I have owned a youth soccer academy for the past 7 years, coached over 3500 youth players in my career and refereed over 4000 games. I'm currently writing a guide to coaching youth soccer and I'm here to answer your questions since soccer season started! AMA!

Hey everyone,

My name is Mike and I've owned a youth soccer academy for the past 7 years, training over 1500 kids between the ages of 5 and 14 during that period (competitive and non-competitive players). Before my academy I built my clientele through personal trainings and I've acted as the technical director of my soccer association here in Canada (through which I was able to run general and team specific trainings for over 2000 kids and over 100 coaches). I have also been the head referee of my association for the past 13 years (managed over 250 referees and refereed, supervised and evaluated 4000+ youth games in my career).

I hold a Bachelor in Physical and Health Education from McGill University and I teach physical and health education in a high school full-time during the day.

I’ve specialized myself in youth soccer as it is the base for all future players - whether they become future professional player or simple amateur players. The biggest hurdle in youth soccer is the direction that youth coaches take their players. More often than not, inexperienced youth coaches misguide players: they have unrealistic demands from their team (coach their U10 team like they would coach adults), and may specialize their players earlier on to win games (make the most skilled player a forward all season since he scores the most goals) which hinders the development of other subsequent players. Other alarming issues are unequal playing times (weaker players play relatively less than the stronger ones), instilling the fear of playing the ball back (and subsequently yelling “Kick it up!” or “Clear!” most of the game) and ultimately misleading their players as to the concept that soccer is a team game.

I’m currently writing a book in regards to coaching youth soccer - directed towards novice youth coaches as well as experienced ones - mostly addressing the most common mistakes that coaches make at the youth level (which almost always comes down to NOT coaching players for the future but rather coaching them with winning in mind).

My Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/SoccerCoachZ) that I have just created will feature my blog articles (https://soccerforcoaches.wordpress.com), and I will feature daily articles related to youth soccer, answer daily questions from you all, as well as give coaching tips to youth coaches and parents.

I’ve never tried this before but I would love to provide some free consultations for coaches (youth or non-youth coaches, as well as anyone who maybe wants help with their recreational team). If you “like” my Facebook Page and send me a PM, I will PM you and set up a free 15-20 minute coaching consultation later today or sometime this week. I will gladly do this for the first 10 people. I don’t know how popular the demands may get so I apologize in advance if I’m unable to schedule a Skype consultation with everyone today but I will keep my promise an schedule a time with everyone who I PM’ed back! I will add an “EDIT” at the end of my post if the demands gets too overwhelming ;)

I will also have a weekly draw for a FREE 30min online coaching consultation on my Facebook page.

So feel free to ask me anything! As usual, as per all my other AMA’s, I will answer all questions.

Thanks!

Coach Z

Edit: Thank you so much for your question! I still have some spots for a free coaching consultation so feel free to like my FB page and just PM me and it'll be my pleasure to have one with you!

Edit 2: Just going to go have supper and will be on later. Will promise to answer all questions!