It is the parents who will produce the soccer stars of the future.

With the growing number of youth soccer teams these days, there are not enough resources, either financial or human, to meet the needs of the teams.

The responsibility is falling to the parents of the player to step up and become coaches so they can guide their own children and those of others to be good soccer players.

There are also poor coaches out there. You or other parents you know may have complained about your children’s coach on more than one occasion. Complaining is negative and it doesn’t accomplish anything for your children and it doesn’t accomplish anything for you other than to waste energy.

Instead of complaining, pour this energy into something positive. Learn how to become a coach yourself, the coach you want your children to have.

Good parenting skills make good coaching skills.

They are one in the same. As a parent, you want to teach your children to think for themselves and to be able to handle their own problems, to problem solve. These skills will hold them in good stead in the game of soccer as they will in life.

Remember you are teaching these players to:

• Have a sense of personal responsibility
• Understand things from a “team” perspective rather than from a “me” perspective
• Be active participants in the organization and development of their season
• Change unwanted behavior through constructive criticism and positive reinforcement

In order to be an effective coach, you need to know the game of soccer. There are any number of good books and resources on the internet (like my newsletter) to help you learn all about the game. Remember that you are learning with your little one, so you only have to stay one step ahead of them.

You will also need to learn how to coach soccer. This means that you need to know what makes a good coaching session and how to coach according to age group. You will need to learn warm-up drills, and practice drill that teach the proper techniques of kicking, passing, receiving, and all the other skills required to play the game effectively.

One important aspect of the game that you will need to start teaching them early is the concept of space.

When you feel ready to put your coaching skills to the test, you will need to organize your season so that you will be prepared. This does not only mean organizing your sessions, this means all of the administrative duties that make any team or organization run smoothly.

You can’t do it all by yourself. This is where the other parents come in. have a parent become the team manager, someone who will take on the administrative responsibilities. Some things you will need to focus on are communicating to the team members outside of practice and creating a team schedule and an introductory letter to parents.

Remember you CAN do this. The most important thing is to have FUN with it. If you are having fun, then the players will have fun too.

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by Andre Botelho

1. Always play fair and by the rules.

2. Maintain dignity under difficult conditions.

3. Always lend support and encouragement to your teammates.

4. Always play your hardest and your best in practice and games.

5. Whether you win or lose, always demonstrate respect for your coaches, referees, your opponents, your teammates, and the game.

6. A good soccer player must display conditioning, skills, and tactical knowledge.

7. The team that has the ball is on offense; the team that doesn’t have the ball is on defense.

8. Regardless of the position you play, you need to know all the skills of a soccer player.

9. Never aimlessly "kick" the ball unless you need to get it away from in front of your goal. Always know where you are sending the ball.

10. Always maintain your position on the field, regardless of what is happening around you.

11. If you run forward when your team has possession, you will need to run back when the other team has posession.

12. The person who loses the ball is the first to defend and give immediate chase.

13. When you shift from offense to defense, sprint to get between your opponent and your goal.

14. When you are defending your goal, the player closest to the ball should attack it. The other defenders should fall into a supporting role and "mark" opponents on the other team who could receive and shoot the ball.

15. Move the ball toward the touchlines on the defensive side of the field and toward the center on the offensive side of the field move the ball toward the center of the field, or “center” the ball.

16. Pass the ball before you get into trouble, not after.

17. Always move the ball a good distance when you kick it.

18. If you have the opportunity to shoot, TAKE IT!

19. If you have a shot to take on goal, take it even if you are not near the goal line.

20. As most players are right-footed, so attack and watch for attacks on the right foot.

21. Develop your passing, kicking, and dribbling skills with both your feet so that you can use your left foot to fool your opponents.

22. Always maintain possession of the ball. Moving laterally with the ball or falling back is better than your opponent gaining possession of the ball.

23. When on offense you must always "support" your teammate with the ball by being open and close enough for a pass.

24. No matter the outcome of the game, if you have given 100% be proud of yourself.

25. Don’t limit yourself. YOU CAN DO IT!