5 Tips to help your player pre-game!
Hey Coach! How can I help my player prepare for a game?
Great Question! As both a Coach and Dad let me give you a few suggestions!
Soccer in America is growing. Here in the USA we have not quite caught on to the culture of the game and how beautiful it can be played, but we are trying. All across the country even in small communities soccer is the Saturday/Sunday sport. For some soccer is just an in between sport, second to baseball, football, or basketball. But for the millions that love the game, the weekend ritual of watching the kids cleat up and kick a goal is nothing short of euphoric.
Here’s the problem with the picture. So little is actually known about the sport by the sideline crew (because they have probably never played) that the whole game becomes a war zone full of yelling, begging, and down right demanding that the children play like the pros on TV. Unfortunately for the players on the field this behavior only leads to confusion and sometimes sadness. So here are a few ideas that may help. The list below is intended to give you a guideline to follow as you and your little soccer star prepare for battle, I mean game day!! Happy reading,
Coach Sam
#1: WATER, WATER, WATER AND GOOD FOOD!!
No matter what the age and skill level, if your child is playing a competitive sport then they are an athlete and need to be fueled like one. The most important thing any athlete needs is hydration from WATER. Sports drinks are full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, chemicals, fake sugar, and just a bunch of junk players don’t need. Fruit juice is again usually full of added sugars. Milk although you may believe it does a body good should be reserved for an after the game snack if your kid drinks it. Oh yeah and don’t get me started on carbonated drinks and soda so lets just not go there!! There is no substitute for water in keeping the body and mind healthy. Making sure your super star drinks plenty of it the day and morning before as well as right up to the first whistle guarantees you have done what you can to give them what they need. Put a little lemon or lime and a pinch of salt if they enjoy it and you have electrolytes and minerals too!!
The food your soccer player puts into his or her engine leading up to the game can really make or break their performance. I don’t know how many times I’ve asked players what they had for a snack before a game or practice and the answers have amazed me. Cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, french fries, candy bars, pizza, chips, cookies, tacos, burritos you name it I have heard it. Believe me I’m not telling you how to parent your child and I understand there are tons of options out there that fit into the budget. Just please give a little thought to how you would feel eating these foods before you went out to run for an hour or so. I know what your thinking……”they are kids and they can handle it better than adults” or “the kids were starving and I had to do something” this may be slightly true but it is no excuse. Their little body’s maybe able to handle it a little better than ours but that doesn’t mean it will help them play their best and have fun doing so. If you can try to stick to simple foods. Fruit, nuts, raw veggies, dried fruit are the best options. In a pinch if you go for a quality cereal bar, protein bar or the like just try and make sure it doesn’t have tons of sugar. Many bars look healthy but are nothing short of a candy bar in protein wrapping. Just do your best to watch out for your player and they may thank you with a goal!!!
#2: PRE-GAME TALK IN THE CAR BEFORE THE GAME!!
We all lead hectic life’s with business, multiple kids, family, and just everyday craziness. It is easy to forget that your athlete maybe worried or nervous about the upcoming game and you not realize it. In order to help give your player the best chance for success it is best to assume that they need a little pregame encouragement. I could really go into some detail here and make up a lot of scenarios but I know we have all put unneeded pressure on our kids. We have all said things like…”You better play hard today” and “If I don’t see any effort then we may not do this anymore.” How bout…”If you do good I will get you some ice cream” or “I will give you $1 per goal!”. I briefly coached a 13 yr old girl who’s dad would give her $1 per completed pass, $3 per assist and $5 per goal or something crazy like that. Weather you know it or not you are a HUGE part of your child’s mental and emotional conditioning as an athlete so take your job seriously.
Try something like this the next time you are on the way to a soccer game. As upbeat as you can with a smile and happy tone ask how your player is feeling about the upcoming game. Tell them that you cant wait to watch them play and you love how they go out there and give it their best. Let them know that you enjoy watching them and you wish you could be out there playing with them. Most younger children may not talk much but at least you got those initial ideas on their mind. If your child is a little older and voices some concerns just do everything you can to steer the conversation to the positive. This may take some work on your part and quite a bit of patience at times but the payoff will be worth it. You are helping them build positive habits and helping them focus on playing hard, enjoying their team, friends, and the game and having the desire to try and be their best. Help them understand that if things are not going their way to keep playing and working for their team. Let them know as soon as something happens positively to celebrate it with the team and work on the next play. In my opinion the most powerful thing you can say is…”I cant wait to watch you play today!” REWARD EFFORT OVER OUTCOME! Athletes need to grow into a player that wants to do their best for themselves and for their team but everyone loves to have fans. So as hard as it maybe some weekends…be your child’s biggest fan!!
#3: PLEASE TIE THEIR SHOES!!!
I’m not joking…I have been coaching for many years and have had the wonderful privilege to influence many young players. It amazes me every game and even every practice how many players try and play with their shoes untied. I am a parent and I understand, they should just tie their own shoes or pay the price. But here’s the deal. A soccer player must have properly fitting shoes that are tied comfortably tight and will not come undone. It never fails that I spend a few minutes before each game and go through my players tying their shoes for them, and I really don’t mind a bit. I know what it feels like to have shoes that are uncomfortable and cant stand it when they come undone in the middle of a game.
Just take a few extra seconds and make sure their socks are pulled up and out of the way, their shinguards are snug, and the shoes are laced up tight enough to not come off with a double knot. Every time you got through this pregame ritual make sure your player understands that it is important to have their feet feeling good. Soccer is unlike any other sport in that almost everything is preformed with the feet. Players have to kick, dribble, pass, control the ball and tackle, all while running, jumping and stopping. Feet need to feel good!! One more little thing, buying shoes all the time for your kids can really be a financial drag. They grow out of them so fast and are always wanting a new pair. If at all possible try as hard as you can to properly fit them in a pair of cleats. Many times we as parents buy shoes a couple sizes to big so they can grow into them, please don’t do this with soccer shoes. Again the feet need to feel good. Its better to go cheap and often than pay bigger money and let them grow into them. The shoes will last a lot longer if you insist that your player only wear their cleats on the field during practice and games and then take them off after. I see kids all of the time wearing their soccer shoes into stores and restaurants or around town, BIG NO NO!!
#4: PREGAME WARM UP
Soccer coaches all across the world but especially in the USA are usually volunteers. Many of them have not played the game themselves and are just trying to help out. Because of this one of the most important parts of the game usually gets neglected by an unorganized coach, the pregame warm up. You can tell a lot about how a player or team is going to play by how they warm up before the whistle blows. Most of the time warm up consists of a little running, stretching and then shooting at the net. Many times there is no pregame at all and kids run around, kick the ball, tackle each other, or just shoot shoot shoot!!
Its not polite to step on the coaches toes but if you feel like your player is not getting a proper warm up then try a few of these things to get them in the zone, believe me they will enjoy their mom or dad kicking the ball with them. Start with passing the ball back and forth. Stop or control the ball and pass back to them. Encourage your child to stop the ball well and pass to you and try to set the best example you can. If you are having a harder time than your player then make light of it and joke that they are better than you. After passing a little bit have them dribble at you and try and fake you out or go around you. Encourage them to try different tricks or keep the ball away from you by using their body to shield you from it. After messing with that a bit see if you can let them shoot on you. Have them practice dribbling and shooting and then shooting a ball that you passed to them. Another good idea is to get a couple of other players involved and have them do jumping jacks, push-ups, bunny hops, squats and then do some light stretching. Almost all players of any age enjoy stretching and counting with a group. Arguably the best game players can do before competition is to play some form of keep-away. This maybe tough on the younger players but it teaches communication, movement, ball responsibility and controlled passing. Age plays a big part in game prep. Younger children, 5-8 may have a hard time focusing on anything structured and older children to young adults may be wrapped up in the social dynamics of the day. Whichever the case maybe it is best to get your athlete moving and touching the ball.
#5: POSITIVE SIDELINE REINFORCEMENT
Soccer is a creative free-flowing sport with quick decisions that lead to even quicker reactions. No matter how hard you try to dictate the game from the sidelines it is just totally unpredictable. Even coaches with the best laid plans throw their hands up in disbelief as their ironclad game plan comes tumbling down. I really hate pick on anyone but parents and coaches screaming instructions from the sidelines just confuses players. Players of any age must learn how to read the game, anticipate the next play, and create a plan by themselves as to how to help the game along. I cant stress enough that soccer is played first with the mind then with the heart and finally with the feet. Players need the confidence to think for themselves and yelling KILLS confidence!!
We are all fans. When our little star is on the field we want the best for them and we want to be proud parents and fans when the final whistle blows. So here are a few things that you can do to help the outcome and ensure that your child grows with confidence. First of all think of yourself as a fan watching a graceful, beautiful performance not a grudge match. An even better way to envision the game is to act as if your watching a movie in a theater, you are just there to watch and enjoy. Clap for things done well no matter how small and say things like,”well done, good stuff, nice job, keep playing, keep trying.” This way you are not being overly obsessed with the performance and nothing is said negatively. Second don’t instruct the players where to be or what to do, leave that for the coach or the leaders of the team, it is their game to play not yours. You can ask questions like, “whats next, where is the play, where is your teammate, where is the opponents?” If you ask questions then the players think not react to your information. And finally try and always clap and say good job at the end of the game for both teams. Soccer is a sport that is full of passion and respect. Adopt the mindset that this game is just a small moment in their journey and they should learn from both the win or the loss. Focus on what they did well, they already know what they did poorly. Ask them how they felt about the game, how they feel about how they played, did they learn anything, or what was their favorite goal or play. Many times players just don’t feel like talking about the game because they just came off of a roller coaster of emotions and might be a little tired. If they don’t want to talk, please let them have some silence, they are just decompressing and will probably be more open to talking later.
In conclusion we all want our player and his/her team to win. But I believe what we really want is just to see an entertaining game well played. Athletes will always win AND lose. Each game is a part of THEIR journey as a player NOT yours, and the construction of confidence is key. Confidence and how it is strengthened is a whole other subject, but success in the athletic world revolves around it! Your player must learn that winning is a chance to celebrate and learn from the game and that losing is an opportunity to reflect and learn as well. I personally ask any player I come into contact with after a game(including my own kids)these three questions, maybe they will help you as well…..
What did you or your team do well today?
What did you learn that needs improvement?
What do you plan on doing about it?
Positive reinforcement, accountability, and responsibility moving forward!! Thank you so much for reading and my hope is that it helped you and your little super star!
♥Coach Sam
Be Creative..Be Fearless..Have Fun!
