Ten Essential Tips for New Coaches

So, you’ve just agreed to coach your child’s team, or you’ve been handed the reins of an Under-7 or Under-8 side.

Whether you're excited or slightly terrified (probably both), coaching a five-a-side team of young players can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you’re prepared.

So, to help, here are ten essential tips to help you start strong, stay confident, and create an environment your players (and their parents) will love.

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert
Most grassroots coaches start with little or no formal experience — and that’s okay. What matters most is your willingness to learn, be organised, and create a fun, safe environment for your players.

Focus on Fun, Not Formations
At U7 and U8, children are learning basic movement, coordination, and social skills. Forget rigid tactics, instead, focus on dribbling, ball touches, and small-sided games that make them smile and stay engaged.

Let Them Stay on the Ball
Don’t rush them into passing. At this age, staying on the ball helps build confidence, creativity, and ball mastery, which are all vital for future development. Where possible, let players all have a ball each during training.

Use Arrival Activities
The first five minutes of your session sets the tone. Get the kids moving straight away with a simple tag game or ball-based activity, perhaps a dribbling game, to maximise engagement and to stop them standing around or smashing footballs about.

Coach the Person, Not Just the Player
Praise effort, kindness, and resilience, not just goals. You’re helping shape children as people, not just footballers.

Build a Simple Coaching Philosophy
Decide what’s most important to you as a coach: Fun? Inclusion? Effort? Use those values to guide how you coach, speak to players and parents, and make decisions on match day.

Rotate Positions Regularly
Don’t stick players in one position. Let them experience all roles on the pitch, as your job is to help them learn about the game. That 'goalkeeper' you have might love playing striker next week.

Keep Parents Involved, But Set Boundaries
Clear communication with parents makes a huge difference. Share your goals for the team, outline expectations, and manage sideline behaviour early. Encourage support from them, and discourage them from confusing players with shouts that might be different from your tactics, or they might not understand.

Use Small Challenges Over Instructions
Rather than shouting “pass” or “shoot”, let the players make their own mind up on the pitch by giving them fun challenges like:
“Can you use your weaker foot?”
“Can you dribble past one defender before passing?”
This builds better decision-makers.

Plan, Reflect, and Keep Learning
Even experienced coaches keep learning. Make time to reflect on sessions, adapt your approach, and seek support. Remember: You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Want More Support On Your Coaching Journey?

Our CPD course The New Coach - Running Your Very First Team is designed exactly for people like you, whether you're a parent-coach, new volunteer, or just starting your coaching journey.

Led by a former English FA coach educator

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Includes session plans, match day tools, parent guides

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