https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:24:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1865021 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:12:42 +0000 makemake 1865021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Flag football? Capture the flag? </p> <p>I think you're going to do awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1865017 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:08:22 +0000 brownie 1865017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: I love Cookie Monster for that age group. Cooperative games are a little hard because three year olds are not innately cooperative. Fox in the hole is fun (balls in middle, must get balls onto your side and you can steal them from the other side). Lots of running in that one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864811 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:12:31 +0000 HLK208 1864811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it makes you feel better, my son's t-ball coaches knew nothing about baseball...like absolutely nothing. I don't think you're the only person who's done this! Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864799 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:06:40 +0000 blackbird 1864799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sounds like something I would do :) I mean, wrangling 3 year olds has to be like herding cats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864776 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:53:54 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1864776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: I didn't play soccer, but I remember by bro fell alot. So one safe way to play is if you see a man down don't run him over.<br /> I'm sure there are actual things that are safe/unsafe from ways to position your foot so the ball doesn't cause toe pain when you kick.</p> <p>Team game could be the over under game. Every few rounds have the kids get further apart and see if they can catch the ball. Or pass the ball from every other side. You can set them up like a rely with or without crowning a winning team. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864758 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:35:35 +0000 looch 1864758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At age 3, they shouldn't be playing actual games.</p> <p>They should be doing drills, like run up and down the field, dribble the ball with their feet, stopping the ball with their feet, doing stretches, that kind of thing.</p> <p>Obstacle courses are great too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864700 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:56:16 +0000 Lozza 1864700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok, I have another question for the hive mind:</p> <p>I'd love to put together a few games that require the kids to work together as a team, but that are a little slower and more thoughtful than something like "work as a team to chase and tag the coach". Can be using soccer balls or not. Any ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864695 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:54:48 +0000 Lozza 1864695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: To be honest, I wasn't really expecting to impart any more soccer knowledge than:<br /> 1. Don't use your hands<br /> 2. The goal is to kick the ball in the goal<br /> 3. Very basic dribbling skills<br /> 4. Trapping the ball</p> <p>This league doesn't start having actual games till age 5 (I think), and they don't use a goalie till age 7.<br /> Can you clarify a bit what kind of safe play rules, rules of the game, and fundamentals you think are appropriate/necessary for this age? I'd love specific examples! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864683 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:50:24 +0000 Lozza 1864683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: I hope you don't mind, but I copied and pasted your entire response in an email to the other coach :)</p> <p>@brownie: Thanks, these are great ideas! I was definitely thinking red light/ green light, maybe with some added "lights" (like, "blue light"= everybody sit on the ball, "purple light" =everybody switch balls)</p> <p>@mrbee: Never seen Bad News Bears, but I've watched a LOT of Friday Night Lights. Wonder if I can teach the kids to say "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose"... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864659 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:38:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1864659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Glad you're hyped and willing to take this on, but please do it right. Enlist a middle schooler or high schooler that needs community service credits that is already a decent player to help you coach. A good coach at age 3 lays the foundation for safe play, rules of the game, and game play fundamentals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864655 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:35:41 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 1864655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This really gave me a good laugh! I admire your willingness, I would have bailed I think:) Well, I think your saving grace is that they are 3 yr olds and I pretty much think all they do is run around the ball like a swarm of bees. No real advice, I've never played either but think little kids in the soccer outfits are the cutest!</p> <p>Please update us how this goes:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864653 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:34:25 +0000 mrbee 1864653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is Bad News Bears on Netflix? That's where I learned everything I know about being a coach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864652 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:34:20 +0000 youboots 1864652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are a saint, that is all. See if you can get some help/advice from other parents who went through the program with older kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864647 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:31:48 +0000 brownie 1864647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did lil kickers for a couple of sessions and loved it. One game that was perfect was red light green light. We played a few times with no ball and then added the ball. My 2 year old learned to dribble. Then the coach put out cones and the kids used their feet to pick them up. Then they kick balls to the goal on the other side. Then they pick up all of the cones. For both of these all of he kids are moving and you just have to keep an eye out for collisions. </p> <p>At that age just keep them moving and change it up a lot. Another fun one was to set up soccer balls in front of the goal and one at a time jump through hoops and kick one ball into the goal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864644 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:31:28 +0000 Jess1483 1864644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to a soccer class. We spend the first 10 minutes doing the same warm-ups. Each kid has a "spot" they go back to, which really helps with listening and following directions. They'll do different exercises (arm circles, walking on heels or toes, high knees) out for 10-20 feet, then run back to their spot. Warm-ups also include holding their foot on a soccer ball ("soccer stance") and then moving their foot back and forth or side to side, then tapping the ball. </p> <p>Then we do about 20-25 minutes of alternating individual and group activities. So they'll set up an "obstacle course" that ends with kicking the ball in the net. Kids go one at a time. Or we put out all the cones and the kids kick them over, then use their feet to tip them back up (using the "soccer stance.") The coach uses pool noodles a lot to set up the obstacle courses, and will place cones to zig-zag around or step around. </p> <p>After those activities, they usually do some stretching, and then we all get stamps! My kiddo loves it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864629 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:24:47 +0000 autumnlove 1864629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: They did a drill two weeks ago about kicking over as many cones as possible and another one with running in btw the cones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864622 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:22:32 +0000 Lozza 1864622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: Thanks! I was thinking about setting up some kind of obstacle course, but wasn't sure what to include... there definitely aren't any props available on the field besides balls and cones, and I don't want to have to lug much stuff of my own out there... any ideas for stations or activities?<br /> @mrs. tictactoe: NEVER AGAIN, my friend. Lesson= learned!<br /> @autumnlove: Please do! I'd love to hear what other coaches are doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864584 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:03:40 +0000 autumnlove 1864584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: We have soccer tomorrow so I will keep track of the drills for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864583 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:03:34 +0000 Radish 1864583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to referee that age. They just run around in groups and kick at the ball. Your really don't have to do anything but supervise them and probably teach them that blowing a whistle means stop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864579 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:02:44 +0000 78h2o 1864579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no advice, but good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sure you will make an awesome coach! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864573 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:00:36 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 1864573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is very similar to what happened to me with the room mom situation at Liam's preschool. I signed up thinking I could help the main room mom (there's two for each one), they give our room 3, then I find out that one doesn't want to do it and the other is leaving the school. So I'm it! I love coordinating things and planning parties, but I can't volunteer a lot since I work.</p> <p>I agree that 3 year old soccer is just chasing the ball and not kicking each other, so I think you'll be ok. Just make sure you avoid checking that box next year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864570 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:00:01 +0000 Ms.Badger 1864570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: I've never coached soccer but I did coach gymnastics for little ones. Circuits are key, containing multiple things they can do themselves just so they constantly should be doing something (i think, run from point A to point B is a legit activity for this age) and the more props you have the easier it is for them to remember what to do (bean bags, scarfs, arrows). I would get something that can write on grass and is safe so I could draw where to go, what to do. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864568 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:59:17 +0000 Lozza 1864568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: Thank you ! I'd seen most of the drills in that first link, but I'd never seen the second link you posted and I really like a lot of those ideas! (I've already copied and pasted half of them into my "ideas for soccer" document :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864554 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:53:20 +0000 Lozza 1864554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Our league actually doesn't have games at this age- it's an hour of just playing around with games, drills, etc. so it's really all up to the coaches to lead all of those. Other coaches who've done this before said they often switch up activities every 5 minutes or so for this age group, so I feel like we need to have a lot planned! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864552 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:52:45 +0000 autumnlove 1864552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Freeze tag, ball drills, bubbles, running, cone activities. I'm sure you can find lots of stuff online....3 year olds don't expect a lot! Good luck!<br /> <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/468583-soccer-drills-for-3-5-year-olds/" rel="nofollow">http://www.livestrong.com/article/468583-soccer-drills-for-3-5-year-olds/</a><br /> <a href="http://bloggingthesuburbs.com/10-tips-to-coaching-three-four-year-old-soccer/" rel="nofollow">http://bloggingthesuburbs.com/10-tips-to-coaching-three-four-year-old-soccer/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864551 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:52:35 +0000 Synchronicity 1864551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Hahaha yes! That's what I was going to say. </p> <p>I am zero help because I've never played soccer myself, but I have seen a mob of tiny soccer "players" and they mostly just chase the ball and/or play in the dirt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864550 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:51:48 +0000 Lozza 1864550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: We don't HAVE a head coach! That's the problem! :)<br /> (There weren't enough people who volunteered as head coaches for the 3 year olds, so they started pairing up people who had volunteered to be assistant coaches!)<br /> I have a spreadsheet of ideas that I've pulled from the internets, and the other coach has been contributing to that too, but it's hard to have an idea of what kind of things sound great in theory but aren't feasible for a group of 14 preschoolers, or what things work really well. (Not just games, but other little things- a friend whose kid will be on our team suggested getting some fun stamps and ink and ending the practice by giving every kid a stamp, which I thought was a great idea- they did this at Gymboree and my son loved it) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864545 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:49:37 +0000 ShootingStar 1864545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 3 years old all they do is run around in a pack following the ball. I wouldn't worry too much, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864541 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:47:40 +0000 BSB 1864541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry, I just have to LOL at this post. How you set it up, I can totally see me doing the same exact thing and I would be in the same situation as you. </p> <p>Maybe talk to the head coach and you can start bouncing some ideas around. You can see how involved you have to be. ;) Maybe it will give you some added confidence that you can do this. :)</p> <p>ETA: Oh, I see that the head coach (or co-coach) is just as clueless. Oh, I don't know then. I would concentrate on getting the kids to enjoy playing soccer and not about winning. I just remember watching a game with my nephew and we had to keep reminding him to watch the ball. He kinda just stood there during most of the game. It was cute watching him, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-i-signed-up-to-coach-a-soccer-team-and-i-have-never-played#post-1864535 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:40:01 +0000 Lozza 1864535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I think what happened was that I happened to sign up my 3 year old for soccer on the one day since birth when my 11-month-old woke up only ONCE the night before (usually we're talking 2-3 night wakings), and I was feeling invincible, like if only I could ever get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time, surely I could do ANYTHING.<br /> So I'm signing up for soccer, and there's space to check what kind of things you'd be willing to volunteer for, like "phone tree" or "snack coordinator." My dumb ass checks the box for "Assistant coach."<br /> Let us note that I have literally never in my life played soccer. As in, not even in middle school gym class. Never, ever, ever. I know you're not supposed to use your hands, and I can name two soccer players (Pele and David Beckham). That's all I got.<br /> But I figured, "assistant coach" can't be that hard, right? Someone else will figure out what to do with the kids, and I'll just make sure they aren't hitting each other or running away.<br /> Only not enough people signed up as head coach, so I got paired with someone else whose background and reasoning is more or less identical to mine and we are CLUELESS.<br /> I've read a ton of websites with suggested drills and games for soccer-playing preschoolers, but I would love more feedback from anyone who has played soccer or been around 3 year olds playing soccer... have your coaches had any particular games, drills, practices, policies etc. that you've particularly liked? That you've disliked? All ideas/suggestions so very much appreciated! </p>