I Got a Job - Soccer Coach (2020 Update) (1 Viewer)

[IceHot]

I haven't been on in awhile, still disappointed in the NFL.

Anyway, I just got offered a job as a Head Coach of my son's Middle School Soccer Team (Hidden Valley - Roanoke). I am pretty excited. Figured it was worth sharing with my SR family. The only downside is they are the "Eagles".

I know there are a number of School Coaches on here. Any advice is appreciated.

5/10/21 (Update on page 2)

-IceHot

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I haven't been on in awhile, still disappointed in the NFL.

Anyway, I just got offered a job as a Head Coach of my son's Middle School Soccer Team (Hidden Valley - Roanoke). I am pretty excited. Figured it was worth sharing with my SR family. The only downside is they are the "Eagles".

I know there are a number of School Coaches on here. Any advice is appreciated.

-IceHot

win

 

[GeauxWhoDats]

Congrats and good luck to you.

I hope this is the caliber of mom's on the other teams that you will face.

 

[efil4stnias]

Don't take it too seriously and have fun with it. Teaching them the fundamentals (for the new ones) and expanding for the ones with experience.

But please remember, please.... They should have fun. Take em for an ice cream or pizza after a game. Let them hang out with each other.

Oh and please demand that each child learns to kick with non dominant leg. Well maybe not demand, but practice it.

Good luck!

 

[nolaspe]

I haven't been on in awhile, still disappointed in the NFL.

Anyway, I just got offered a job as a Head Coach of my son's Middle School Soccer Team (Hidden Valley - Roanoke). I am pretty excited. Figured it was worth sharing with my SR family. The only downside is they are the "Eagles".

I know there are a number of School Coaches on here. Any advice is appreciated.

-IceHot

Learn how to yell 'GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL' like the Telemundo guys...

 

[Gump]

Learn how to yell 'GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL' like the Telemundo guys...

Imagine if that dude commentated golf.

 

[RazorOye]

I don't know how comparable it is to coaching high school basketball in some regards, but in general terms I'd first offer the following:

1. Fundamentals - whatever they are in soccer - drill it. In basketball, at that age level, I really love seeing man to man defensive principles, using two hands in ballhandling, rebounding/boxing out, passing, and so on. Whatever the comparables are - nothing too fancy. You can do a lot with basics.

2. the players won't always, or even primarily, be your problem. It'll be parents. Just.... be aware going in. Try not to lose your cool with them when/if they raise objections in a way that is unfair and countermands your authority as coach. Maybe consider some sort of 'letter' or agreement about expectations before the season? We do that with our players.

3. be consistent with players without regard for skill level. That is, don't treat your best player differently than your worst - accountability across the board and nobody is allowed to get off more easily because he/she is better or more talented.

4. Practices should be regimented - the games are the least worry, most of the time. It's scheduling and coordinating practices. Varied activities with set amounts of time so that they know what to expect and there's a routine. That will really help them. The prepared-ness also helps you as a coach with regard to your authority and knowledge of the sport.

5. most importantly, as trite as it sounds, and as others have pointed out, have fun. I love coaching so much. it's part of the reason I took a job that most people have wondered "Why are you doing that instead of X?" it's so gratifying and so rewarding. i've always loved working with kids and this has been a natural extension to that, so when I say 'have fun' I don't just mean the players. You, too. It's a ton of work as coach, so make sure you find times to enjoy it as well.

Good luck!

 

[efil4stnias]

5. most importantly, as trite as it sounds, and as others have pointed out, have fun. I love coaching so much. it's part of the reason I took a job that most people have wondered "Why are you doing that instead of X?" it's so gratifying and so rewarding. i've always loved working with kids and this has been a natural extension to that, so when I say 'have fun' I don't just mean the players. You, too. It's a ton of work as coach, so make sure you find times to enjoy it as well.

Good luck!

In all my years of playing soccer, the next most influential people in my life ( behind my mother ) was 2 of my youth coaches that, to this day, i remember not only names, but their faces. Coach Flores and Coach Cuneo.

Kudos to you and all the other coaches, that for one child, you will leave an indelible mark in their lives.

Cant express just how large that is.

 

[SaintJ]

Imagine if that dude commentated golf.

Go-go-go-go-goooooaaaaalllllll!!

 

[sfidc3]

Don't take it too seriously and have fun with it. Teaching them the fundamentals (for the new ones) and expanding for the ones with experience.

But please remember, please.... They should have fun. Take em for an ice cream or pizza after a game. Let them hang out with each other.

Oh and please demand that each child learns to kick with non dominant leg. Well maybe not demand, but practice it.

Good luck!

Above is great advice....I would add one thing, look for a few kids who are soccer knowledgeable and have some leadership skills (if you are lucky enough to have them) and make them captains and involve them (and other players) in deciding on alignments and positioning, let the boys have some degree of ownership and accountability of the team. It can really create a good team culture....if you have the right mix of players....

I've coached and managed travel teams and we always had this and the boys really took to it...it made them much more passionate about the game and the team....

 

[slaym]

Just don't do this:

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

 

[whodatbe]

Just watch the documentary Lady Bugs and you'll be just fine. Congrats coach.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I don't know how comparable it is to coaching high school basketball in some regards, but in general terms I'd first offer the following:

1. Fundamentals - whatever they are in soccer - drill it. In basketball, at that age level, I really love seeing man to man defensive principles, using two hands in ballhandling, rebounding/boxing out, passing, and so on. Whatever the comparables are - nothing too fancy. You can do a lot with basics.

2. the players won't always, or even primarily, be your problem. It'll be parents. Just.... be aware going in. Try not to lose your cool with them when/if they raise objections in a way that is unfair and countermands your authority as coach. Maybe consider some sort of 'letter' or agreement about expectations before the season? We do that with our players.

3. be consistent with players without regard for skill level. That is, don't treat your best player differently than your worst - accountability across the board and nobody is allowed to get off more easily because he/she is better or more talented.

4. Practices should be regimented - the games are the least worry, most of the time. It's scheduling and coordinating practices. Varied activities with set amounts of time so that they know what to expect and there's a routine. That will really help them. The prepared-ness also helps you as a coach with regard to your authority and knowledge of the sport.

5. most importantly, as trite as it sounds, and as others have pointed out, have fun. I love coaching so much. it's part of the reason I took a job that most people have wondered "Why are you doing that instead of X?" it's so gratifying and so rewarding. i've always loved working with kids and this has been a natural extension to that, so when I say 'have fun' I don't just mean the players. You, too. It's a ton of work as coach, so make sure you find times to enjoy it as well.

Good luck!

What about telling parents, “if you have any questions please email me on the team email so that I can address it in a way that everyone can see the reasons why we do so and so”?

 

[RazorOye]

What about telling parents, “if you have any questions please email me on the team email so that I can address it in a way that everyone can see the reasons why we do so and so”?

I email parents in the same fashion I post on the boards. The email is an unnecessarily, self-indulgent, and ridiculously drawn-out affair.

Your suggestion is a good one. I think it will fit in my current letter in Section 4, Subsection 8, article k.

this approach to an email to parents assures a couple of things. First, it won't be read and I can bury the parent in established, agreed-upon technicalities later when it becomes relevant. Think a tedious EULA. Secondly, it encourages them to keep their distance, because I can be that annoying, tedious, verbose, long-winded, exhausting, pedantic, abstruse, punctilious, etc in an email - imagine what fun it will be to actually TALK to me!

I haven't had a discussion with a parent in 6 years.