This post is a follow-on to the generic article A Guide to Your First Time Coaching Sports. This article provides specifics for first time basketball coaches getting started with their first youth team. Before reading this post, review the parent article to get proper background information. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to start your […]
What a Coach Can Teach Kids About Losing
Do you like to win? Of course you do. It’s biologically ingrained in our competitive nature as humans. Whether it be in sports, work or life in general, we prefer winning over losing. We are a competitive society and we think winning validates the work we put into something. But what about losing? Are all […]
2019 Soccer Goal Kick Rule Change
Starting with the 2019 Fall season, there are important changes to the soccer goal kick rule. In fact, several Laws of the Game have been updated for this season. While most updates are minor, the goal kick rule changes can definitely have an impact on any youth soccer game. This guide will educate you on […]
What Age Should Kids Start Tackle Football?
Fall is here and with it comes the familiar sights and sounds of football teams starting their seasons. Fall football is always a highly anticipated event, but in recent years, I’ve noticed some changes in the sport. The most obvious change to me, is to see an almost complete disappearance of flag football. Seems nearly […]
Get Ready for the 2019 Fall Soccer Season
The 2019 Fall soccer season is just around the corner and you decided to sign up to coach a youth team. You made the right decision! When done correctly, you’ll be giving the kids a wonderful sports experience and you’ll find it very rewarding. So thank you for taking your time to coach a youth […]
Our Undefeated Season and What We Learned
Every professional coach is striving for an undefeated season, every season. Their jobs are dependent upon winning games so it makes sense that their goal would be a perfect record. The possibility of an undefeated season also entices plenty of youth coaches, even Balanced Coaches. I recently completed my first undefeated season in almost 20 […]
Get Fired Up With a Pregame Team Breakdown
Many teams take part in a breakdown before taking the field. But a good number of those teams are simply going through the motions. That’s because the coach doesn’t recognize the value of getting the team fired up with a great breakdown. Follow these tips to decide on a good breakdown for your team and […]
Strategies for Soccer Goal Kicks
It’s critical to have a good strategy for goal kicks in youth soccer. If done incorrectly, they can give the other team a major advantage and an easy shot on goal. Follow these tips to help your team execute good strategy for soccer goal kicks. What is a Goal Kick in Soccer? Before diving into […]
Strategies for Soccer Throw-Ins
The throw-in is an important part of a soccer game. It’s how the ball is put back into play after it goes out along the touch line (sideline). Learning some effective strategies for soccer throw-ins can be a big advantage in youth soccer games. Let’s dive into proper technique and useful strategies for this common […]
A Guide to Your First Time Coaching Soccer
This post is a follow-on to the generic article A Guide to Your First Time Coaching Sports. This article provides specifics for new soccer coaches just getting started with their first soccer team. Before reading this post, review the parent article to get proper background information. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to start your […]