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I’m only in my second season as a “soccer mom,” and already I can see the importance of showing interest in my son’s soccer games and practice. Okay, I knew that before. You want your kids to be interested in something, be interested in it yourself. It’s not always that simple, but it really helps.

Soccer is just more fun for my son because we take an interest. My husband and I take turns taking him to practice, and we all go to his games. Even grandparents come up for the occasional game. It’s a great way to encourage interest in a sport he is beginning to love, and already likes quite well.

So what does playing soccer in the backyard have to do with all this?

Playing a bit of soccer as a family helps to develop skills, and makes it quite clear that we’re all interested in the game. Even my two year old has become quite the little soccer fanatic. She’s often kicking the ball around the house, and heaven help you if you don’t want to kick it with her when she asks.

It helps that I played soccer for four years growing up. That was many years ago, but it’s not like the game changes much over time. The coaches haven’t been that strong so far in helping the kids understand their field positions and responsibilities, but that’s something I can explain a little. Otherwise, the kids are mostly learning it by rote so far.

If you don’t have a backyard, consider the other places you could play as a family. Is there a park you could go to, perhaps the one practices and/or games are held at? Is your street quiet enough? There should be someplace you can go together to get some play time in.

Soccer Is Healthy For All

It’s all too easy to live a sedentary lifestyle these days. Computers, video games and television all encourage parents and children to sit around the house. Creating a family tradition of going out in the evenings and playing a little bit of soccer gets us all that much more active.

Our games in the backyard aren’t usually that formal. Often it’s my husband and I dribbling the ball around, while the kids try to steal it. This is one of the skills my son is really struggling with in games, so it’s helpful as well as fun. Getting the ball from mom or dad isn’t the same as getting it away from a crowd of kids more or less his own size, but it helps.

Sometimes, it’s especially fun watching my two year old go at it. No precision, no strength, no idea what to do beyond kick the ball around, but such enthusiasm! She’s be on a team now if she had her way.

If you’re lucky, you might even get some friends and neighbors to join in the fun. It can be so hard sometimes to get other kids to come over and play, but noisy fun in the backyard can be a magnet.

Cuts Down on Screen Time

By screen time, I mean time your kids spend in front of any screen, whether it’s the television or the computer monitor. Sometimes it’s hard to get them (and yourself) away from electronic entertainment. Insisting upon some play time outdoors as a family really helps. You just might give your child an interest that will get him or her outdoors and active more than you’ve asked for.

Stephanie Foster offers tips at http://www.encouragetheirtalents.com/total-soccer-fitness-for-juniors-will-help-your-young-soccer-player/ to help parents with their young soccer players. Learn more about encouraging your kids in soccer at her site.

It is fair to say that I have never met a goalkeeper coach whom does not think that their way of coaching is the only way of coaching – and this is what makes us such fascinating creatures!

Specifically with grass roots coaches, the idea of sharing ideas and listening to similar level compatriots strikes fear and an intense self promotion attitude within many. This is not necessarily a bad thing however, as every single coach needs to be full of self importance and self belief. It is this confidence that we need to convey to our students after all.

The higher up the football pyramid you move, the more receptive and open other coaches are to sharing and listening, however there is still an incredible amount of alpha male pride attached to each individual – but we are all goalkeepers after all, and that goes with the territory!

“Hello there. I’m a level two coach – what level are you?” AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH! How many times do you meet a coaching compatriot and this is their introduction? Or the ones who boast that they have taken the FA Level One? I’m afraid to say that these are the coaches that will receive the least of my time and attention, as all I care about is whether or not you can coach – not how many tickets you have to your name! If you’ve ever been standing with me when someone trots out that line as their introduction then I’m fairly certain that you would have heard a low growl emanating from my direction!

I genuinely think it is fantastic that so many people have the gumption to get up and actually achieve a qualification in their chosen field, but what really drags this praise down is the steadfast refusal to actually develop themselves as a coach – life is a constant learning curve and each day should be spent on developing yourself as an individual, and time specifically devoted to pursuing perfection within your chosen field (of course perfection can never be achieved however there is no harm in chasing!)

The title of this article is referring to being brave within your coaching. This is related to those coaches whom simply “run out of ideas” – quoted direct from the emails I receive asking for advice. Without wishing to come across as disrespectful to those whom are in a similar position with their sessions, my straight forward response is “why?”. Even if you are one of those coaches that repeats drills time and time again, then have you ever thought about approaching that drill slightly differently? Could you add a new challenge into your drill? Can you progress it? What would happen if? One thing that I have always prided myself on is that I never needed to repeat a drill (unless my goalkeepers specifically requested it), there are endless progressions that are applicable to what we plan so be brave and think “What if I just….?”

Always ask yourself open questions when appraising each drill, and better still – ask the goalkeepers themselves. You would be amazed at how empowered the goalkeeper then becomes when you get them involved with the session planning.

In an ideal world, I would suggest you throwing out your Coaching Manuals and instead use your intuition to get better results from your goalkeepers. Remember that it is easier to coach the mistake fluidly than it is to robotically coach the technique. Step away from how you have been taught to coach in order to pass your assessment and gain your certificate but instead take a fresh look at how you are currently doing things and ask yourself open questions. In order for you to fully develop your goalkeepers you must also develop yourself as an individual first, and goalkeeper coach a very close second.

The next time you pull on your goalkeeper gloves and set the cones out, think “What if I just did that instead?”

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