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1 If possible have a meeting with the players' parents and explain your approach to coaching and matches. Results are less important than performance and development. Also brief parents not to abuse referees, players or other parents. If they do, then have a quiet word. If they carry on , then maybe your club isn't the place for them?
2 Delegate - find others to collect the subs, mark out pitches, fill out match reports and do the admin.
3 Get qualified - going on a soccer coaching course will improve your level of competance and confidence
4 Preparation - don't just turn up to practice sessions and then start to think about what you are going to do, have you session mapped out and make sure that you have all the kit that need - enough footballs, marker cones bibs etc
5 Keep it real - make sure that practices are realistic - that includes the energy levels and attitude of players who may well want to sleep-walk through sessions - sometimes you need to get after them!
6 Be fair - remember that all the players deserve a game, never just put a player on for 2 minutes at the end of a game because he or she is less talented - how will they improve without the chance to play?? Give them ALL a chance
7 Be a proper coach - don't get sucked into worrying about results - treat victory and defeat in the same way and look at the player's performance - they can still play well and lose.
8 Be organised - get somebody collecting the players' subs and ensure that you don't end up out of pocket - you are already giving your time for free
9 Make it fun - put yourself in the shoes of the players - especially at practice sessions - they have come to play soccer, don't spend too much time talking, and make the work that you do with them related to the game and improving skills - i.e. not 5 laps of the pitch as a warm up. Use the players as a market research tool and find out what they enjoy doing.
10 Impose reasonable standards of behaviour - no swearing, no cliques and no bad mouthing others if they make mistakes; be a role model yourself.
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