This article shares insights from a soccer coach navigating the difficulties of coaching young children, emphasizing the need to adapt plans in light of their losses. It highlights essential coaching lessons, including the balance between developing skills and understanding basic game strategies.
Coaching Young Minds: A Strategy for Youth Soccer Success

Coaching Young Minds: A Strategy for Youth Soccer Success
A youth soccer coach reflects on the challenges and strategies involved in teaching under 7 players the fundamentals of soccer.
In the world of youth soccer, particularly when it involves a team of players under the age of 7, the challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming. Recently, as the appointed coach of my son's team, I discovered not just my passion for the game, but the intricacies of teaching fundamentals to young minds, all while facing the inevitable struggles inherent in youth sports.
Initially, we were excited to instill a love for soccer in these eager youngsters. Our coaching philosophy revolved around the idea of letting them express themselves on the field, promoting passing and teamwork. However, as our matches progressed, it became glaringly obvious that our idealistic approach was, unfortunately, leading us down a path of continual losses. The laughter and joy of kicking a ball were overshadowed by the patterns of avoidable goals—each one a reminder that our strategy needed reassessment.
In youth soccer in England, there are no competitive league tables at this age; however, it’s clear to everyone watching the games that scores and outcomes have a stronger impact on player morale than one might expect. The concern that our enthusiastic young players would lose interest began to loom large. Thus, in the spirit of finding a simple yet effective solution, I turned to my own childhood memories of soccer coaching.
Drawing inspiration from Geoff, my first coach, I reflected on his two unforgettable pieces of advice: "Play the way you are facing" and "If in doubt, boot it out." These principles may lack the finesse of modern soccer tactics, but they offer a solid foundation that can be easily understood by young children more interested in running and kicking than in complex strategies. The focus shifted—to reduce panic and help our team simplify the game. Instead of trying to pass through a crowded field, we encouraged clearances into open space, ensuring the kids weren’t spending more time risking losing the ball than playing.
With this new direction, our focus was no longer just on finesse; it was about empowerment. It's about teaching the children to trust their instincts, to understand that it's okay to clear the ball when under pressure, and to play in a manner that allows them to find joy in the game rather than fear in it. As they began to implement these straightforward strategies, their confidence grew, and with it, a rekindled love for the game began to flourish too.
Coaching young soccer players comes with lessons not just about the sport itself but about life skills: teamwork, resilience, and the understanding that sometimes, the simplest approach can lead to the greatest joy.
Initially, we were excited to instill a love for soccer in these eager youngsters. Our coaching philosophy revolved around the idea of letting them express themselves on the field, promoting passing and teamwork. However, as our matches progressed, it became glaringly obvious that our idealistic approach was, unfortunately, leading us down a path of continual losses. The laughter and joy of kicking a ball were overshadowed by the patterns of avoidable goals—each one a reminder that our strategy needed reassessment.
In youth soccer in England, there are no competitive league tables at this age; however, it’s clear to everyone watching the games that scores and outcomes have a stronger impact on player morale than one might expect. The concern that our enthusiastic young players would lose interest began to loom large. Thus, in the spirit of finding a simple yet effective solution, I turned to my own childhood memories of soccer coaching.
Drawing inspiration from Geoff, my first coach, I reflected on his two unforgettable pieces of advice: "Play the way you are facing" and "If in doubt, boot it out." These principles may lack the finesse of modern soccer tactics, but they offer a solid foundation that can be easily understood by young children more interested in running and kicking than in complex strategies. The focus shifted—to reduce panic and help our team simplify the game. Instead of trying to pass through a crowded field, we encouraged clearances into open space, ensuring the kids weren’t spending more time risking losing the ball than playing.
With this new direction, our focus was no longer just on finesse; it was about empowerment. It's about teaching the children to trust their instincts, to understand that it's okay to clear the ball when under pressure, and to play in a manner that allows them to find joy in the game rather than fear in it. As they began to implement these straightforward strategies, their confidence grew, and with it, a rekindled love for the game began to flourish too.
Coaching young soccer players comes with lessons not just about the sport itself but about life skills: teamwork, resilience, and the understanding that sometimes, the simplest approach can lead to the greatest joy.