The Role of Coach in Children’s Football
What if we told you that some of the WORST coaches we’ve had were also the most qualified?
And some of the BEST we’ve had came to us with very little?
A bad coach isn’t always someone who simply knows nothing about football.
It might be someone who has plenty of qualifications, knows their football but has zero idea of how to work with children.
Worse still are those who have no qualifications, also have no idea how to work with kids and pretty much refuse to learn (hands up who knows plenty of those 
).
Half the battle is keeping kids motivated to come back every week and making sure they enjoy playing the game.
If you can’t do that, it really doesn’t matter what you know – you’re a bad coach.
A bad coach at this age range:
Makes it all about themselves
Focuses on winning over development
Doesn’t give kids chance to play in different positions
Would keep the same child sub every week rather than risk a loss
Has no intention of trying to learn more about football coaching or how children learn
If you see this happening with your child’s team it might be time to look elsewhere.
The main reason most stay even if parents know it isn’t the best environment?
Because their childrens friends are there.
But ask yourself what’s more harmful…
Your child being coached by someone who might destroy their passion for playing?
Or your child potentially making loads of new mates and getting the coaching they actually need?
More does need to be done to help coaches at the junior level but sometimes it comes down to finding somewhere with coaches who simply put the players first.
You’d be far better off with someone who makes sure each child leaves training smiling as opposed to those weekend Pep’s who are more concerned with telling their workmates on Monday morning that they smashed an u7’s team 10-0.
