Coaching Kids Soccer: Lessons Learned from the Sidelines

After years of reporting on soccer, Rory Smith discovers invaluable lessons from coaching a team of children under 7, highlighting the unexpected realities of youth sports.

A few weeks ago, I found myself deeply entangled in a predicament involving the youth soccer team, particularly my son, which occupied my thoughts far too intensely. The common thread among the players was their tender age—under 7 years—which evidently imposed significant tactical constraints. Adding to this dilemma was my role as one of the coaches.

The most pressing challenge, however, was our persistent admission of goals—goals that could be easily avoided, almost comically unnecessary, as if they were gifts elegantly wrapped and presented to our opponents, complete with a melodious card. Technically, formal soccer in England commences when children turn 6, yet the games aren't competitive in nature—meaning that league tables or recorded results are nonexistent. Nevertheless, it did not take much to recognize, even for a novice observer, that our performance was lacking.

Faced with the dismal outcome of our matches, a plan began to formulate in my mind. We had dedicated the past two years to instilling in these youngsters the beauty of soccer—encouraging them to pass skillfully from the back, take measured touches, and express their individual flair to navigate challenges. However, the stark reality was that our approach did not translate well onto the field. Our propensity for inviting trouble upon ourselves was evident; dribbling carelessly in front of our own goal, passing into congested areas, and unwittingly creating chaos instead of space.

We frequently found ourselves on the losing side of matches. While our philosophy suggested that winning should not weigh heavily on young minds, the growing concern for the children's enthusiasm was palpable. It was apparent that unless we recalibrated our methods, their interest in the sport might soon dwindle, overshadowed by a string of discouraging defeats.