Another soccer practice, lessons learned

This season I've started applying some tactics that I think will make me a happier and improved soccer coach of 14 7 to 9-years-old children.  First of all, take all of the help you can get.  If any of the parents are willing to help, welcome it.  Even if it's really a grandpa and another guy with B.O., take it.  This allows me to apply the divide and conquer tactic and get the kids more repetitions in smaller groups.  Second I'm sweating some of the details that I'd normally gloss over.  I am insisting that the players learn right from left.  If we're stretching to one side, they have to get it right.  I taught them the trick of holding up their left hand to form an L with the thumb and index finger.  They also need to know where to line up.  Finally, I am doing regular huddles where we do a 'ready, break'.  I use that occasion to give them their next set of instructions before the break.  It seems to be working.  One of the knuckleheads was better today.  I have a few more to work on.

Our first game is Saturday morning.  I am expecting the kids to be engaged in the game and to go after the ball.  There is some individual talent on the team.  I really think kids of this age respond well to physical activity and some structure.  I find that most of the people, including myself , that lament the days of children playing outdoors until the street lights came on are not investing the time and effort to create a habit or show them it's better to be outdoors playing sports or goofing off than settling for indoor electronic activities.  This is another example of when I need to take the medicine even though it doesn't always taste good.

I'm a soccer coach again

Yesterday I found myself doing what I've halfheartedly told myself many times not to do again:  coach youth soccer.  My youngest son is eight and I'm coaching him along with 13 other 7 to 9 years olds.  Since 2001 I've probably coached around 10 different teams.  And I don't even like or know very much about soccer! 
I suppose they keep taking me because the demand for coaches exceeds supply.

There are some things I've learned over the years.  With 14 kids the mix will likely be about one third ballers, meaning kids that can play, one third shy and/or indifferent, and one third knuckleheads that are ballers or indifferent. 

When I taught middle school for one year in Puebla, Mexico the principal always urged me to be a dictator, or a Stalin as he would put it..  I think his view could be correct for a career educator.  In my first years coaching soccer I was more of an enthusiastic coach who tried to will the kids into good behavior by making the practice so varied and fun that they would not have time to misbehave.  As the years have passed I've realized the fallacy of that thinking and now am becoming more serious, gruffer, Stalin-esque.  I no longer accept that some kids are just knuckleheads.  Some need attention, but it's not always a kind word or pat on the back that works best.  I agree with the maxim that children, and some adults, are looking for leadership.  It seems in youth soccer what usually works best is a stern but fair coach who occasionally smiles instead of a fun coach who is occassionally stern.

Our next practice is next Tuesday.  I'll be sure to get my game face on before then.