Coaching for Texarkana Soccer Association.

  1. Make sure we have a good phone number and an email that you check often.  This is how we will communicate.

  2. Complete your Background check as soon as you get the email.

  3. Call your players as soon as you get the team login.  Login to the team to see your players.  Many parents are wondering if their forms have been lost.

  4. Attend Coach’s training to learn to coach soccer.  We offer a class every Aug.

  5. Find a sister team to practice with and arrange practice time and place.  Practices are better with another team.

  6. If you are older than U6, then make arrangements for uniforms.  Every player should have a numbered colored shirt.  We prefer matching (everyone the same) shorts and socks, but this does not seem to be achievable.  U5/U6 will receive shirts from our sponsor that will be numbered colored shirts.  Suggest black shorts and socks.

  7. Every player must come to practice with water and a ball, and must wear their shin guards.

  8. Another parent should help with uniforms and refreshments. Draft a team manager.

  9. As coach, have a series of fun games/drills for the practice.  Remember to loose the player up before going full speed.  Keep the practice SAFE with plenty of breaks and fluids.

    • No Lines, No Lectures, No Laps
    • Every kid must have his own ball and play with it all the time.
    • Kicking is Not Soccer.  Soccer is ball control.  Get the kids to juggle the ball and learn to deliver and receive a pass.  If there is a little break, encourage them to play with the ball.  Coach age appropriate skills.
    • Practice should be FUN with a series of exercises and games that make the kids laugh all through the practice.  They should be disappointed practice is over.  Never scold a player, encourage them.
    • There are hundreds of fun games and exercises online at SoccerROM.com.  This web site is a tool to make your practices better and give you a plan.  It is available to all our coaches for FREE.  If you do not have a FREE account, email me at TSA@texarkanasoccer.com and I will send you one.
    • Every practice should have a printed plan so it goes quickly and is over in an hour or so.  The plan makes it easy for you to know what to do next and provides variety so the kids don’t get board with the same games. Use SoccerROM.com

  10. The schedule will be available a week before the games start.

  11. During the games, respect the Referees, they also make the games possible and are doing the best job they can.  If you see a problem, please discuss it with the Ref coordinator or another adult ref.  We need feedback to help the refs improve.

  12. Remember that every player must play at least 50% of every game.  A copy of our local rules can be found at the rules page from the menu on the left.  Also note the playing equipment page.

  13. Please remind your parents that Soccer is for fun. Please be kind to the refs and ask your parents to not scream at the kids. Cheering is great!

  14. Print the Medical Release forms from our Forms section and have the parents fill them out for your records if there is an emergency.  Keep them with you during games and practice.

 

Lot’s of Coaching Tips and Exercises on the Arkansas Soccer Web Site CLICK HERE.

Another great tool for coaches is to go watch the UK Soccer coaches at the Summer Camps.  Watching these coaches will give you lots of ideas for practice.