On The Team

I might be coaching a young girls volleyball team soon, or a young girls soccer team next spring, but I need some tips! I’ve played both sports so I do have some knowledge of WHAT to coach, but I don’t know HOW to coach. Any websites w/tips, drills, etc would be great too. Thanks!

Well depending on what age they are the best thing to teach them would be the basics. I don’t know volleyball but for soccer this would include dribbling, trapping, passing, shooting etc. Teach them proper technique and have them repeat it over and over. Also make sure to have them use their "weaker" foot when doing drills so that they do not become one-footed players. Positioning and tactics should also be worked on, but at a younger level the basic skills are more important. I have seen books on drills that you can use to teach certain skills. Books such as Dummy’s Guide etc. Also through Eurosport you can order educational videos and such. Link below.

2 Responses

1. Rory Says:
   February 28th, 2010 at 2:00 am

   Well depending on what age they are the best thing to teach them would be the basics. I don’t know volleyball but for soccer this would include dribbling, trapping, passing, shooting etc. Teach them proper technique and have them repeat it over and over. Also make sure to have them use their "weaker" foot when doing drills so that they do not become one-footed players. Positioning and tactics should also be worked on, but at a younger level the basic skills are more important. I have seen books on drills that you can use to teach certain skills. Books such as Dummy’s Guide etc. Also through Eurosport you can order educational videos and such. Link below.
   References :
   My 15 years of experience with soccer

   soccer.com

2. Ernie B Says:
   February 28th, 2010 at 2:21 am

   I agree with Rory, skills are the key. If you never teach your players anything else teach them ball skills.
   When I coached my G-son’s team one of the most fun and Rewarding drills I used was the game of keep-away. The boys learned decision making, two-touch control, use of time and space, movement away from the ball.
   My take was that Defense was what you Had to do if you Gave the ball away.
   From these two Principals these boys won over 70 percent of their games, which included 3 tournaments each season.
   The next to last tournament we participated in, we won 46-2 (the closest game was 12-0) over three games (thanks to ‘Socialist Soccer’ No advancement, No First place trophy). The boys accomplished these numbers by using the things they learned playing keep-away. Kick-offs were to our defender, not the opponent. One of our wings was eternally open due to drawing the opponent out of position. By the second game of the tournament we had coaches bring their whole teams to watch our play.
   Finding the right drills is trial and error, so find something that the kids enjoy. Find players on your team that can do the skill you need to reinforce and let them help you teach the others. Make everything you can into a game of skill.
   I always planned the season before I held the first parctice, i.e., skills to stress, technique used to measure the results, tournaments, scrimmages, etc.
   In my over 10 years of coaching, boys (4 years, 4-8 year old), and girls (8 years, 7-15 year old), the best drill I ever came up with was keep-away.

   Good Luck
   References :

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