch "kick it up the field" soccer. Their skills obviously need work.

The U-8s are playing with keepers. We will be talking about the keeper's role at this level, how to train your keepers with technical skills as the psychological dimension of keeping.

Soccer tip: Never let a field player criticize a keeper for a goal. Someone else broke down to allow the shot. Make a mistake in the field, no problem. Make a mistake in goal and the world comes in on you.

Too Many Instructions: Eliminate the micro-instructions from coaches and parents. Soccer players make two decisions a second and you are only adding a third that is confusing and often tuned out. Just let them play and make their own decisions.

Example: Very tall parent in back of goal just behind his kid instructing him. The kid had to listen to his dad and took his concentration off the game. Parents on the sidelines, please.

Stay Off the Field: This is self-explanatory. With the U-8s, we are approximating the "real" game, which means coaches and parents cannot just walk on a field without the referee's permission.

Example: One coach is on the field refereeing, while giving instructions to his team. Not only was this unfair and outside the role of the ref, but it severely distracted from the kids' concentration. When asked, the coach asked me: "What am I supposed to do?"

Response: Get off the field, drink a Starbucks and be quiet. Let the players play.

Parents: Parents were generally well behaved, having matured in DCSSL and cheering for their teams, avoiding giving instructions (with several exceptions) and nurturing your youngsters by compliments and encouragement.

• Don't give instructions.  You undermine the coach.
• Cheer for the team. Joey's parents weren't able to come, so he too needs support
• Reward good plays on both teams with compliments. They hear you..

Warmups: Some of you need work. I can tell who has taken the USSF age-appropriate courses - every kid is in motion, every kid has a ball, you play dribbling and passing games and the kids have fun.

Still too many lines waiting to shoot at goal, one by one (as in basketball). Still too many kids just standing around. Warm-ups tended to be random, disorganized.

Do your entire warmup with every player having a ball. Stretch your team-it builds team identification! Remember: No lines, no laps, no lectures.

Formation: Some of you worry about formations. Not at this age. There are only four situations:

1. We have the ball and everyone is on offense.
2. We don't have the ball and everyone is on defense.
3. We just won (lost) the ball and have to react.
4. The ball is in transition - anybody can win it.

Goalies: Instruct them to run to the edge of the box before punting or throwing. Referees have to protect the goalies: "Possession is any part of the arm or hand" (from the finger tips to the shoulder). Work on their throws and punts.

One-Touch: There is too much "first-time kicking." In practice, make "two-touch" mandatory. This eliminates the wild first-time kicks and encourages your players "to look up."

Moving as a Team:

Try to get your players moving as a team. They are still playing as individuals. Teach them support, cover, and how to create options for passes.

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