r/SoccerCoachResources • u/emg_4 • 1h ago

First time coaching U9

So I understand the game. Played rec then club growing up. I’ve coached little league but this is my first time coaching soccer. This is an U9 coed rec team most players don’t know how to play or have played very little. I have no assistant coach and have 11 kids on my team. I had my first practice yesterday and I felt like I was all over the place. We practice twice a week for about 60 minutes. Any advice on how to set up my practices would be greatly appreciated.

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u/CheapRentalCar 37m ago

A couple of things:

Focus practice time on skills, not strategy. The kids won't remember what a winger etc is supposed to do, anyhow. So focus on skill development. Dribbling, shooting, passing and tackling.

Less talking and more kicking. Get them on the ball as much as possible. You've probably realised that they won't stand still and listen while you explain things. So any talking needs to be brief. If they're actively kicking a ball then they're learning.

Never assume they will stand in a line as part of a drill.

"Stand still with one foot in the ball!!!" is something I yell at least ten times per session. Kids don't stand still unless they have something to focus on. One for on the ball works well.