Coaching and Parenting Young Players

When it comes to coaching and parenting kids in soccer—or any sport—the best lessons often come from experience and, sometimes, from the mistakes we wish we hadn’t made. Here’s a collection of hard-won tips and friendly reminders for those working with young soccer players to help you avoid the pitfalls I made and enjoy the journey.


🌱 Success Is a Journey, Not Just the Goal

As the season winds down, it’s tempting to focus on wins, goals, and quick success, but real growth happens when we help kids make good decisions on and off the field. And let’s be honest—good decision-making comes from a mix of experience and a few “oops” moments.

Encourage your players to reflect on the victories and the losses, and remind them (and yourself!) that everyone is growing, even us adults. You might not be the perfect coach or parent today—but you’ll be better tomorrow.

Once we embrace growth as a journey, the next step is to understand the pace at which development truly happens.


🐢 Player Development Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Remember when patience was hard to come by? We all want to see improvement, but pushing too hard too fast can drain kids’ love of the game. The growth of young players—athletically and personally—is gradual.

Take a breath, enjoy the ride, and try to let go of the clock. Building skills, resilience, and a lifelong love of sports take time. Next time you’re tempted to push a little harder, take a cue from the turtle and remember: slow and steady wins the race.

With patience as your guide, it’s time to focus on meaningful opportunities for skill-building.


🔁 Mastery Comes from Repetition, Not Reinvention

Focus on building a solid foundation by studying, understanding, and using the FUNdamental SOCCER – 9-Step Practice. This structured approach ensures a balanced mix of learning, practicing, and applying skills in game-like situations.

Start by teaching kids how to play the 1 vs. 1 game, where one player attacks while the other defends. Set up a small space, define the goals, and encourage kids to compete and learn through repetition.

Small-sided games, such as the 4-Goal (Quad-Goal Game), allow attacking and defending skills to become second nature. The more kids play, the more resilient and confident they’ll become, ready to take on tougher challenges. The FUNdamental-PRACTICE flow ensures that repetition remains engaging, helping kids find joy in the process.

Let’s dive deeper into the Quad-Goal Game and how it can supercharge development.


🏆 The Power of Play: The 4-Goal (Quad-Goal) Game

One of the most effective ways to develop young players is through the 4-Goal (Quad-Goal Game). This small-sided game challenges players to think quickly, adapt to shifting scenarios, and balance attacking and defending.

Imagine a young player weaving between goals, deciding whether to attack or defend in a split second. With four goals on the field, they’re learning spatial awareness, decision-making, and teamwork in an engaging, fun environment.

Unlike traditional drills, the Quad-Goal Game naturally brings out creativity and problem-solving, building confidence and resilience through play.

By incorporating this game into regular practices and games, you’ll see kids’ skills and enjoyment of the game soar. ..Priceless!


Karl Dewazien

<p><strong>Koach Karl</strong> <ul> <li>Emeritus Director of Coaching - California Youth Soccer Assoc. 1979-2012</li> <li>Author - Internationally Published FUNdamental SOCCER Book Series</li> <li>Producer - highly acclaimed <a href="https://fundamentalsoccer.com/product/9-step-practice-dvd/">‘FUNdamental SOCCER -Practice’ DVD</a>.</li> <li>Clinician at: <a href="https://fundamentalsoccer.com/">www.fundamentalsoccer.com</a></li> <li>Can be reached at: <a href="mailto:koachkarl@fundamentalsoccer.com">koachkarl@fundamentalsoccer.com </a></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://fundamentalsoccer.com/?page_id=16196"><strong>Click here to learn more about Koach Karl Dewazien.</strong></a></p>

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