Note: “Management” refers to organization and “discipline” in the practice environment as a teacher uses “Classroom Management”

You cannot have FUN at a Futsal practice without a well managed environment. And, as any teacher will tell you, no learning can take place until we establish a system of respect-rules-routines.

This does NOT require Coach to be a drill-sergeant or an ogre, BUT you are NOT here to be the children’s friend. Respect first, friendship later.

BASICS:

Expect (and give away) RESPECT.

Be CONSISTENT (establish your BOUNDARIES –and theirs- and stick to them) Follow through on your words.

Have at least 5 “rules”:

1. How to ENTER the gym
2. (How to) STOP! 
3. GO!
4. I need you to LISTEN
5. How we will CLOSE our practice.
    

If  COACH does not follow the above advice, all parties will become frustrated.

The BEST MANAGEMENT comes from a well organized FUN LESSON PLAN

• Get everyone moving RIGHT AWAY, and keep them moving.
  
• Never more than ONE MINUTE of Coach talk.
  
• Practice your verbal instructions to be CRYSTAL CLEAR and SIMPLE
  
• FUN activities with no standing in line.
  
• A 3:1 ratio of (move)to (stand-and-listen)
  
  

HANDY MANAGEMENT GAMES:
a good way to start each lesson.

These games are familiar to most kids. They can easily be modified to address soccer skills. They have the MAJOR advantage that they “trick” children into following routines and instructions while they are experiencing a FUN (and REPETITIVE) comfort zone effect.

SIMON SAYS  (E.g. “Simon says put your foot on the ball and STOP!”)

RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT (Listening skills and speed changes with ball)

RED ROVER (dribbling with intent, dealing with lines and field boundaries)

FREEZE TAG (variations) (learning to dribble by feel-with head up. Stop-go control)

MUSICAL CHAIRS (general space and personal space, listening, ball control)

POSITIVE, PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT:
premises and pitfalls.

Pavlov trained dogs with 2 systems: reward and punishment. Choose wisely!

Most of us want to be POSITIVE, but we revert to old coach habits when pushed!

Decide on a few simple rules and boundaries. REWARD children generously when they comply (Do NOT wait around until something “wrong” happens and then PUNISH)

“I really like how David and Tina are listening” “That was very polite Juan, thank you”

Having a well planned and FUN and dynamic practice is the first step. If  it all goes WRONG…do NOT BLAME the players: YOU must change your lesson plan.

For example: kids will “act up” if (a) bored (too easy/too much talking) (b) frustrated (too difficult/ micromanaged) (c) unclear on boundaries (inconsistent adult).

The trick is to stay positive, learn from the kids, and have FUN.

As COACH: you have almost all the POWER: you can make or break the whole experience:

The biggest favor you can do everybody is (i) get educated/get a license (ii) ask for help from (e.g.) school teachers or other “child” experts.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK (verbal praise) is very effective (see above) for shaping behavior, but also can be used to develop skill patterns in young players.

Because most of us (lawyers, Doctors, coaches) are programmed to look for PROBLEMS or MISTAKES, we often miss the positive “snowball” opportunities.

For example: “Juan those were REALLY nice tap-tap touches on the ball. Simon says good job!”    Read this phrase 3 times through before you  continue reading.

(It is vital that Juan be made aware of WHAT he did RIGHT, so just saying “Way to go Juan!” is certainly desirable coaching, but not FULLY EFFECTIVE COACHING)

Again, the coach must PLAN FOR and PRACTICE these FEEDBACK moments.  For most of us, they do not come naturally, it is a learned coaching skill.

CONSEQUENCES:

Having to resort to consequences such as laps or sitting out is more likely a coaching “failure” than  having “bad kids”.

Have a few KISS rules, with clear boundaries

REWARD the respect of those basics. Many, many times. Reward! Praise!

Try PEER PRESSURE first “Can you guys show Juan where to stand?”

Ask before you “lecture”. Give a warning (privately) to a child who  is losing it…

If your practice is FUN, a short (one minute) timeout  will work wonders…followed by an invitation to rejoin “Are you ready to play now Juan?”

Ask John’s parents (diplomatically) for strategies they use when Johnny acts out.