BIGGEST YOUTH COACHING MISTAKES - U10/U9/U8 

Great list! I'd add: 1. Lack of session planning which often results in less training/ball rolling time 2. Using over complicated drills/activities which results in coaching the drill rather than the players 3. No progression of activities to further challenge players 4. Not sticking to the session topic and/or using too many coaching points

I am a soccer guy and I am coaching kids for 4 years, this is one of the best video I have seen because there are not a lot of vidéos about mistakes.

I'm glad I came back to this video. I'm a fairly new travel coach for GU9 and I failed to engage the parents and it came back to bite me. Fortunately our parents were vocal about it during our last parents' meeting and it was refreshing to hear how much they wanted to be involved. Expecially them asking what they could be doing at home and what the kids could be working on. I have this info but I was not sharing it. My comms are great when it comes to notifying parents about games/practices/events but I was not sharing the statuses of their children and what we (the coaches) are having them focus on. It's always good to check yourself and realize what you can be doing better for your team! Thanks Coach!!

Great video! I’m glad I found your channel. This, and many of the other videos, is exactly what I was looking for. This is my second season coaching in a local catholic school league here in Northeast Philadelphia. The skill gap between teams/kids is vast! The school I’m coaching is small and didn’t have a soccer team until last year. Our fist season I had 14 kids for a 7v7 league. All but 3 kids had never played soccer, didn’t know the rules, what the lines in the field meant, etc. and we only had 3 weeks (6 practice sessions) to prepare for our fist game. So it was a disaster until about our 3rd game when things started to click. But there was a lot of raw talent and excitement to learn and play the game. Side note: when we scored our fist goal, I was like a kid on Christmas. I ran out on the field, picked up the kid and gave him a huge hug. My overall objective was to get each of the 14 kids as much game time as possible. But before the season ended, I also wanted to get them a win so they would know what winning feels like, and increase the odds of them returning the next year. Towards the end of the season we finally got a win against a team that beat us pretty bad earlier in the year. It was glorious! At the end of the season I came to the conclusion that what they needed was just time practicing, drilling, honing their skills, and scrimmaging. So I started a free soccer camp this past summer. We practiced twice a week from Mid May-early August. I had 24 kids at the beginning of camp and had 19 kids at the last camp session. This season (first game will be 9/16/22) we have two team competing in the league. A 7v7 team (cadets 3rd and 4th graders) with 13 kids and a 9v9 team (junior varsity 5th and 6th graders) with 12 kids. So I’m kinda proud that the soccer program has grown. My hope is that next year or maybe the following year, all grade levels will be not only represented, but also competitive, in the league. Anyway, there were several coaching mistakes I’ve been making. The joysticking, too many drill, giving specific instruction from the sidelines rather than giving them a chance to think, being mr freeze, and asking for help. One thing I did well was communicate with the parents, which I think had a direct impact on how many kids enrolled and stuck with the summer soccer camp though the summer, and the growth of the schools soccer program. Coaching is certainly not an easy task. I’ve found that there is a fine balance between developing their skills, pushing them to improve, motivating those few who try to cheat the conditioning a skill development drills, touching their heart and bringing that love of the game to the surface, and also maintaining the fun factor and keeping them focused and interested. It absolutely fills my heart with joy seeing them consistently show up for practice in 90 degree weather ready to get to work. Another side note: last season when it started getting dark early, the people who maintain the field didn’t adjust the lights to turn on when it started getting dark. So for the last few weeks of practice, the sun would go down and about mid practice, aside from street lights, we’d finish the last half of practice in complete darkness without a single complaint. Parents had to come a drag their kids away. Many of the kids would ask if we could continue even when practice had concluded. But I love the game and even in my late 40’s I’d occasionally slide in some shin guards and get into the mix. It’s just so much fun! Anyway, I know I typed a wall of text, but just wanted to give some background, current state of my coaching experience and say thank you for the informative videos. I will be spending the next few days going through them all. Thanks again, Jason

Great tips! This is only my 2nd season coaching my daughter's rec team and every game I learn so much (mainly from my mistakes!) I must admit, I have been guilty of joysticking in the past! That really hit home. Thanks for the wisdom!

Thank you so much! Great video! We had our first game and we had every player play every position-keeper we only had two players, but we plan to have every player try it out by the first half of our season. I am blessed that my other coach is willing to study with me. Our team lost our first game in goals, all of our players won in pride of themselves for how well they played.

So glad I found your channel. Great coaching tips from top to bottom. Thank you Cory!!

I love this video coach Rory! I really liked the example of guided questions, saying where is support? versus telling them specifically where to pass all the time!

Great video. I have been coaching my daughter's team for 3 years now. Last year I was assistant coach (went from Rec to Travel) and the head coach unfortunately made it not as fun for the team. Now back as a head coach I appreciate seeing videos like this to try and avoid pitfalls that we all have as coaches! :) So thanks for the video. It was awesome!

We do short lectures at the first couple practices for formations and team-specific stuff and then later in the practice have a “pop quiz” where they can win a small prize for answering a question. They help each other answer questions as well to build team camaraderie.

I just found your channel this morning. Just wanted to let you know how great your content is. Coming from a u8 parent. The more I watch your videos the more it makes me want to step up and try coaching my son's soccer team in the future. The current coach checks all the boxes from that video. I have noticed a lot of kids losing interest quick my son included in those statics drills where they have to stand in line for minutes for their turn.

From being a youth coach I share your experiences! Really great advice! Joy and Development first-always!

I appreciate your "The Obstacle is the Way" up there.

Hello Coach Rory! This video was enlightening for me - a first-year soccer coach in a rec league with fourteen 4th/5th graders. I'm two training sessions in so far, and thanks to your videos, I already jotted down some notes on what *not* to do anymore. (I didn't commit all mistakes you addressed, but more than half.) Live and learn! Thank you for helping people like me inspire the next generation about the game of soccer!

Thank you for making this video. I was coaching U14 last season, and U10 currently. This helps make the difference in ages more clear, and how to coach them appropriately. I feel a little more confident knowing these tips.

Very helpful stuff. It’s my first year as a coach for my daughters team and I was doing a lot of the wrong things you mentioned at their games. Joysticking way too much. Thank you for the help!

Someone else brought up practice planning and preparations and thats helpful. I also find that having an assistant coach for practices and games is a huge difference. As for your list, im prone to the joystick 🕹 sometimes and you make a good point of it. Ill work on improving that part of my coaching.

Enjoyed this video (under 10 coach) one thing I would add to the levels part is that I would want my team to play in a level where everything is hard work and earned, not to the point where you're not competitive but you are instilling risk and reward. Too often I see coaches put teams into a level where it's all very safe and they know they will have a positive win-loss ratio. Keep up the good work with vids Rory!

Great Video! I coached my daughter from U8 to U19 from Recreational to highly competitive soccer and I made a ton of mistakes when I first started. I got some great advice after the first couple seasons and many of the things you said where part of that. I absolutely loved coaching that group of girls, many stayed with the program all the way up to U19. I would like to think that because I used that advice, they continued to have fun and enjoyed playing together. "Joysticking" was the one thing that I learned to kick and WOW it made the game fun for me again. The girls knew if I said anything in the game is strategy not a specific play. At that age if you try to tell them to move on a play, it is too late. Now I am coaching my U10 son. It has been a little difficult to go back to U10 and have to rethink my training and fun drills, but it is fun to see how fast they are learning and taking that onto the field. Thanks for putting these videos out there. They have helped me refocus with the U10 Boys.

Tremendous video!!!! Extremely informative!!!! I think everything you touched on was point and on par for kids of the age range! And for kids just starting off learning the sport, it's important to instill confidence and make it fun. Often enough certain coaches get wrapped up in wins n losses!

Thank you so much! About to start another year of soccer. Excited to start but nervous about certain things. So much of this made me realize in what areas I need to work on to build better teams.

Great tips. Thanks coach!

This is great stuff. I really appreciate the content you produce.

This was the first video I watched on how to coach U9 players. It is straight up gold. I've been complimented by numerous parents (my own players and those of opposing players), and it's because I internalized what what said here and Rory's other videos. The kids are having fun learning how to win (not playing to win) and getting a ton of touches this season, which translates to execution and having fun doing it, which is leading to wins. Thank you, Coach Rory.

Huge mistake I see coaches make: allowing players to solidify bad habits by not holding players and the team accountable to certain standards. I.e. there is a tendency for younger players, especially coming from a recreation program, to put their head down and dribble or kick the ball as soon as it comes to them, or even behaviorally where players will constantly distract themselves and others. If players are not held to a certain standard, they solidify these bad habits and it makes it extremely difficult to correct the habit and it can be detrimental to overall progress. Note: the standards must be realistic to the age group you’re working with. Just my observation. Great video btw Coach!!!! I appreciate your quality!

Brilliant 👏 👏 👏 This is what we need more of than merely endless drills ...the psychological aspect of coaching plays the most important part in the making of a good coach

Very useful information. Thanks!

This video is not only extremely informative and helpful it’s integral. I will share this advice with my colleagues and coaches moving forward. Thank you.

Great points - I've been coaching for a number of years, made some of these mistakes and agree with your perspective! Thanks

Great list and overall mindset for coaching this age/level. I am now subscribed!

thank you for your information- so informative and such great reminders!!!

Amazing staff well done

I've started coaching a u9 team. Your channel is invaluable for me. Thanks so much for this info!

You missed coaching for kids that are uncoachable

Thanks for sharing! I would definitely agree with getting a mentor as a coach. Mentors can provide valuable feedback on what you’re doing well or not so well at. It has risen my level as a coach for sure.

Thank you for this video! I realize I joystick way to much! Now I know a better way to educate. I also thabk you for all your videos. I played hockey all through school and my kids chose to play soccer so here I am learning soccer terms, positions, and rules as I coach them. They play both outdoor and indoor. I like indoor more as I can relate more to it. I like the challenge for my self of learning how to position and coach for outdoor.

Great advice.. Thank you so much

very interesting video and agree with a lot of your points.....i have coached for 30 years at various levels from rec to elite travel.....i struggle with balancing technical skills vs games to develop players especially with large differentials in skill athleticism etc.... but at the highest level premier league academies I believe there is a tremendous focus on repetitions of basic skills (first touch passing accuracy range of passing etc) if you have a new raw travel team where do they learn the technique for all the technical skills .....the kids rarely play or practice on their own for fun.....example if you want to develop a decent shot then you need to practice a 1000 + times but it is of no use to practice the wrong thing a 1000 times and not improve so you need both repetition and guidance/correction.....many of the kids and their parents in the US have no interest in the game outside of playing and do not watch the professional game at the top level and therefore have no heroes players to copy.... the very best do watch top teams and practice on their own but that is a minute percentage...... i think you need 1on 1 or very small group individual training outside the team (as compensation for lack of street/beach soccer) and then application in small sided games progressing to larger side in team training) From coaching or overcoaching I find it very interesting that the very best coaches/managers in the world seem to be very animated and instructing for much of the game (especially if they are not winning) the training should have restrictions to accomplish development ( 3 touch minimum or 2 touch max etc) At the end of the day they need to be better players at the end of the season than they were at the beginning..... and you are very correct play at the right level but that is not always easy to accomplish as everyone has a different perspective and divisions are often unbalanced that is why you have promotion and relegation....coaching is much easier with talent....just ask Pep or Jurgen.....see what they could accomplish with a low level team without the ability to buy the best players ...I am sure they could improve the team but there would be a ceiling Interested to hear your perspective

i have been coaching youth from U6s up to U19s. These tips are excellent and universally applicable.

I absolutely love your videos!!!

Great video and advice for coaches of really any youth sport but especially soccer. The joystick coaches or the frozen defender ones (have 1 or 2 just standing on the 18 line) are in abundance.

Love the video i make some of those mistakes my self but at the end like you said kids just want to have fun .

Wow such priceless tips thank you 🙏

Just found your channel and found this video very helpful and made me think better as I'm currently u8s coach

Good list... I definitely refrain from teaching "booting downfield". I only teach it in practice to get the point across that if players are bunching, one needs to boot the ball into space to prevent tunnel vision.

Great video coach! Great content 👍🏽

Thank u very much I was coach assistant for one year U9 after that the coach left and the club give me job as coach and when I was assistant the coach was always shouting and pushing and now am coaching same team become U11 and some of the players left so now I know they are just kids like u said coming just for fun and play with there friend that matter for them to win or loose but me and other coach we were expecting more.

What a great video. Wish I had come across it earlier! Keep up the great work.

Loved this video saving it. I coach under 8s 1/2 newbies And we share training with our U8s experienced team and the other coach does so many of your issues. Make it's all too complicated and takes away the fun aspects so I'm constantly adding in fun skill based games like tails with a ball. My team is improving every week up to the point we're matching his team with more players too.

Great tips! Thanks just starting to coach because of my girls but have no experience. This video helped a lot

This video is Excellent!! Every youth coach should be required, mandatory must watch.. every parent should watch this and email this video to all the other parents on the team.. this video is that on point!! Thanks crs

Great video. I’m a new U8 coach and this is really going to help me and the kids! Also, good to see Ryan Holiday book in the background 😊

Some good points in there. The kids turn up wanting to play games. Your session should have lots of rolling ball. Last week we just played games with the kids - mixing up the teams after 10 mins, but mainly, just letting them get on with it. There is a feeling sometimes that if we aren't imparting some technical information to players, even at U9, the parents will feel they are getting short-changed. That's when we have to engage with parents.

Great points! I would add that coaches should include position walk throughs so that everyone knows what is expected from each field position. I.e. when the ball is here, where should everyone be? If someone gets beat, who is responsible to help, and who back fills them? etc...

Great comments on mistakes, especially joysticking, so many coaches are yelling out instructions that almost always are lagging behind the actual play... And definitely too much emphasis on boring technical work and not on tactical training and decision making. Great stuff!

Thanks for some of the tips. I think with the technical stuff it depends on what type of team you are coaching. For an elite squad you want to get the basics right at an early age and therefore technicals are very important. For a team that is more social but have a wide skill gap then you do need to help those less technical kids lift their level up. So its probably finding the right balance and not overly be too technical or have them do the technical voluntarily in their own time etc. I am actually facing this challenge this year. I used to coach an elite team but now I am coaching my own kid's team and they are more a social club with wider skill gap. I am a serial joystick controller maybe i was deprived of Nintendo growing up. But thanks for the reminder and i will word my instructions differently :)

I've never coached before this year and never played organized soccer. I'm coaching a U10 team. Your channel is invaluable! Thank you so much.

I'm a brand new coach and haven't played soccer myself in decades. You're bringing it all back! I could not agree more with every single one of these points.

Great video and great advice

Terrific video (I really wish there was more content like this out there). I think a couple points either are wrong or (probably more likely) weren't really well articulated. 1) Technical Drills = Bad. I think that's the lesson that a lot of people will take from your first point and I don't think that's what you meant. ESPECIALLY at the youth level, teaching technical skills is vitally important. The goal is finding ways to do it that feel more like a game (or mini-game) than simple doing line drills. I would suggest taking your standard line drills and finding SOME way to spice it up just a little bit (something to make it a little more competitive... timed race between groups, points, person in the middle, whatever. But the key is it still needs to focus on those technical skills. Don't just do 3v2 drills all day and then a scrimmage. Kids will learn very little from that. If your coaching staff is large enough (i've been lucky enough to coach with two other terrific coaches), having one of them pull a single player aside to work on a specific skill while the other two coaches run the rest of practice can be terrific. Kids love the 1 on 1 time as well. If you can give four or five kids 5-10 minutes each during each practice that will make a meaningful difference in their development. 2/3) These are sort of the same. Teaching kids is your job. You have to find a way to do that that keeps them engaged. SOME kids respond really well to questions. Some kids absolutely do NOT. The biggest thing that all coaches will struggle with at this age is simply avoiding "pack ball". You'll find yourself stopping practice a LOT and saying, "Guys... look around... should there be four of you next to each other?" That's okay... you SHOULD be Mr. Freeze in that situation. Frankly, you NEED to be because "spreading out" isn't a thing that they'll learn on their own. What you shouldn't do is stop play to spend five minutes teaching them how to do give and gos in the middle of a session. Stop things and lecture when things are fundamentally broken (and keep those lectures to 30-45 seconds in most cases, frankly). 7) Joysticking. In some ways this goes along with "Winning" (I think you mentioned that). Again, some amount of this is inevitable. I find myself most frequently doing it in games with positioning (my wingers cross over to the other touchline, my defenders hang too far back, my forwards decide that our goalie needs another defender, etc). I think that's necessary and I've tried LITERALLY everything else. It's just going to be one of those things you have to harp on over and over and over. That being said, I think the better alternative to joysticking is largely what you described. Find encouraging things to say or reminders ("be quick", "be brave", etc are always fine as well). It's also good to remind them of the things you do NOT want them to do (anti-joysticking). The dreaded "pass across the middle by an 8 year old who can't hit a cross field pass with any kind of reliability to save his life" for instance. 8) Player positioning assignments. I find the coaches that put their big tall fast player at forward to be amusing. Guess where I want my best player playing? In a 231 I want them at CM. I have to force myself to rotate them to other positions but that's 100% where your best player SHOULD be playing most of the time if you're trying to win (and there's plenty of reasons NOT to do that 100% of the time... I'm just saying those coaches that put their best player at forward hoping to maximize their wins are demonstrably wrong). I also agree that you should NEVER ever put your worst players at defense. That's a terrible idea and usually you get that from coaches who have a goalkeeper or two that can reliably kick the ball to half field so they're simply bypassing build up play. It's bad. Lastly, every youth team IME, has that one player who's quick but doesn't have the ability to reliably kick the ball hard. That's your forward. At this age, goalies are not very good (heck, sometimes even afraid of the ball). That quick kid that can dribble but can't shoot? Don't worry... he'll be fine at forward and it'll really build their confidence. Shooting from distance is a skill that comes later. Learning to get open and dribble in space is a skill they can work on right now.

Thank you so much. I was making the first three mistakes.

I am seeing myself making some of these mistakes, but the real issue that we face on the U8 and U10 teams that I coach is engagement. We try to make it fun, we try to never stop and talk endlessly. We try to give specific, targeted feedback about positive behaviors, skills, or game awareness (positioning). We even let the girls have 2 minutes of just doing cartwheels, so they are not constantly just busting into cartwheels during practice. But as compared to the other teams we are seeing, we just have kiddos that are simply never paying attention or even seemingly invested in being on the field at all. Obviously, we are doing something wrong, but how do we get them fired up? I even tried to give away some pop-its to the girls that had an amazing practice or games....(that was successful for less than 5 minutes).

Excellent Rory, thansk

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!! I wish you had a video for competitive parents for these kids.

3rd year coach and I likes some of what you talked about. I do some times catch myself placing the weaker players in the back or not in the right position. I will be re-evaluating the positions for this weeks games.

Very insightful video. Great watch. Brand new coach teaching brand new team (u7) football (not soccer) in England 🤪 I am so excited to go on my journey at the same time as my kids. Going to be epic.

Great video coach!

This is quality content. I think I need to send this video to some of the parents! Thanks.

Great video. You are making lots of sense.

Great video. Just became a youth soccer coach! Totally agree with you everything you said! I’ll be checking more content for sure!

As a parent of of a U9 girl, i found this to video to be super helpful, confirmed that we have a good coach and that our parents (including myself) need to calm down a bit, and let the. girls develop. Thank you.

100% agree with this coach.. I made the mistake of putting low confidence weaker players in the back.. They cost us goals & as a result they became less confident.. Now I know less confident players need to be in the middle where they are more involved & allowed to make mistakes.. Kids good with the ball at their feet should be in the backs. Brilliant advice.. ❤

Best reminder I've ever heard, "they want to score goals, they want to play with their friends." This is really important to remember.

I watched this right after practice today. Doh! I made a few mistakes. Guess I need to practice! Thanks for this video, it was enlightning!

I pulled out my old white board the other day and sat my daughter down and started explaining her role at each position the coaches normally put her at. And what to do and look for in a few different scenarios

Great video. Thank you. I'm coaching 5-6 years olds for the first time. I'll definitely use these tips.

Thanks for your help. I'm beginning this process last week

great video , our club has an elite team at level of u7 to u16 , I have been tasked to coach the current u10 team A & B , i have been coaching them since they were u7 but not taking them to league competitions . The u10 A has been on a champion strike for 4 season , u10 B is ups and downs on the league table , since they're not the best skill level. Started this season with a couple of friends, we won 2 of 5 , drew 1 and lost 2, not the worst but not what we're used too. This season so far the boys look smaller than any other team we are facing . My question now , do you have any advices and ideas on how to help them with protecting the ball , and not get immediate by height , I know once we settle down like in the two games we won ,we can knock any team of the field , usually have to take off the best players or tell them no scoring unless we make 10 passes first, to keep the other team playing.

Looking forward to video for why you put certain players in certain positions!

I made a lot of these mistakes, and as I took US soccer licenses I found I was wrong and so I've changed as a coach. However, as an administrator of a rec club, learning these things made soccer less fun, as I tried to help others, they became offended and angry, to the point I found it better to quit administrative and only concentrate on my individual team.

Played as a child. Coaching 8+ years in rec. Son is currently in academy/travel. I think the most useful nuggets from this are joysticking, and positioning. Joysticking. I think coaching and verbal queues are important, but I really agree with making sure those are ones to remind them to look for their own triggers. "Check your shoulder", "where's the space", "where's your help", "where can you help", etc. I also think reminding players to give these verbal queues to their teammates is important too... reminding THEM to be vocal (time, man on, back, turn, etc). Positioning. I 100% agree with making sure you have skilled players in the back. Ironically, I think this helps the entire team develop better / faster than having the more skilled players at the top. Primarily, it helps with possession and build-up which means more touches and opportunities for the team as a whole - not to mention confidence, morale, trust, and example (i.e. it shifts responsibility of the best players to prevent goals rather than just scoring them and subconsciously placing the blame on the weaker players when attackers have way less pressure RE: losing possession).

Very helpful information

You alluded it to it - but I'd say "let the game be the teacher" and "maximize playing time" by minimizing transition time between drills and having spare soccer balls near by to keep play flowing and minimize players chasing soccer balls over the place. Tactically - I focus mostly on my backs to push up and emphasize pressure and support, shape.

Hey Coach!!! You have helped me tremendously...I am going from U10 Coed rec to U10 Select coach ...I have the tryouts today...a little late for me perhaps, but maybe thoughts about going into tryouts and what we, as coaches should be looking for ....

Good video. I’d be curious if you had any favorite technical drills that avoid the standing in line. I’m always trying to avoid the line.

Love your videos. I’ve recently been ‘promoted’ from assistant to manager of what will be u9s next season. We will be playing 7-a-side for the first time. We are very much a mixed ability team. What advice would you give to keep it engaging enough for the better players, while making it ‘educational’ enough for the players with less ability?

At the recreational program where we break down the 1 hour play in 4 quarters for those in Division 1 under 10 - play them as much and play them in all three positions in a game as forward, defense and midfield so they can get a flavor of all the positions.

Great video, from Spain

08:00 WINNING: How important is winning? It’s very important as you know… You can win by playing out from the back and not yelling at kids. You can win in the right way

I lecture my team every practice and game. Gotta pump them up and focus them I think. Game days are serious that's what I tell them. I coach u8 right now. Your right it's much harder then coaching the older kids

Thankful to have found your channel, like you said-I searched for "soccer drills", and thankful I chose yours (different video of course). The hubs and I got thrown into coaching both of our girls (1st time players) teams this year...U6 and U10....and neither of us have ANY soccer experience or with coaching. We've only had a couple of practices due to weather issues, so I will definitely be implementing these and using our club directors (who are VERY knowledgeable) when I can. Thank you!!!

Thanks Rory, I had my first game coaching U9 girls today and it was awesome! I'm very passionate person naturally and i was very animated on the touchline and actually lost my voice, most of my yelling was encouragement to my girls, "well done!, Push up!, Push back in support, spread, squeeze" was I being a joystick coach? The feedback i got from the parents after the game was really humbling, they loved my passion as they said some coaches have zero passion, they also all thanked me as all the girls had fun, my girls ended up losing 6-2, but at the end i made a big deal that we scored goals, and apparently last year they didn't score 1 goal and lost every game 15-0, etc... I will start implementing "head up", "where's your help" etc.... But can i keep my passion and be active from the touchline like i was today? It's who I am as a person and the girls love me, they don't take my yelling as me being angry to them, it's just passion and praise... Thanks for your video!

Thank you coach ur tips vl help me in running my academy ❤

Oh man... So many mistakes I've seen others make & have made myself in 4.5yrs of coaching U6-U11. Most of them are mentioned in this video. But, by far The Major one is the mistake where coaches recruit players based on footballing factors alone rather than based on the total package. Experience has taught me a few things about player recruitment, chiefly this - Recruit parents first, kids second! In youth team sports, the character & personalities of the parents plays a Big part in the culture of the team & the behaviour of the players. Parents who do not support the coach will say negative things about the coach in the car or at home with their kids. Then coaches wonder why such kids don't train or play as taught. Having the wrong profile of parents also creates divisions & rivalries within the team that (again) filters to the players & causes rifts between them which affects their ability to play well together on the pitch. The besr way to avoid this is simple - do not recruit players with parents like this. And if you inherited them, get rid of them! No matter how individually skilled or influential a player might be in games, team unity is ultimately worth more results than how well any one player can play. So be careful who you allow into the tent, and make sure to take time to get to know the parents of potential recruits and get a second opinion on them. I once had a 2.5hr meeting with the parents of a prospective new recruit. I explained my personal values, my coaching philosophy, my vision for the team, my rules & expectations etc. This way, they knew the score before signing. They were happy to join & have backed my vision ever since. Another mistake, again closely related to the "engage parents" rule is this...is where coaches fail to win an advocate in the parents group. Some parents will always be on the fence about the coach & will often easily fall into the temptation to criticise the coach on the sideline. A smart coach will Foster positive relationships with parents who can advocate for them in conversations with other parents. A good youth football coach knows that they manage 2 groups. 1 is the kids. And the 2nd is the parents. I have an advocate (for example) who always backs up my messages to our group and acts as a cheerleader to others for my vision. Another mistake I see coaches make (and have made myself in the past) is that when coaches look for help/resources, they only look for "drills" and fail to look wider for inspiration. For example, there are books out there that have nothing to do with football/soccer but which have massively improved my coaching because they gave me a different way of seeing things. Black Box Thinking (by Matthew Syed) and "Team Turnarounds (by Joe Frontiera & Daniel Leidl) have majorly influenced my coaching on the pitch and my approach to team culture management off the pitch also. I've also gained a lot from watching documentaries about American Football teams & coaches, and have even borrowed phrases from those sources. Coaches would really benefit for looking farther afield for inspiration. Another big mistake I've seen a lot of coaches make is the mistake of not questioning orthodoxies. For example, for the first few years I'd put my team through drills I found interesting. But other (better qualified) coaches would often tell me that those drills or coaching sessions were age-inappropriate. To which, I always think "says who??"... How does a coach know to trust some stranger's opinion on what is age-appropriate for the group without testing it first? By all means try things. If your group get it, then great. If not, then OK, try something easier. But never begin with the premise that something is too advanced for your group just because X person said so. They don't know and neither will you till you try. Kids brains are like sponges and can take in more than most coaches dare to believe. To not push them to learn so-called advanced skills is to waste the most potent period in their brain's ability to learn & develop. I had a UEFA B coach tell me that I shouldn't be using a tactics board at U9s. But the repeated incorporation of tactical position preparation has made my players more tactically conversant & disciplined compared to their peers. We're entering U11s in the 22-23 season and will be working with these 10yr olds on third man runs. Too advanced? Says who? Another big mistake I see coaches making is focusing on individual achievements and rewarding individualism either on matchdays or in general. For example, a player dribbles past the entire opposition to score without involving his/her teammates and they get clapped for this. Or (the most common) at the end of every game, 1 "Man of The Match" award gets given to 1 individual. It's a paradox that most coaches want players to play as a team, but then incentivize an individualist approach to the game through individual rewards. You should reward what you want to see. Want to see more greedy football? Then give a MOTM award after every game. Once I realised the correlation, I stopped giving MOTM and began to give "Group of the Match Awards" to whichever group (gks, defenders, midfielders or forwards) performed best. Once I did that, results began to improve as players understood that good teamplay in their groups (rather than selfish play) carries rewards. This also fosters unity, which is key to performances.

I know you're speaking mainly to club coaches, but I'd love it if you did a companion series focusing on AYSO

Hello Rory, thank you so much for sharing these coaching mistakes. It would be great if you could provide the counterpart for every mistakes. Examples of what you do or could do instead of those mistakes. Maybe develop each point further with suggestions? Once again, thank you very much!

Love this

Great vedio i just start coaching my daughter u10 team and always looking for advise and different ways i am a parent love the game so much and was happy when my daughter said she wants to play somtimes i forget the fun she wants to have i have bigginer team of 10 kids and look for any tips to coach and make sure its fun for them.

Agree with it all...I want to add one thing... keep the numbers of kids playing as low as possible so the players get the most amount of player actions as possible. 1v1, 2v1, 2v2. especially when the kids are new to soccer.

great videos Rory. Can you recommend someone that does more u12 9v9 related content?