Learn the basics of coaching soccer and football.

Soccer Coaching | Football Coaching

Soccer, like all other games, is played according to principles, and winners are determined by how much knowledge of the principles the players have, and the extent to which they put this knowledge to use.  The purpose of this book will be accomplished if it gives the readers the knowledge, the methods, and the desire to put these principles to use to their greatest advantage and with the least amount of effort.

Knowledge of the principles, per se, does not stamp a player for ultimate success.  He must present some natural ability, and some spark must kindle his enthusiasm and love for the game so that he is willing to sacrifice and work to become adept in the use of this knowledge.  The brunt of kindling this spark falls on the shoulders of the coach.  For the coach to be able to do this, he should know his subject, he should know how to teach it, and he must be vigorously enthusiastic about it.  It is hoped that this book will stimulate the imaginations of all coaches so that they may develop new approaches in presenting new and original material to the boys, thereby creating new-found enthusiasm, better players and better teams.

No matter how successful a coach has been he should never feel that his way is the only way, and that he knows all there is to know about the sport.  A wise coach will be a tolerant and a very attentive listener.  He must realize that the more ways he knows of doing things the more interesting and enthusiastic response he will get from the squad.

The coach can and must set the tone of the practice sessions, establish the outlook and purpose of the team, and through constant planning come up with new, sound and original ideas.  Originality puts spice, dash, freshness and appeal into a program.  The coach is responsible for keeping interest high and practices well organized.  He must make his boys feel that, if the game is worth while, it is worth playing well; irresponsible, indifferent and hap hazard spirit should not be condoned.

The coach must realize that the boys on the squad have varying degrees of natural ability, different temperaments and personalities, and that his job is to bring out the most and the best of each.  The coach must be able to get the most out of every member of his squad by knowing, through experience and study, how each man responds to flattery, riding, bullying, sympathy and understanding.  He must exert authority without seeming to.  He must demand respect by what he knows and does.  He must breed confidence in his players by being sure that what he is teaching them is sound.  He must have the knack of spotting potential in a boy, and of knowing how to bring each one along at the right pace so that, when he calls on him, he is ready.  He must be able to place a boy in the position to which he is best suited, and then have him specialize so that he can develop the tricks that will make him brilliant individually and in combination.

This brilliance will come if the coach, by encouraging initiative, leads the boy into developing his own style.  Although there are certain rules of thumb for every position, the more original a player can be, the more effective he will be.

The coach must be able to keep the boys all fighting for the same end, and develop team spirit and a strong friendly feeling among them.  He must teach the boys the value of clean play and encourage them to set their standards high.

Through the coach the boys learn that, even in a loss, some thing can be salvaged by analyzing their play, finding out why they lost, and then setting out to correct their weaknesses by hard work.  The coach must be able to spot weaknesses and handle the boys in such a way that they will work vigorously to correct them on their own initiative.  In some cases, perhaps, the coach should wisely and subtly work out a program to correct a player's weaknesses.

The spark of enthusiasm can also be aroused in young players by watching outstanding players perform, and by having more experienced and highly successful members of the squad take a humble and sincere interest in the welfare of the beginners.

The game of soccer brings out and develops many fine qualities in a boy.  It is a game which, when played right, demands high standards of physical and mental alertness.  It demands and develops stamina, co-ordination, agility, speed, courage, determination, initiative, resourcefulness and many other basic qua ities.  Every situation offers a boy a chance to develop originality and keen judgment.  Every move in soccer, once it "gets in a boy s blood," will be sheer pleasure and delight.  A boy will learn to sacrifice, to blend his individual ability into wise and effective combination play with his teammates.  He will learn that when he steps on the field he has a job to do, and with good coaching and diligent practice he will know how to best go about it.  He will learn to adapt himself so as to make the most of any situation that presents itself.  He learns never to quit.  Instead he calls on every bit of strength, when the pressure is on, and usually meets the challenge.

• He must learn to use what ability he has to his team's advantage and make the most use of it.  What he lacks in size he must make up for in courage, clever ball handling and subtle combination play.
• He must learn all the fundamentals and practice earnestly to execute them with intelligence and purpose, fairly and effectively.
• His movements should never be aimless and without purpose.
• He should be using his head as well as his body at all times.  A player who is going to outwit the opponents must have more than one trick up his sleeve and should always be working to develop them.  A boy can benefit a great deal through participating in soc cer, but he will only get out of it what he puts into it.