Welcome fellow coaches!
Soccer coaching is an extremely rewarding and fun experience. This fast-paced game, the team camaraderie, and ability to help develop young people is a draw for many coaches to keep at it. So how does a coach who has no experience coaching kids soccer get started? Here is some information to assist you on getting started in the right direction.
First you must learn the game. Soccer coaching requires the coach to understand the game and depending on the level of the players, new coaches may not need to learn everything right away. Game basics, rules and penalties can be learned through manuals and then the coach can watch live games and get a feel for the rhythm of the game.
Secondly, come prepared!Coaches should bring everything they need for practice which includes soccer balls, protective equipment, fluids for hydration, first aid supplies and cell phones. Protective equipment and fluids can be left to the players to bring but coaches should always have additional supplies on hand, especially if the team is of a young age.
Finally, new coaches should work on projecting confidence as they get "up to speed" on the sport so as to maintain control of the team. Coaches can find many resources to help them learn the game and the basics of coaching online (like on this website!), in a local library, or even on television by watching games.
The Basics: ~Compliments of Mark Palmer~
Designed for the recreational coach who's never coached before, this essay provides information on soccer coaching and goes over basic rules and positions.
Soccer Field Diagram
The minimum you need to know about the rules:
Kick-off: After a goal is scored and at the start of each half/quarter (unless the period ended with a penalty) the ball is kicked off from the middle of the field. The defending team starts on their half and must stay outside the center circle area until kickoff. The ball must move forward for a kickoff to be valid and the kicker cannot touch it again until someone else does.
Throw-in*: If the ball goes completely over the sideline it gets thrown back on the field by a player from the team that wasn't at fault. A line judge (usually a recruited parent) will point a flag in the direction of the defending goal. There is a required technique for throw-in.
Goal Kick, Corner Kick: If the ball goes off the field at an endline there will be a goal kick or a corner kick. If your team puts the ball over the opposition endline without scoring the other team takes a "goal kick" from inside their goal box (usually at a corner of it). Your team is required to stay out of the penalty box until the ball clears the penalty box.
If your team puts the ball over your own endline (and without scoring on yourself) the other team gets a "corner kick" from a near corner of the field with the ball put in the corner arc. Your team is required to stay so many yards away from the ball, depending on the age group of the players.
Penalty kick: Causing a serious foul in your own penalty box - like tripping or putting up a hand to block a shot will give the other team a free kick from the penalty kick mark. All the players from both teams (except the goalkeeper on the goal line) are moved out of the penalty box and the penalty arc.
Free kick: Causing a foul outside a penalty box stops play and gives the fouled team a free kick from where the foul occurred, except when stopping play would disadvantage the fouled team (sometimes this distinction is not made). Less serious fouls result in an "indirect" kick where the ball has to be touched by another player besides the kicker before a goal can be scored.
Offsides: The offsides rule is designed to prevent goal tending. You are not offsides if any of the following are true: 1) you are not "in play" by being reasonably close to the ball, 2) the ball is in front of you, 3) you are not past the midfield line, or 4) two or more defenders are closer to their goal line than you are.
The problem with the offsides rule in recreational leagues is that referees either don't call it at all or to overcall it (especially when the ball is actually in front).
No hands, arms or shoulders: On the field players can't have contact, deliberate or inadvertent ( except to protect themselves from injury), with the ball on their shoulders, arms or hands. You can shoulder push other players but not impede their movement unless you are close to the ball.
The goalkeeper is allowed to pick up the ball with her hands in the penalty box for up to six seconds at a time - unless she receives a deliberate pass from one of her teammates. Once a goalkeeper in the penalty box has a hand on the ball the other team cannot try to knock it loose.
Injury: Players get hurt frequently. If you notice one of your players hurt tell the referee to stop play. Players on the field should kneel down. Play is resumed with a "drop ball" that becomes live when it hits the ground.
Coach Location: Coaches and parents must stay on their side of the field within so many yards of the midfield line during a game.
Substitutions: in our league you can sub on your team's throw-ins, on any goal kick, and during a kick off: you have to yell "sub ref" loud so the referee can hear you
Other Useful Sites:
http://www.coachingsoccer101.com/
http://www.soccerhelp.com/Soccer_Coaching_Coach_Soccer_Play_Soccer_Contents.shtml
Soccer coaching is an extremely rewarding and fun experience. This fast-paced game, the team camaraderie, and ability to help develop young people is a draw for many coaches to keep at it. So how does a coach who has no experience coaching kids soccer get started? Here is some information to assist you on getting started in the right direction.
First you must learn the game. Soccer coaching requires the coach to understand the game and depending on the level of the players, new coaches may not need to learn everything right away. Game basics, rules and penalties can be learned through manuals and then the coach can watch live games and get a feel for the rhythm of the game.
Secondly, come prepared!Coaches should bring everything they need for practice which includes soccer balls, protective equipment, fluids for hydration, first aid supplies and cell phones. Protective equipment and fluids can be left to the players to bring but coaches should always have additional supplies on hand, especially if the team is of a young age.
Finally, new coaches should work on projecting confidence as they get "up to speed" on the sport so as to maintain control of the team. Coaches can find many resources to help them learn the game and the basics of coaching online (like on this website!), in a local library, or even on television by watching games.
The Basics: ~Compliments of Mark Palmer~
Designed for the recreational coach who's never coached before, this essay provides information on soccer coaching and goes over basic rules and positions.
Soccer Field Diagram
The minimum you need to know about the rules:
Kick-off: After a goal is scored and at the start of each half/quarter (unless the period ended with a penalty) the ball is kicked off from the middle of the field. The defending team starts on their half and must stay outside the center circle area until kickoff. The ball must move forward for a kickoff to be valid and the kicker cannot touch it again until someone else does.
Throw-in*: If the ball goes completely over the sideline it gets thrown back on the field by a player from the team that wasn't at fault. A line judge (usually a recruited parent) will point a flag in the direction of the defending goal. There is a required technique for throw-in.
Goal Kick, Corner Kick: If the ball goes off the field at an endline there will be a goal kick or a corner kick. If your team puts the ball over the opposition endline without scoring the other team takes a "goal kick" from inside their goal box (usually at a corner of it). Your team is required to stay out of the penalty box until the ball clears the penalty box.
If your team puts the ball over your own endline (and without scoring on yourself) the other team gets a "corner kick" from a near corner of the field with the ball put in the corner arc. Your team is required to stay so many yards away from the ball, depending on the age group of the players.
Penalty kick: Causing a serious foul in your own penalty box - like tripping or putting up a hand to block a shot will give the other team a free kick from the penalty kick mark. All the players from both teams (except the goalkeeper on the goal line) are moved out of the penalty box and the penalty arc.
Free kick: Causing a foul outside a penalty box stops play and gives the fouled team a free kick from where the foul occurred, except when stopping play would disadvantage the fouled team (sometimes this distinction is not made). Less serious fouls result in an "indirect" kick where the ball has to be touched by another player besides the kicker before a goal can be scored.
Offsides: The offsides rule is designed to prevent goal tending. You are not offsides if any of the following are true: 1) you are not "in play" by being reasonably close to the ball, 2) the ball is in front of you, 3) you are not past the midfield line, or 4) two or more defenders are closer to their goal line than you are.
The problem with the offsides rule in recreational leagues is that referees either don't call it at all or to overcall it (especially when the ball is actually in front).
No hands, arms or shoulders: On the field players can't have contact, deliberate or inadvertent ( except to protect themselves from injury), with the ball on their shoulders, arms or hands. You can shoulder push other players but not impede their movement unless you are close to the ball.
The goalkeeper is allowed to pick up the ball with her hands in the penalty box for up to six seconds at a time - unless she receives a deliberate pass from one of her teammates. Once a goalkeeper in the penalty box has a hand on the ball the other team cannot try to knock it loose.
Injury: Players get hurt frequently. If you notice one of your players hurt tell the referee to stop play. Players on the field should kneel down. Play is resumed with a "drop ball" that becomes live when it hits the ground.
Coach Location: Coaches and parents must stay on their side of the field within so many yards of the midfield line during a game.
Substitutions: in our league you can sub on your team's throw-ins, on any goal kick, and during a kick off: you have to yell "sub ref" loud so the referee can hear you
Other Useful Sites:
http://www.coachingsoccer101.com/
http://www.soccerhelp.com/Soccer_Coaching_Coach_Soccer_Play_Soccer_Contents.shtml
