Category Archives: U-18

COACH-SMARTER BLOG MOVED TO NEW SITE!

Please go to coach-smart.com/soccerblog to access our new and improved blog. As we grow as a resource for soccer coaches, we want to provide the best coaching advice available. Our new blog will continue to post helpful information, videos, articles, … Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under BALL CONTROL AND MOVES, OR HOMEWORK, BEGINNER COACHING INFO, Brazil, Coach Interviews, Coaching Philosophy, Communication, Decision Making, Discipline, Flow of Practice, Free Kicks, FREE/STYLE!, Futsal, Game Days, Girls Soccer, Goalkeeping, Indoor Soccer, Mental Preparation, PARENTS INFO, Positive Criticism, Psychology, Small-Sided Games, Speed of Play, Tactical Games, team building, Technique, Tournaments, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-6, U-8, Uncategorized, Urban Soccer, WARM UPS

DURING GAMES, LESS IS MORE

Why and How Coaches Should Leave Games to the Players Over-coaching, or over-instruction, plagues American Youth Soccer, not to mention many other sports. The intense atmosphere of games often causes coaches to try to control their players’ every movement. “I … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under BEGINNER COACHING INFO, Coaching Philosophy, Communication, Game Days, Positive Criticism, Tournaments, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18

NEED A COMPETITIVE TACTICAL, OR SMALL-SIDED, GAME?

Here’s a simple tactical game that can work for almost any age group, U10 to U18+. It creates a naturally competitive atmosphere crucial to raising the level of players’ games. The game creates lots of goal-scoring opportunities and lots of … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Decision Making, Small-Sided Games, Speed of Play, Tactical Games, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, Uncategorized

INTERVIEW WITH ANNE MOORE, THE NEW DIRECTOR OF COACHING FOR WYOMING YOUTH SOCCER

Anne Moore, recently hired as the Wyoming Director of Coaching (DOC), speaks about being the first female DOC, developing young players, and youth soccer in Wyoming. Q – You’re the first female Director of Coaching for a state association. Can … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Coach Interviews, Coaching Philosophy, Decision Making, Girls Soccer, Technique, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-8

WARM UP BETTER

Why And How Proper Warm-Ups Can Help Your Team Improper warm-ups plague youth soccer, and youth sports in general. A disturbing number of coaches do nothing to fix this, even at elite levels. “I can’t believe how many teams I’ve … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Game Days, Mental Preparation, Psychology, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-8, WARM UPS

COACHING FREE KICKS NEAR GOAL

At high levels of soccer, free kicks frequently decide games. The higher the level of play, the more crucial free kicks become. Competitive teams, especially U-14 and older, should practice taking and defending free kicks on a regular basis. When … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Free Kicks, Technique, U-14, U-16, U-18

CRITICISM SHOULD COMMUNICATE, NOT CRUSH

What Every Coach Should Know About Criticizing Players Coaches take vastly different approaches to criticizing their players. Some coaches nit-pick constantly during practices, some not at all. During games, some coaches “instruct” their players to tears from the sidelines. Some … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under BEGINNER COACHING INFO, Coaching Philosophy, Communication, Game Days, Girls Soccer, Positive Criticism, Psychology, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-18, U-6, U-8, Urban Soccer

WHY COMPETITION?

Some youth coaches fear that competitive games or drills can bruise young kids’ self esteem and deflate enthusiasm for soccer. They shouldn’t. Competition, which lies at the heart of any good game, makes soccer fun while pushing players and teams … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under BEGINNER COACHING INFO, Coaching Philosophy, Girls Soccer, Psychology, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-18, U-6, U-8

INTERVIEW WITH TRAVIS KIKUGAWA ON TEAM AND PLAYER MENTALITY

Travis Kikugawa, Head Coach of the National Finalist U16 Real So. Cal Boys Team, On Team and Player Mentality, Mental Preparation, Communication, and Setting Goals Q – How to you prepare your teams mentally for tournament play? A – I … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Coach Interviews, Game Days, Psychology, U-18, WARM UPS