Note: Though this article focuses on youth soccer, these approaches apply to business teams, too. Whether you’re coaching aspiring young athletes, or a team of seasoned salespeople, The New Goal applies.

Benefits of Stressing the Developmental Aspect in Coaching Youth

Over the years that I’ve been coaching and administrating youth soccer programs, I have seen poor coaching and over zealous parents turn players away from our sport. I asked myself,“Why does this happen and is there a way to correct or prevent it?”

I believe the most probable root cause is found in our fixation on winning. Not on player development and growth, not team building, not sportsmanship – but winning   When we only ask ourselves who the best player is, and which is the best team, we strive for it at the expense of everything else. Win! Win !

I believe this is a self-defeating concept.  Not everyone can be the best player, nor can everyone be on the best team, nor can any player, team, or coach win all the time.

Another problem is that with team sports, it is difficult to measure an individual’s performance – unlike swimming or track where individual times, splits, distances or heights can all be measured. (personal best)

The New Goal: Win Through Individual Development

The answer is to refocus and retrain our way of thinking about helping our players be in a more fulfilling and positive environment.  It’s time to create a positive developmental environment for our young athletes.

I have found that we need to empower the player to take control over what they are learning (they are out on the field not us). Young players at 8 and 9 years old want to begin learning how to take control, and start to build their independence. Just ask any teacher.

One way to start, is by asking the players to set two very basic goals at the beginning of every season:

  • Develop or strengthen a skill
  • Improve team play

And that’s it. Stop there.

Every season is 8-10 weeks – so ask the player what skill do they want to improve this season? Shooting? Passing? What aspect of teamwork is they willing to try in actual match play and practice?  Carry the ball forward when no one is on you – or pass at a proper pace/weight to the correct foot of one of your teammates?

Encourage them to practice applying these skills and aspects of team play in practice and in games. Promise them that you will be positive if and when they do, even if it doesn’t work out at first, or at second, or at third. By asking your players what they want to get better at – you have just learned how to focus your own lesson plans to best help each person develop over the next 8-10 weeks as you teach skill training and run short-sided games in your own practices. Above all: Keep The Game Fun!!!!

The next step is to refocus the parents.  Engage the parents to help their child work on the skill they have chosen to improve. Take the time to let the parent know what their child wants to learn, and then demonstrate how to properly teach/execute the skill, and offer some drills that can be done at home to help make it happen.  Offer to make yourself available if they need additional help. The fact is that you have the player twice a week for skill training, and the parents have them the rest of the week. Stress this is the way to create a positive bonding experience, through the game, with their child.

Celebrate success. At the end of the season at the team party, talk about how each player has developed and progressed in reaching their goals using stories of actual game situations.  Pride, a sense of accomplishment, and greater self-esteem will be the result. Parents will enjoy the positive bonding relationship opportunities that come from helping their child develop.

Understand the Value of Desire, Discipline, Dedication, and Determination

You have just taught the life lessons of setting short-term goals, working at accomplishing them, and self-improvement. These are all lessons that apply to their schoolwork, and the rest of their lives. You just helped them learn the value of applying Desire, Discipline, Dedication, and Determination to their work ethics to improve oneself.  The end result is greater self-esteem, and the ability to enjoy the game of soccer at a higher level of performance.  Repeated from age 8 to 14, just imagine the type of player, and the person, that they will become. It will be a rewarding experience for you, the player, and the parents.