Dakota United Soccer Club - Pre-K & K Coaches

Remember your players are 4-6 years old – this may sound silly, but you would be surprised as to how many coaches come into this thinking they have to teach everything in their first season. The best way to coach these age groups is to create practices that include a lot of fun activities/ games. By doing this they will learn without even realizing it, find more enjoyment in the game, and your job as a coach will become much easier! Also keep in mind that when coaching this age group their thought processes do not normally allow for passing, sharing, and team play, so try to work mainly on individual ball skills rather than team based activities.

Here are some basic principles to remember:

The game is the best teacher
Focus on individual ball skills
Keep all the players moving as much as possible
Try not to include activities with lines
Encourage players to demonstrate to one another
Create a positive learning environment
- Demonstrate what you are looking for
- Use quick and simple explanations for activities
- Support players with positive corrections and feedback
- Continuously encourage everyone to do their best