The role of a youth football coach is crucial in the formation and performance of a young football team. It is a rewarding experience and provides opportunities to both education and learn. Players respond well to good supportive coaching that encourages players to achieve their best.

Teams perform better when everyone is coordinated and understand their roles and responsibilities on and off the pitch. The best approaches to coaching and best practice techniques are more often than not also the simplest and most basic. If applied consistently, they can deliver immense rewards for teams of all capabilities.

We have gathered together a set of good practices that you can apply when coaching teams of young players.

1. When praising a player be specific so others know what was done right
2. Provide constructive feedback whenever possible to help development
3. Good sportsmanship should be recognised and expressing highlighted
4. When practicing provide positive reinforcement of key behaviours
5. Proactively demonstrate enthusiasm for the sport and players - they mimic
6. Mistakes are fine and to be expected - teach players to learn from them
7. Expectations - individual and team - should be reasonable and appropriate
8. Create a safe learning environment by highlighting good player practice
9. Involve parents and explain what you are doing - encourage them to learn too

1. Pre-match team talks should be done in quiet and calm environments
2. Remember your Safeguarding Training and the Changing Room rules
3. If required involved parents (some or all) so they know what is happening
4. Pre-match team talks should calming and explain details clearly but briefly
5. Avoid setting competitive objectives for the team and focus on having fun
6. Matches are opportunities to learn - encourage players to apply their training
7. Be honest and truthful, but avoid discouraging players or scaring them
8. Assign roles like match captains and positions before you get onto the pitch
9. If playing away matches, make sure players know what to do for toilets etc.

1. Create pre-match routine for your team that you can repeat consistently
2. Define a team area where all your equipment and bags will be kept
3. Arrive promptly at the pitch side ready for warming up and setting up
4. Check all player clothing and equipment for proper fit and condition
5. Run through pre-defined warm up routines to get players exercising
6. Run through pre-defined, simple, football drills to get players focused
7. If possible pre-agree any substitutions and set drills for the substitutes
8. Let your parent group know where supporters should be standing
9. Remind players to play with respect and with good sportsmanship
10. If it is a home match check the condition and pressure of the match ball
11. If it is an away match check the condition of the pitch and remove debris
12. Meet your referee and agree basic rules for the match including exceptions
13. Meet your opposition coach and exchange league registration details
14. If required, assign your linesman and ensure they understand their role
15. Have fun, enjoy the match - watch the football

1. Hold a brief post-match team talk to discuss learning any points
2. Ask players to identify things that went well and things to improve
3. Ask players to suggest things they could do at your next training
4. Praise player good practice and behaviour even if the team lost
5. If appropriate award player-of-the-match for good performance
6. Highlight areas of training that players applied in the match
7. Thank players for the effort and contribution on and off the pitch
8. Speak to parents and emphasise what your players did well