Tag: youth soccer

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Soccer Coaching – Is the Game the Teacher?

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Some time ago I wrote about a phrase that has really taken root in the soccer coaching … “Let the Game be the Teacher!”

Funny thing is that back in the late 80’s Bobby Howe, a very experienced international soccer coach, and myself, co-authored a series of soccer coaching manuals – predominantly for the North American market. We continually used the phrase, “Let the Game be the Teacher!” within the books as we implored the coaches not to take the game away from the kids. It was very obvious to both Bobby and I that children in this part of the world were over-coached – often by people who had not played the game and were using football, baseball and sometimes hockey, as their reference points.

So our phrase “Let the Game be the Teacher!” may have come back to bite us. More info

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Sideline Etiquette

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Recently I received an email from a soccer coach, asking for advice.  This is what he pointed out:

“My pet peeve at the moment is parents yelling instructions at kids. In the last week all three of my kids have had parents (not me!) yelling instructions at them and what is even worse is that the instructions have been wrong!!  I could go on and on, but this has to be addressed.   Cheer yes, instruct no.” More info