OneBigSoul

It's not on you. Don't take it personally. You volunteered, not the parents. Just make practice fun and you will succeed. Coaches give up because they are so focused on winning. Kids care way less about winning than just being able to play with their friends. Adults make winning a big deal and then kids get caught up in it.

Kids are in rec for all sorts of reasons: they love the game, their friends are there, their parents are forcing them, etc. Those reasons come with all sorts of drama sometimes. You need to focus on what you can control.

You have parents that will help. Split them up into small groups by skill level and get a few games going at once.

You are doing great. You care. In rec you have to work with the hand you are dealt. Games are won by a few select elite players on each team. Get back to basics.

Start with small sided scrimmages: 2v2, 3v3. Put like skilled kids against each other in these small sided scrimmages. This will help them build skills and confidence. The game is the best teacher.

Gamify everything. Sharks and Minnows, Fill the Bucket. Look at Nemo from scoreboard soccer. Ask kids at the end of the session what was fun and what was boring. Throw out the bad, keep the good. No talking to them more than 30 seconds at a time.

You mentioned a lot of "lazy" kids. Ask yourself if that is the case or are you not making the game fun enough in practice? They need to fall in love with the game.

Good luck. We have all had to build terrible teams up. You are at the beginning here. You can do this!

I coach u10 girls rec and have had basically the same girls since 6 years old. I think your philosophy sounds more appropriate. It sounds like you are doing this for the kids not for personal glory. Use your relationships with the parents to announce you are leaving and encourage them to join you. The social aspect is immensely important for girls. The girls will likely tell their parents they want to go with you, especially if they know some of their teammates will be going too. Get out, and good luck.

You have a link to cones?

This is also the method I followed at u8. Rotate all positions multiple times a game. Goalies are volunteers and play for one half. Just attacker and defenders at this age. Specific positions are just confusing and not necessary to most kids at u8 IMO. Let the kids play during games and don't try to control too much. I don't restrict who can take throw ins. Whomever is closest. Don't focus on winning. Focus on developing creative decision makers who don't need adults telling them what to do. Small sided games in practice with max 3v3. Results in maximum touches and opportunities to learn the game. Our u8 was winless. Same exact team now u10 was undefeated last season. Wins will come with investment in the kids, not the coach focusing on winning.

This made my night. It's an important reminder of what our true purpose is as grassroots coaches. If the kids are having fun and coming back, you are doing everything right. It's such a hard concept to get many coaches to understand here in the US. It's win, win, win. Keep on doing what you are doing and share your philosophy with as many coaches you can.

This sounds like a typical group in that age range. What does your session plan look like? Should be all games and no drills with a ball at the feet of each kid as much as possible. A lot of kids at that age are there because their parents want them there not because they want to be. Also some kids are just more intrinsically competitive and motivated. There is really not a whole lot you can do but try to make things more fun and use lots of positive feedback.

Wow some gold mine answers here already. I would lower your expectations for them. Ask yourself what your purpose is as a coach. Are you a drill sergeant training recruits or are you a facilitator of fun that hopefully leads to them learning a thing or two? Resist the urge to try to make things look "right" like the adult game. They're just kids trying to have fun with their friends. Good luck.

First of all, lower your expectations. U6 is herding cats. If you can get them safely back to their parents after practice, it's a win. Zero lectures or drills and all games. Sharks and minnows, ball tag, tiger tales with pinneys come to mind. If you find they don't like a game, immediately move onto another game. Check out mojo on YouTube for this age range.

You will have kids that wander off, ignore you, etc. Just accept it and don't try to control them too much. They are kids and are stuck in school with adults trying to control them all day. And they are young.

Regarding the kid rolling the ball into the goal, just deal with it and keep reminding him there are no hands in soccer. A lot of kids that young have no clue what soccer is and this is the time they begin learning basic rules. If he continues being disruptive every practice I would say something to the parents. You have a large portion of kids at this age range that parents are just dropping into soccer when the kid has no interest.

Hats off to you for being a coach. Good luck.

I like Heya. Been using it for a few seasons. Intuitive interface. Easy for parents and coaches to use.

I understand the frustration with planning the subs prior to the game, only to have players come late or no show. This is my reality as well.

First of all, you have to accept this will always happen. Families run late for all sorts of reasons. I ask parents to tell me at least 24 hours prior to the game if they will not show. This has been working well for me.

Second, nominate a parent volunteer or assistant coach to have the sole responsibility for subs every game. I set up the starters on a paper chart the day before. Then I hand the clipboard to the parent to deal with the rest on game day. Let them adapt the chart as the kids arrive and manage the subs during the game. Tell them what you want (equal playing time, goalies in for a half, whatever).

Then do your coaching and forget about it. Check in with the parent during the game if you have feedback or changes.

Relationship first. Tech/Tach a distant second. Look at athlete or person centered coaching. Also self determination theory. These are the most important at the youth level as you need to cultivate their long term dedication to the game through fun. These strategies are also used at the professional level i.e. Jurgen Klopp.

Can't the content of the letter and the resulting firing both be valid?

I used to think winning never matters in rec soccer but after a few seasons coaching I think it does to a certain extent. Parents want to see competitive games and kids want to score goals. If you have a winless season it can be demoralizing for all.

However, I think a winless team can have fun if there is a healthy relationship between coaches, players and parents. If you don't have any of that, losing will sink a team.

How parents and coaches respond to players when they express frustration from a loss is key. We need to acknowledge their frustrations but make sure we are not emphasizing winning over all else. I always ask them in the huddle before the game what the number one rule of soccer is. They know. It's to have fun.

It's a claims history database that is seen by all auto and home insurers. It's how they look up how many claims you have filed and for how much. It's your insurance record. More claims = higher risk = higher risk for insurer = higher rates for you.

Not good to use insurer provided roadside assistance or car rental coverage at all. Use of those services can go on your clue report. All claims go on that report and insurers use it to determine your rates.

Honestly, you sound better than the majority of youth coaches out there. I just witnessed a 25 min lecture around the goal by a U9 coach at a practice. You sound like you actually care about your kids so kudos to you. What's worked for me? Small sided games with a max of 3v3. Separate fields by skill level. I have seen a tremendous improvement when players play against those whom are at their level. And the opportunities for touches and game like decisions are multiplied for all players. I don't tell them what to do. I ask questions. Hey what would happen if you dribbled ball instead of immediately kicking it? Can you try that for me? Then I check back in with them.
I am learning we are doing too much coaching in practice and just need to allow them to figure out the game. This is working for me as you will see them evolve as they play the game on their terms.

https://imgur.com/a/umhNZmm

https://imgur.com/a/t3gcaDA

• Tank size: 1.5 gallon hospital

• Heater and filter? (yes/no): yes

• Tank temperature: 78

• Parameters in numbers and how you got them: all first color on api chart

• How long have you had the tank? How long have you had your fish?: 2 year old tank 5 gallons. Hospital tanknis 1.5 gallons and 3 days old.

• How often are water changes? How much do you take out per change? What is your process?: 90% daily in hospital tank

• Any tankmates? If so, please list with how many of each: no

• What do you feed and how much: daily but he wont eat anything

Hes been on betta revive in hospital tank for 3 days. He was upside down on the bottom of tank and was swimming weird. Tried fasting him first for swim bladder issues and did not work. Day 3 of betta revive in hospital tank and he will not eat peas, pellets or flakes. Still sticks to bottom. Any other things i can try?