05 Jul 2015 11:30:09
Not liverpool related but just want to ask some advice in regards to coaching kids. I have a 4 year old boy, but asking in regards to lads who I work with who have kids slightly older. I grew up in the 70s where we had less things on the TV to watch/computers and the like to get disracted by so we're always out kicking a ball. We are a bit poor with coaching and facilities where I live now but my question if people could help, especially ed01, because of your coaching background is how old is old enough for coaching kids and what would you teach them? Thanks

{Ed001's Note - from the moment they can I would say they are old enough to play. Just play football with them, no need to coach children, playing football related games non-stop will be enough. Ed003's lad got invited to the Liverpool academy just because he is always out playing footie with him. Coaching should be fun.}

1.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 12:09:22
From my experience of coaching kids, make sure they are getting used to having the ball at their feet rather than just kicking it away from themselves all the time. Just dribbling in straight lines. Other good things are just try and get them to tackle you. Make it difficult for them but let them tackle you fairly frequently or else they get bored. When it comes to kicking it, I'd say get them passing it to you and controlling passes from you from about a yard away for each year of age. So 4 yards for age 4. It teaches them to focus more on accuracy than power.

Technical ability isn't focused on enough with young kids because we think they're incapable. Two of the lads I used to coach now play in academy's because I put more emphasis on control than the classic English "try hard". The best footballers make the game seem effortless until they are surrounded by players of similar quality.

2.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 13:27:06
They play in academies because of you, did you do the selectors a 'favour'

3.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 13:44:21
I played football from the age of 5 on the streets of Liverpool 8 in the 60s and wasn`t coached until the age of 11 when I was lucky enough to be chosen for Liverpool Schoolboys under 11s. Attended a few coaching schools in my teens and went on to represent u14s and u15s Liverpool School boys. I played every waking moment as a kid. Out with my friends or just kicking a ball against a wall for hours on end. Would even pay in my bedroom diving on my bed pretending I was a goalkeeper for the Reds of course.
My only thought was to become a professional footballer with my beloved Liverpool. Signed on schoolboy forms at 15 and even trained with the first team along with a few others that summer of 75. Eventually became a professional with Bolton Wanderers Fc in 78 and had a good 6 years here before moving abroad.
I was able to get my F.A. Full License Coaching badge in 1990 and finished playing in New Zealand as a player manager in their National League.
For me kids shouldn't be over coached in their early years and should be left to develop naturally. I am a great believer that mentality is just as important as ability and young people need to develop a love and enthusiasm of the game before you even think of coaching them. I know it makes me sound old but if we didn't have a ball we would use a tennis ball or even a can. Things were tough then in Liverpool 8 but we were out from morning till night just playing the game. Coming in for your dinner only and eating it as quick as you could to get back out their. No PS4s X Boxes.

4.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 14:36:25
I'm a coach of an u10's stepping up to u11's this coming season. All they need at that age is plenty of touches of the ball, toe taps, roll overs, drag backs etc. I didn't introduce goals in training until u7's and just had a training poll for the players to dribble to and stop it at the pole. If there was a goal there instead of the pole the kids would just kick the ball at it as soon as they get chance.

5.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 14:07:13
Cheers lads. I was the type that was always out playing Wembley, headers and volleys, anything, and think that's the way I learnt but thinking how much better someone could have been with coaching at a young age. I agree that it should be fun and all I do with my lad is when I'm not working is get him to kick the small ball he has from nursery home. He has no interest at the mo, and he's built more for rugby! It was just a query to see if people thought it was coach them from a young age or let them just play and give them pointers when they need it

6.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 14:17:50
Take the micky all you want Fencey, my 9 year old cousin has had trials as well and I coached him from 3 years onwards 1 to 1.

As soon as I fi ish my degree I will be looking to get back into regular coaching. I have a real passion for it and people who know me tend to think I'm good at it. So your opinion is of little importance to me. I was juat trying to offer advice to a fellow poster.

Royzered, that was a very interesting insight into your coaching methods mate. Thanks for sharing.

7.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 14:55:38
Completely agree with that Ashy77.

8.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 15:43:52
I found all these comments very interesting as I have a 2 year old Red obviously lol and he does love the ball always asks where's ball and when I'm watching football he shouts football at the TV so he's very attuned with it right now so I'm hoping he will get to love it as I do. So best think to do is to keep playing footy with him for now is it because he's so young?

He does tend to pick it up a lot obviously he's still really young but he loves kicking it around. He kind of kicks it at me though not too me lol

Any advice would be much appreciated.

9.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 18:00:59
Sorry ems it was just the way it read, that was all!
I'm not really a fan of tooting your own horn, maybe when your cousin turns pro he will thank you for making him the player he becomes

10.) 05 Jul 2015
05 Jul 2015 20:49:22
At that age, footie should be fun and that's all it should be. Having played every level but the pros, footie has always been fun and even with all the tactics, systems and responsibilities on the pitch during games, I always made sure to enjoy the game.