Coaching Tip of the Month Coaching Soccer: Team-Building Tips with a Lasting Affect Coaching soccer can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. It provides the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of young people. Coaching provides a platform for helping to shape the character of future generations. Here are simple guidelines that should be followed in order to be successful. Tip #1 - Maintain a Positive Attitude A positive attitude can go a long way. Coaches and parents typically come to practice after leaving stressful work environments. In addition, the players usually come to practice to have fun. They want to unwind after a long day of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The last thing everyone needs is a negative attitude. Tip #2 - Set High Expectations When a team is expected to succeed they will. Destructive criticism and sarcasm only communicates to the team that their coach has low expectations of them. It's nearly impossible for a team to experience positive success in this type of atmosphere. Tip #3 - Realize There Is More to Life Than Soccer Every player on your team has something going on in their life besides soccer. They may be dealing with difficulties at school or trouble at home. To them soccer may provide a chance to get away from it and just have fun. Coaches should help players enjoy the game rather than add tension to an already stressful day. Tip #4 - Lighten Up Soccer is not a matter of life and death. Coaches should help players have fun with the game, whether they win or lose. Players should not feel like it is the end of the world if they lose a game or have difficulty mastering certain techniques. Taking soccer too seriously can rob young people of the enjoyment found in the game. This type of attitude can also rob the coach of a rewarding mentorship.