First Two Days:

Over the last two days I have been coaching with Steph at World Cup Soccer Camps. In the morning I am coaching with a camp of 10 kids. All of them younger then 10 years old. There are a few things that I have learned already: First of all, when coaching young kids you have to keep them entertained! If you keep doing drills, or things they don't enjoy, they will never give you their full attention, or any attention at all! The second thing is that you have to be crazy. Be really silly and get right into the role. Use drills or games that you know, but change the names, or change parts of it so that it is really entertaining and fun for the kids! The final and most important thing is make sure that everyone is included. At that age, there are bound to be kids that are better then others. Make sure that those kids who aren't as good get a chance to be on the ball. During scrimmages play with the kids, and make sure everyone is getting touches.

Those are some of the things I have learnt in the past two days, hopefully I will learn more as the week comes to an end.

Spring Break

Over spring break my project will really start to begin. I am going to be doing some coaching with the World Cup Soccer Camps that are taking place over spring break. I will be doing full days of coaching, from 9-4 (I think) the entire first week! I hope to understand more what I need to be doing as a coach this week. After this week I will hopefully be doing my course before I actually get back on the field and coach.

Things I like in coaches:

1. Nice, but not pushovers.

2. Strict enough to make you better, but don't dwell on the little things.

3. A good mix of fun drills/ scrimmages and technical drills.

4. Have a point to each drill. Don't just do a drill for the sake of doing a drill.

5. Have fun! Soccer is a fun sport, make drills and decisions based on wanting players to have fun!

Hopefully, if I am able to be what I like in a coach, I will do a good job!