As a soccer coach, you’re standing on the sidelines. Whistle in hand. Kids tying their shoelaces, tugging at socks, scanning the field with that familiar half-focus.
Some are bouncing in place, already mentally chasing the ball. Others? Quiet. Maybe watching you. Waiting to know what this whole session is going to be about.
This is where it starts.
Not with cones. Not with a whiteboard. Not even with a plan.
It starts with you watching. Paying attention.
Evaluating and teaching the game is not about being a genius with tactics. It’s about being someone who can see the game unfold, see the people playing it, and knowing how to guide them gently, consistently, in the right direction.
It’s about knowing who your players are, how they move, what excites them, what breaks them, and where they struggle.
Let’s talk about how to do that.
Evaluation is Everything
You can’t teach what you haven’t seen. You need to know where the team is before deciding where they need to go.
Evaluation doesn’t need a clipboard, and it doesn’t need a stopwatch. Sometimes it just needs your eyes, your silence, and your honesty.
Start by watching your players in moments that feel like real soccer. The best place to do this? Free play.
Let them run. Let them move without yelling at them every three seconds. Let them pass how they want. Let them make decisions on their own.
Give them a direction or a goal: score, keep possession, find width, but give them space to figure it out. When they play this way, without being micromanaged, you get to see everything:
- Who hides when things get chaotic
- Who takes risks
- Who communicates
- Who’s always moving
- Who’s waiting for something to happen
You see their natural game. You see who they are when they aren’t being told who to be.
That’s the version you need to evaluate.
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Free Play: Your Secret Weapon
Free play looks like chaos to some people. If you pay close attention, it tells you everything you need to know.
You’ll see players trying things they wouldn’t attempt in a structured drill. You’ll catch the smart runs, the sneaky positioning, the natural leaders organizing others without being asked.
This is where creativity lives. This is where confidence is tested.
And for you? It’s a window.
You’re not just looking for talent. You’re watching for commitment. You’re watching for how players react after mistakes. You’re watching for joy. Because joy matters. A player who loves the ball will always have a better shot at growing than one who only plays to avoid messing up.
Let the game flow. Watch how the story unfolds.
Training That Looks Like the Game
You’ve seen your players now. You’ve got a sense of what they need.
Now, it’s time to teach.
But teaching soccer doesn’t mean setting up cones in a line and yelling “quicker, quicker” until your voice goes hoarse. It means building sessions that look like the game.
Whatever you’re trying to teach, defending in pairs, movement off the ball, and first-touch control, set up situations that make players repeat those moments in real time. Not robotic reps. Real game stuff. Over and over.
If you want players to solve problems during matches, then put those same problems in front of them in training.
And keep it simple at first.
Let them solve one problem. Then another. Let the drill evolve as their understanding grows. What starts as a slow pass-and-move pattern can become a dynamic 3v2 scenario.
Progression matters. Static to dynamic.
Easy to complex. Reps with time to think, followed by reps with time pressure. Let the game build.
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Know Who You’re Talking To
Every player deserves to understand what’s being asked of them. This means your words matter.
You don’t need to sound like a professional coach. Speak like a person. Especially when working with younger players.
Talk in a way they understand. Break it down. Explain what the drill is about and what you’re looking for.
Don’t drop terms like “breaking the lines” or “positional superiority” if they don’t even know what “support” means in soccer terms.
Instead, say, “I want you to make sure the player with the ball always has a friend nearby.”
That clicks. That works.
Make sure they know the why behind what they’re doing. Players who understand why they’re doing something will work harder at it. They’ll care more.
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Keep the Groups Manageable
Don’t overcomplicate the session. Don’t make drills where kids stand in line for five minutes just to get one touch.
Split into small groups. Keep the pace high. Keep the decisions flowing. Give every player a chance to stay engaged and make meaningful choices.
Even better if the drills have a goal or consequence. Goals make players sharper. It gives direction to every movement. A small-sided 3v3 with an objective is way more valuable than 15 kids jogging in a square.
And don’t forget: the game is always the best teacher. Let your players play often. Let the ball roll more than you talk.
Know When to Step In
Not every moment needs a speech. Some moments do need your voice.
When a player keeps repeating the same mistake, step in with clarity. Explain, show, correct, then let them try again.
Use short, sharp points. Direct feedback. Then back off and watch.
And always, always do it with respect.
That moment matters more than you think.
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Watch Again. Then Adjust.
Every session you run is another chance to evaluate. And sometimes, you’ll realize halfway through that what you planned doesn’t fit the energy or ability of the group.
Don’t be afraid to switch it up. Simplify a drill. Add pressure to a game that feels too easy.
Always be thinking: are they learning what I hoped they’d learn? Are they growing? Are they understanding the game better?
And every few sessions, go back to free play. Watch again. Check progress. You’ll be surprised how much players grow when you give them space, structure, and support in the right measure.
Your Words Matter
This is worth repeating.
What you say becomes part of how your players think.
If your voice is full of frustration, they’ll start second-guessing. If your tone is condescending, they’ll shrink. But if your voice lifts them, they’ll rise.
Encouragement isn’t fluff. It’s fuel.
Even in correction, there should be care. Teach with your eyes open and your heart steady. These kids remember how you make them feel long after they forget the drills.
Keep It Clear. Keep It Positive. Keep It Real.
Teaching the game well means being organized without being rigid. It means coaching the person before the player. It means paying attention without controlling every detail.
You’re not building robots. You’re building thinkers. You’re building teammates. You’re building young people who can deal with pressure and figure things out.
So be clear.
Let them know what today’s session is about. Show them what to do. Give them a chance to try. Watch how they move.
Step in when it’s needed. Lift them when they drop their heads.
Then repeat.
Session after session. Week after week. That’s where growth lives.
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A Quick Guide to Keep in Your Head
- State the objective clearly. Say what today’s about. Passing? Movement? Pressing?
- Demonstrate simply. Show what you mean. Players copy better than they listen.
- Let them all try. No favorites. Everyone gets involved.
- Watch closely. Look beyond mistakes. Look for effort. For intention.
- Encourage effort. Praise hustle, smart choices, and resilience.
- Adapt when needed. Not every drill hits. It’s okay to adjust on the fly.
- Keep it fun. Fun isn’t the enemy of learning. It’s a friend of memory.
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