What are the best ways to coach children’s soccer?

Soccer is an excellent tool to inculcate discipline, consistency, and work ethic into young athletes, particularly children.  Children develop helpful athletic and academic habits through a combination of teamplay, inter-team competition, individual drills, and homework.  Children also need carefully tailored development plans depending on their skill levels and particular circumstances.  Our goal is to maximize children’s athletic and academic potential, and to do so we work meticulously with each particular child.

What are good questions to ask a soccer coach?

Parents and interested parties should be able to communicate with coaches freely and candidly.  Parents should investigate (1) the coach’s or club’s coaching methodology and strategy, (2) the coach’s experience, (3) the coach’s plans to work with their child, (4) the club’s or coach’s plans for the child’s team or teams, and (5) how the club or coach plans to work with the child in the short and long term (i.e., discuss goal setting and agree on a path).

Coaches are there to teach, mentor, and guide players.  Parents should work closely with coaches to ensure that their child’s development is going according to plan.

What makes a good soccer team?

A good soccer team is composed of (1) players who understand the value of teamplay and hardwork, (2) a coach who has a clear working philosophy and who can develop and mentor the team’s players, and (3) a community that supports the team’s goals and purpose.

Good soccer teams remain disciplined and work consistently towards a clear goal. Soccer is a fairly complex team sport that requires precise team play.  Without a team mentality, a team will eventually fail to accomplish its goals.

Work with your teammates, develop as a teamplayer, hone your skills, and practice, practice, practice.

How do I register my child for the club?

You can reach out to us via email or through our website.  We have several programs tailored for children and teenagers of all genders, ages, and skill levels.  Our Academies require a tryout to ensure that the athlete and the athlete’s parents are aligned with the values and philosophy of the club.  We demand a lot of our players because we give it all we’ve got. We focus on maximizing our players’ athletic and academic output by inculcating pivotal developmental values: Discipline, Respect, Teamwork, and Strength. Reach out to us if you have any additional questions.

What is the cost of joining a soccer club?

A soccer club’s enrollment cost depends on the club’s programs, coaching quality, area, and underlying costs.  Soccer clubs charge their players fees to cover underlying fixed and expected variable costs associated with running the club, including equipment, insurance, salaries, rental costs, and league registration fees, among others.

You should have an open discussion with your club of interest to ensure that you understand the club’s fee structure.  Most soccer clubs also offer financial aid on a case-by-case basis and scholarships to players with financial needs.

Reach out to your club for additional information.  Note that money should not be a deterrent for you or your child to start pursuing their athletic goals.  We suggest that you work with your club to come up with a fee structure that works for both parties. Reach out to us for additional information.  We cannot wait to see what you can do!

What is the soccer season and how long does the club season last?

At the highest level, soccer season is typically year-round with a few rest periods in between depending on the relevant league’s schedule. Soccer players at the lower levels (academy and club level) practice year-round and continue to work throughout the winter and summer.  Professional players have vacation after the league season ends similar to other professions.

At the club or academy level, local soccer leagues dictate the training schedule of most clubs. Note, however, that soccer clubs and academies work year-round, since at this level players need to continue working on their skills to ensure a constant rate of progression.

Soccer is an easy sport to play, but it is a fairly difficult sport to master.  You need to dedicate time and effort and work consistently on your skills to be able to become proficient at the sport. Therefore, year-round training is essential to a young athlete’s development.  Soccer clubs are aware of this fact and thus typically offer their services throughout the year.

Reach out to us if you have additional questions.

How many practices are there per week?

An academy or club player typically trains 2 or 3 times a week, depending on whether there are games scheduled during the week or the weekend.  Training sessions range from 1-1.5 hours typically and consist of drills, physical training, and play development training.  As it is the case with any other sport, club or academy players will typically coordinate their athletic and academic schedules to ensure that the player is able to commit to training without sacrificing their academic development.

Practice typically occurs during the afternoon or evening for young athletes, depending on the area and the school schedule.

What equipment do I need?

Soccer is a relatively affordable sport compared to other sports such as Lacrosse, Football, and Baseball. Strictly speaking, soccer players need only their boots/cleats, socks, shin guards, and a ball to practice and play the sport.  Although the equipment requirements are fairly low, soccer players do need to commit a lot of their time to the sport.  It is a fairly difficult sport to master, given that it is based on teamplay and requires a broad set of positional, physical, and ball-related skills.

So remember, you can start with a ball in your backyard. But you need time, commitment, and discipline to become proficient at the sport.

What does my child need to bring to practice?

Club and academy players are not required to bring any equipment to practice unless instructed to do so by the club or coach.  Players need only bring their uniform, their cleats/boots, and their shin guards to practice.  Other than that, players should be ready to offer their full attention and commitment to the coach.  Practicing is about developing skills, so the main requirement is discipline and commitment.

How long does practice last?

A typical practice lasts between 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the type of practice, where the team is with respect to the season (i.e., pre-season, season, or post-season), and the training philosophy of the club or coach.

Practices are structured to develop a skill or a particular set of skills. Some skills are more difficult to master than others, so timing will vary depending on intensity and difficulty.

What size ball do you use?

There are three soccer ball sizes used for practice and official games in soccer:

  • Size 5 (Adult/Professional): U12 and up (ages 12 and older), 27-28 in/68-70 cm circumference
  • Size 4 (Youth): U8-U12 (ages 8-12), 25-26 in/63.5-66 cm circumference
  • Size 3 (Junior): U8 and down (ages 8 and younger), 23-24 in/58.5-61 cm circumference

The above may vary depending on a particular league’s requirement. We use the appropriate ball sizes depending on our players’ age group.

Are mouth guards needed?

Mouth guards are not needed and are atypical for soccer players.  Note that this does not mean that soccer players cannot use mouth guards during practice or official games (although this depends on the relevant league’s rules).  Players who wish to use mouthguards for a particular reason (such as a medical need) are typically allowed to do so during gameplay.

How many players will be taken for the club team?

Academy and club teams are typically limited to 25-35 players, depending on (1) age groups, (2) the club’s structure, and (3) the relevant league’s requirements.  Academies and clubs typically hold tryouts before accepting new members into their clubs.  A tryout is an efficient way for the club to get to know you and for you to get to know the club.

Note that a player being rejected from a particular club or academy should not deter that player from applying to other academies or clubs.  Some of the most well-renowned players in history were rejected from clubs and academies during their youth years (e.g., Adrea Pirlo, Carlos Valderrama, Kun Aguero, etc.).

How big is the soccer field?

Typically, soccer fields are between 110 to 120 yards long and 70 to 80 yards wide.  Contrary to popular belief, soccer fields vary in sizes, even at the professional level.  The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) imposes certain parameters for soccer fields, which most leagues comply with to ensure harmony between their league games and official FIFA games. Note, however, that non-FIFA games need not comply with such requirements.  A local league may impose different or more strict field requirements, which may or may not be congruent with FIFA’s guidelines.

How often are practices and games?

Games are typically over the weekend and practices typically occur twice or three times a week depending on several factors: (1) weather, (2) season stage (i.e., pre-season, season, post-season), (3) team development, and (4) COVID or related restrictions, among others.  We keep our players informed of any changes to their schedule.  We offer a defined schedule ahead of time and provide as much advance notice as practicable in the event that changes to such schedule need to be made.

Do you know of any summer camps to which I can send my son/daughter?

NJ Gray Wolves FC offers summer camps for children of all ages and skill levels.  Our Summer camps offer children a great opportunity to familiarize themselves with the sport and develop their teamplay and soccer skills.  Note that, although our Summer camps are typically designed to encourage teamplay, we maintain the same high level of coaching and standards as we do with our academies.

Reach out to us at [email protected] for additional information.  We will see you soon!

What age groups are accepted into the academy?

Our academies are divided into five different age groups: (1) 3-5, (2) 6-9, (3) 10-12, (4) 12-15, and U17,19.  Our academies are open to all genders. Note that prospective academy players need to try out to the academy before becoming a full member.

For more information, please reach out to us at [email protected].

How long can my child be a member of the academy?

There are no time limitations for academy membership.  Note, however, that as a player develops, such player will eventually become part of different teams within our academy structure. Players develop as they grow older.  We continue to work with our players to ensure they play at the right level as they continue to make progress.

Do you offer coaching in any other sport?

We do not offer coaching in any other sport, but we work closely with coaches that specialize in other sports.  Feel free to discuss with one of our coaches or reach out to us at [email protected] for more information.

Can a child play in an older age group?

An academy player may be allowed to practice and play with players in an older age group depending on the league’s rules and the player’s particular set of skills and development rate.  Age groups are designed to (1) mitigate the risk of injury in players, (2) balance expectations, and (3) ensure that players grow at a rate that is similar to his or her peers’ growth rates.   We can discuss whether it makes sense for a player to play or practice with older players.

My child has a little soccer experience. Will they get much playing time?

Prior soccer experience is not a requirement or a factor in a child’s ability to play in our academies.  We determine playtime based on players’ commitment, skills, physical health, and attitude towards the club and the sport.  Lack of experience is not relevant in our decision making, nor should it be.  We look for players that show potential and willingness to work hard.  Prior experience is not required.

What additional training is available?

We offer players specialized clinics, private coaching, and soccer literacy classes to help them increase their learning and growth rate.  Note that we do not demand participation in any of these programs.  These programs are offered so that players have access to additional training resources through our academies. For additional information, please visit our website at www.njgraywolves.com.