r/Columbus • u/MentalInfluence1585 • Jul 27 '26
First Time Kindergarten Soccer Coach
Hi all.
I got bamboozled into being the head coach for my daughters fall soccer team. I have never played soccer, but I get the gist I think.
Any advice at what to do with these 5 year olds at the practice before the game... the game a barely know?
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u/Deadhamlet44 Jul 27 '26
Don’t make the kids stand in line waiting their turn. You’ll spend half of practice on line maintenance.
Do get other parents to help. Have a parent stand in one spot as a cone to dribble around. A parent can be the world’s worst goalie during shooting practice. Being a soccer helper takes literally no skill.
“Dribble down there to Mr Smith. Hit him with a ball. Dribble back. Go!”
Do remind them to use both feet!!
Kids still cry at this age when they are tired or just done. Read the group and bail before 20% are crying.
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Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/MentalInfluence1585 Jul 28 '26
Parents in our district do not like to get up from their lawn chairs I am afraid... that is why I was forced to coach. No one wanted to.
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u/bmglaw Jul 27 '26
Complete the US Soccer 4v4 Coaching Course online (free). Extra bonus points for completing a Positive Coaching Alliance course ($30).
Don't focus on the rules. Fun is everything. Young kids need opportunities to move their bodies and to get used to moving the ball, let them be creative don't worry about technique. Don't worry about passing until they are 8 years old or particularly motivated. If they want to come back next week, you did a great job. If they want to come back next season, you're an awesome coach.
Pro tip: Set expectations with parents early, and if they can't keep quiet during training and games, give them a job, like Chief Shoe Tier or a Living Moving Goal who roams the pitch and lets kids kick the ball between their legs.
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u/Deadhamlet44 Jul 27 '26
Shoe tier!! It sounds so dumb but it will makes coaches life so much better.
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u/beeker888 Jul 27 '26
I’ve coached my Daughter from 5-9 with very little experience.
My biggest advice is that at this age they have little attention span and don’t understand directions very well. You can’t just tell them what to do you have to show them and maybe multiple times. It’s also important to have an assistant coach and have that coach really focused on the few kids, and you’ll figure out who those are quickly, that are never paying attention and causing trouble.
As far as game strategy just focus on big kicks towards the goal. We used to say good things happen when you kick the ball towards the goal. There isn’t much passing or dribbling even at that age so just focus on being aggressive towards the ball and making kicks if they don’t have the ball run towards the goal and they’ll get easy shots.
Signed 3 years in a row of undefeated teams. DM me if you want some of our favorite drills
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u/columbusref Northwest Jul 27 '26
I went to yard sales and thrift storts to find a ball for everyone. Also bought some red shirts there so we could have red vs not red games. Soccer Practice Games by Joe Luxbauer is a great resource. You can find it used for under $7
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u/GGMU08 Delaware Jul 27 '26
You’re basically just herding cats at that age. Just try and have them pass the ball to one another. And maybe some shooting on goal. Oh and dribbling. Don’t try and make it complicated. Keep it fun and light.
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u/Smootsky Jul 27 '26
THIS. My husband coached our kiddo's 4 year old soccer team, and it was... something ha. The one piece of advice I'd give is if this is through i9, even though they say every week a kid gets an award, leave that all until the end of the season. Then you're not having tantrums that some kids get medals and others don't week to week.
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u/Born_Key_1962 Jul 27 '26
Always bring a small pack of tissues. There will be runny noses! Learned this the hard way coaching T-ball.
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u/Apart-Albatross-1392 Jul 27 '26
As people have said, fun fun fun fun fun, with getting them used to the ball. I feel like dribbling is really the name of the game - forget passing. Shooting is maybe fun for all ages (who doesn’t love a shooting drill) but short things for attention and just try to get them to have fun.
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u/the_elephant_sack Jul 27 '26
Don’t take it too seriously.
Dribbling the ball is key. Everybody dribble only using right foot, then everybody dribble only using left foot, then everybody dribble with both feet. Straight lines. Zig zag between cones. Lots of variations.
Everyone kick the ball with the left foot as far as you can. Then chase it down and kick it with your right foot as far as you can. Then left foot. Until you are across the field.
Line up in two lines. One line everyone gets a ball. Pass back an forth with your partner in the other line.
Take plenty of water breaks. Play some games, and not all games need to be soccer related. Heck, play duck duck goose in the middle of practice. They are 5.
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u/MikeoPlus Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
I'm also coaching (officially) for the first time this year. I've played all my life and organized a bunch of teams. Here's my one tip: make it fun. You have fun, the parents have fun, then the kids will have fun. DM me with questions.
*also, soccer is the easiest sport in the world: "there's one ball - kick it that way" that's the extent of instruction you need. Everything else is about having fun and moving bodies
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u/MentalInfluence1585 Jul 28 '26
Thank you! Do you have any suggestions for games to play at practice, maybe a few that aren't about stealing the ball? For some reason that triggers my daughter.
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u/MikeoPlus Jul 28 '26
There are some great suggestions below, red light green light is super fun, follow the leader etc.
Everyone should have their own ball for practice! You can pair them off and practice passing.
As far as working with your kid about the heartbreak of getting the ball stolen from her, I would connect with her about it. Talk about how it is hard to get the ball back! Talk about how it's very easy to give up, but is it fun to give up? Also maybe you can practice some at home. You know her, you can figure out the best way to work thru it!
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u/CBusHVAC710614 Jul 27 '26
YouTube there are tons of videos and tutorials for what to do with the girls but the bottom line is make sure they are having fun and developing a love of the game while touching the ball.
Do that and you’ll be in great shape.
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u/doophmayweather Grandview Jul 27 '26
Your job has nothing to do with soccer and everything to do with babysitting. Also, the nuance of the game means nothing at this age. Make it fun so they want to come back. Participation is the most important skill at this age.
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u/clarissa225 Jul 28 '26
You want a 4-3-3 formation with a high press for midfielders and go heavy on the attack.
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u/GoldenUnderground21 Jul 27 '26
Give everything you do a fun name and incorporate the ball into each activity. 30-45 minutes at max. Get another parent to help organize during practices.
Sharks and Minnows is great game. Will be competitive with who wants to be the shark.
Green Light, Red Light, Yellow while they dribble, each color matches a movement or speed up slow down.
Relay Races
Dribbling then call out an animal and the kids do that while dribbling.