When I think back over the last season, I can think of five things that I can attribute to the success of my soccer team – note, I define success as player development, and improvement. Winning championships is secondary (albeit a nice achievement).
- A Good Manager: I think one of the reasons my U10 boys have had so much success this year is that I’ve been able to focus on the coaching. A lot of coaches also handle the administrative side of youth soccer such as organizing games, registering players, collecting fees, etc etc. Having a manager who is capable of doing all of the administrative tasks leaves the coach to focus on what they are good at and what they are paid for – coaching soccer.
- A Good Assistant: A good assistant is vital for the success of any youth soccer team. When I first started with these boys at U9 the vast majority of them were out of Rec. My assistant knew a lot of them because he coached his son at Rec so the transition for the boys from Rec soccer to travel soccer was made all the more easier. He also lets me know of anything he’s seen or thinks we should work on in training. My assistant is my eyes and ears.
- A Good DOC: Having a good Director of Coaching is essential. A good DOC should be approachable by the least experienced coach, but also have enough knowledge to run the club. If there are questions you need to ask about coaching, use your DOC as a resource. Also, if you have the time, ask them if you can watch some of their sessions. I do this and the coaching knowledge I’ve picked up is invaluable.
- Good Equipment: Take the time to go through your kit-bag and organize yourself. If you carry balls make sure they’re all pumped up. If you have bibs (pinnies), make sure they’re not torn and they’re (relatively) clean. You should have an ample supply of different colored cones to use for your sessions. Also be prepared for changes in weather. I always carry two sets of cleats, an extra pair of pants and a spare training top.
- An Understanding Spouse: If you’re like me during soccer season, you spend a lot of time at the fields. When you take into consideration the time spent planning training sessions, traveling to games and tournaments, spending time taking licenses, it all adds up. Make sure you make up for that lost time during the off-season because another season is right around the corner.
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