I coach a high school team in a rural area of South Africa. I'm really keen to help the boys. I have no qualification and so ended up here looking for help. I would like to do some kind of coaching course like the FA level 1. One probably can't do that via correspondence, since I am in South Africa? Looking forward to learning a lot.

Welcome to the strange world of coaching football.

I am Bill Carpenter from Odessa, Texas and have been coaching  youth football for 13 years, both boys and girls (now). I have had great success at all levels but have felt many frustrations along the way. The past two seasons have been real tough on some of the players and parents, as well as me.

We play out of town (Midland Texas, U11 Girls) and are undefeated but playing on our home field, we lost 4 out of 5 games.  The girls were real competitive in all of the matches but we fell a little short on some, loosing in the last minute or two.  I look at that as a coaching error and have vowed to correct that this season.

My team is what I would call rejects from the poor side of town.  With my daughter and two other girls who have a real good skill set and nose for the game, I seem to always get the girls that have played one season 3 years ago and they are so far behind the others it is frustrating.  And, the parents are not that much help. They have a hard time getting the girls to practice and show up at the beginning of matches.  I have talked with the parents but that doesn't seem to work. We have a "all players must play 50% of each game rule" but I am going to by-pass that (with clearance from the association president) and limit these girls playing time.  I know it is not the fault of the player but something has to be done in order for the parents to understand I have some girls that are serious about the game and are working toward the next level.

I do love the interaction with the girls and have a blast listening to them talk about "girl things - boys" etc. and listening to some of the music they listen to, it helps me relate to them a little better. This season is no different than last season. But, I have speed this season with two new additions. One girl said she was a striker but she doesn't have the skill set or scoring mind to be, so I have worked with her on defense and talk about blazing speed! WOW! She is grasping the concept of my jump defense (offside-trap) and covers well  while maintaining her shape in the formation. The other girl has good ball skills but is weak off of the ball and often a little weak on the ball, contact is not her friend but her speed and skill set works well as long as she has room to work and she also passes well.

For my daughter, she is 10 years-old, stands 5'6" and can score from mid field with great vilosity but is even better at the top of the box. I had her playing defense (she's a great defensive player) but I am loosing out on a great scorer, so now she is a forward/striker and another girl I have is a ferocious scorer and is real strong on and off the ball but shys away from a leadership position, which I am working on with her father.

I have high hopes for this team (as I do every season) but I just have to keep working at this thing and work some coaching issues out and translate the cahnges to the players.

I am wishing you further success with your club. Do not worrie about the blokes who want a man coach. You do your thing and if yu have any questions about anything please ask us on this forum, we have years of experience and would love to help you succeed in everyway possible.

We do it for the children...

Any way, I have a U11 Girls team with the Odessa Soccer Association. Coached boys for 6 years, took some time off and now coach girls. I have a Class E State license but can neve seem to find a class for D or above.

I work full time with the U.S. Govt. am a senior at the University of Texas Permian Basin - History major, English minor and am working toward my teaching certificate to teach grades 8-12. I also coach my girls team and love the early morning games as well, fresh smells, dew on the ground and real quiet until people show up and break my world of silence.  There is nothing like the early morning walk-thru and match. 

We do it for the children...

I have been coaching for 6 years and have recently passed the 3 parts of the SFA youth Level 4 and have to complete 1 part of the SFA Advanced childrens licence level 5 at Toryglen, Glasgow.

www.freewebs.com/lethamtangerines it hasnt been updated for a while!

Give the player the knowledge, and he will give the game the answers to succeed.

The 2nd problem is the parents. For the team to do well on the field, there has to be a committed group of parents supporting the team, for prctice, team days out etc. Makethe parents feel part of the team and tha should help.

Stevie

Give the player the knowledge, and he will give the game the answers to succeed.

Just a note to introduce myself to the forum.

My coaching experience and current roles are mixed between chilren and adults as i have my own 'fun' soccer school on a Saturday mornings as well as involvement with Kent Based club, Hollands & Blair Under 18's, Reserves and 1st team. I also work with Gillingham FC's development centre in Swansombe, near Ebbsflleet which is looking after under 7's

I have worked with Charlton Athletic's youth development in Kent as well as a four year stint with Chatham Town's youth.

Happy to be on board this forum for both advice and knowledge sharing.

Having stopped playing many years ago I lost my interest in football but this was rekindled some 8 years ago when my son started training with a newly formed team at the age of six. As a team the boys have progressed to a good standard in the Derby area. I was asked by the manager if I would be interested in helping out with the coaching of the team last year and jumped at the chance.

Dave