Remember, even a small adult looks like a giant to a 5-, 6- or 7-year-old. You tower over them and it's intimidating when a large adult tells the player to run at, dribble past or shoot past the coach or if the coach or a parent is simply standing in the goal or, worst of all, if the coach challenges a player for the ball or plays keep away. The kids get frustrated and anxious.
So, please, stay out of the way. Let the players play. If you have to demonstrate something with a child, try to get help from an older sibling or be at least be aware of the size disparity and adjust for it as you show the players what to do.
Bonus tip: When talking to young players, get down on one knee. Engage them at their height.
5-, 6- and 7-year olds don't concentrate. 25-, 36- and 47-year old coaches may know this but rarely act on this knowledge.
Keep your players moving. Have drills which involve everyone all at once. Above all, don't have a line of players that's longer than two or three. The sun rises in the east and the kids at the end of the line get bored and distracted. It's the law.
There are lots of drills to keep kids moving:
The point is - no standing around.
At some point, the kids will need a break. Send them to get water and get them back quickly. Lots of short breaks are better than fewer long ones, especially ones that involve sitting down. Make it a race not to be the last one back. Keep Moving!
We live in sunny southern California. The sun is shining. Your players aren't wearing sunglasses. So make sure when you talk to them, the sun is behind them and in front of you. Don't make them squint.
Also, try not to wear sunglasses, especially dark ones, when you are talking to your team. It's intimidating for the players and you want them to make eye contact with you. And, as we said in Tip #1, kneel when you talk to the players, so they looking at you not up at you.
Check out Coaching Cards by Michael Karlin - 13 pages which can be cut out and pasted on to 4 x 6 index cards - Everything you need to run practices from U12 on up.
This series of videos by Michael Karlin will help you learn how to coach any player to kick, step-by-step.
A terrific, comprehensive document that explains everything you always wanted to know about coaching in the postseason....but were afraid to ask.
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