During the course of a season, even the best coaches make mistakes. Some are trivial in nature, and unimportant to the players and team. Others are disastrous, and can ruin the development of a player and team.

I think one of the worst mistakes a coach can make is by setting a bad example for players. Whether it is yelling at a Referee, being a general poor sport or treating some players differently, the coach is a leader and teacher simultaneously, and it is hard to do either properly when you are behaving inappropriately. Coaches who yell at the Ref, have players and parent’s who yell at Refs. Set a good example for your team first, and it is much easier to keep control of the team’s attention. From that point, teaching them about the game becomes much more manageable.

So what do you think are the biggest mistakes a coach can make?

This week’s coaching corner is about goal keepers:

How do you handle the position of Goalie? Do you have a full time Keeper, or do a few players switch off?

Please let everyone know what you think via the comments button.

This weeks question is:

Have you received a card, and did you deserve it?

We had only a few responses this week. I guess coaches don’t like to share their embarrassing moments with the rest of the world.

“One card for swearing, and yes I deserved it, but the call did suck”

Coach Steve

“I am proud to say I have never received a yellow or red card. Of course, my daughter is only 12, so I suppose we are just starting to get to the age where things get competitive, and my chances go up”

Coach Janet

“I have got 2 yellows over the last 4 seasons, one of which was deserved. The other was a card happy ref, and a very emotional game. I take full responsibility for the other one, though.”

Coach Jose

That’s all we got this week! Make sure to let everyone in the community know about the times you got a card via the comments feature.

How do you handle playing time?

“I coach a rec. team, and we have a half-the-game rule for every player, although most everyone on my team plays more than half the game”

Coach Steven

“I coach an u-7 and u10-12 club/intramural teams. My main concern in coaching is keeping all my girls interested in playing and enjoying the game. Generally whatever position they want and pretty much equal playing time. I’m coaching in a league that is design to phase you out of playing by 11yrs old unless you are “Travel Worthy” whatever that means….”

Coach Tom

“My team plays in a competitive league, and luckily all my players get and deserve roughly equal playing time. Of course some of them end up getting a bit more then the rest.”

Coach Malcolm

“I coach a u-14 Div. 3 team and I try to split up the playing time as well as possible, but we are also trying to win. I try to find a balance”

Coach Jose

“A few of the girls on my u8 team hardly even want to play. If anyone doesn’t play at least half the game it is because they don’t want to.”

Coach Bob

“I coach a competitive u14 team and I would say all of my players with the exception of two, play more than half of each game.”

Coach Dave

What are your thoughts on this issue? Please add your comments via the comments feature

The Coaching Corner will be a visitor lead discussion regarding the finer points of coaching. Each week we will pose a question and let the coaches of the SoccerDrillBook.com mailing list answer. The following weeks newsletter will feature answers to the question, in addition to asking a new one.

To get your opinion heard, simple respond to the newsletter or email Scott@SoccerDrillBook.com. Please mention the age group and level of your team.

This Weeks Question:

How do you handle playing time?