Unhappy Coach

[Martin135]

Hello all I'm new to coaching I was a parent last season and decided to take charge this year as nobody else would!. I coach U8's, the problem I've got at the moment is that the kids just do'nt listen (not all of them) One player is very good, far better than the rest but he just play's up because he knows this!. I tend to cope ok but the problem is parents are starting complain that I'm giving out to the kids too much??. I'm starting to wonder, is it the kids running the team or me .Is this common within coaching or am I fighting a losing battle. Maybe I should bring a deck chair and let the parents and kids sort it all out.

[Shrt bus]

Do they act like their bored? What do you have them doing during your training session?

Patience is key with that age. I coach a U16 Boys team and also run the Micro Soccer (4-7yr olds) sessions and those lil ones are a handful vs the older boys. Just have to realize that they wanna have fun and learn @ the same time.

Get creative with your sessions.. makes the biggest difference in the world.

[Keano]

Hi Martin135

This area of coaching used to be a grey area for me, I have the u7s from our club and they used to be as you have described 'your boys'.

But one day I said to the parents and they hinted too, that they needed discipline, so it was agreed I would 'dish it out', the difference between what I do and what they get at school is that the parents see what I do but they dont see the teacher when they discipline at school,

If they dont listen then they are sent off for 1 min, then back on, on many occasions I have told them not to return to training untill they behave because I dont coach a creche, and after a few weeks they changed at training and believe me they are great in all there warm ups and drills, and they have fun fun fun and they are exited for their next training session or game.

I even had two coaches who I dont know, ask me 'how do you get your kids to do as they are told' simple..... DISCIPLINE.

Good Luck

[seasider]

Hi Martin135,
I started up an U7s team in the summer. I found that you need to have very simple ground rules established early on. Mine were:
1. When coach is talking, no-one else does - I got them to demonstrate what they have to do by getting them to make a zipping action across their mouths! They thought this was great fun! If someone forgets, all I had to do was look at the them and 'do the zip'! They were soon doing it to each other!
2. When a player is answering/ asking a question, they raise their hands and only one can speak at a time.
3. When we're doing questions / feedback, no-one should bounce or kick a ball - may be best to have an area where they all leave their balls as this is too much of a temptation!

Remember - at this age they are lapping things up and learn very quickly. They want to be 'doing' all the time, not standing around. They also want to have fun. It is very much like being a 'Holiday' kids rep! Have lots of activities planned. Don't do one thing for too long. Keep them moving and have lots of drinks breaks, so they can socialise and chat. How many are you dealing with? You really need helpers so you can split them down into groups of 5/6. If you are trying to deal with more than that, they may be acting up for attention.

I started the sessions with a hello, introduction chat and let them share any news they had - they were all from different schools, so this was an opportunity for them to get to know each other and to get the 'chatter' out of their system. It only needs to be short, but it seemed to help.

If the rest of your session is fast-paced, with small groups and fun, they shouldn't have a chance to misbehave. If they do, then have some consequences such as a 'cool down' square, where they have to sit for a few minutes with a parent. Don't keep them in there for long. Be firm with the parents - explain that you need to keep a reasonable level of discipline because you are responsible for health and safety and want to ensure all players get to enjoy and learn.

One game my U7s really enjoyed was the 'crab' game. Coach starts as crab. All the players have to dribble the ball from one safe zone to the other. Coach tries to steal their balls whilst moving like a crab (on all fours with back downwards - sort of sitting position). Anyone who loses their ball also becomes a crab. The last player with a ball is the winner. What I found quite funny was the winners started crying because he didn't get to be a crab! We played again and he started as the crab!

It is very hard work coaching this age group - you need to be well organised, have loads of ideas to keep the sessions fun and be very energetic. I came home exhausted after each session. Luckily, one of the parents came forward and has taken on the U7 coaching now, so I can get on with coaching my other U10 team!! They were sweet, but I don't really miss them that much!

Good luck!

[Keano]

Originally Posted by seasider

Hi Martin135,
I started up an U7s team in the summer. I found that you need to have very simple ground rules established early on. Mine were:
1. When coach is talking, no-one else does - I got them to demonstrate what they have to do by getting them to make a zipping action across their mouths! They thought this was great fun! If someone forgets, all I had to do was look at the them and 'do the zip'! They were soon doing it to each other!
2. When a player is answering/ asking a question, they raise their hands and only one can speak at a time.
3. When we're doing questions / feedback, no-one should bounce or kick a ball - may be best to have an area where they all leave their balls as this is too much of a temptation!

Remember - at this age they are lapping things up and learn very quickly. They want to be 'doing' all the time, not standing around. They also want to have fun. It is very much like being a 'Holiday' kids rep! Have lots of activities planned. Don't do one thing for too long. Keep them moving and have lots of drinks breaks, so they can socialise and chat. How many are you dealing with? You really need helpers so you can split them down into groups of 5/6. If you are trying to deal with more than that, they may be acting up for attention.

I started the sessions with a hello, introduction chat and let them share any news they had - they were all from different schools, so this was an opportunity for them to get to know each other and to get the 'chatter' out of their system. It only needs to be short, but it seemed to help.

If the rest of your session is fast-paced, with small groups and fun, they shouldn't have a chance to misbehave. If they do, then have some consequences such as a 'cool down' square, where they have to sit for a few minutes with a parent. Don't keep them in there for long. Be firm with the parents - explain that you need to keep a reasonable level of discipline because you are responsible for health and safety and want to ensure all players get to enjoy and learn.

One game my U7s really enjoyed was the 'crab' game. Coach starts as crab. All the players have to dribble the ball from one safe zone to the other. Coach tries to steal their balls whilst moving like a crab (on all fours with back downwards - sort of sitting position). Anyone who loses their ball also becomes a crab. The last player with a ball is the winner. What I found quite funny was the winners started crying because he didn't get to be a crab! We played again and he started as the crab!

It is very hard work coaching this age group - you need to be well organised, have loads of ideas to keep the sessions fun and be very energetic. I came home exhausted after each session. Luckily, one of the parents came forward and has taken on the U7 coaching now, so I can get on with coaching my other U10 team!! They were sweet, but I don't really miss them that much!

Good luck!

Hi Seasider,,fantastic comments 'specially about the crab game' you have hit the nail clearly on the head, good luck with your 10s.