V-drills, Square Plays–and a Real Team Win: Christian Science Monitor

By Lisa Cohn

I was in the midst of a typical team practice with my second-grade soccer players, when two of the girls’ moms verbally lambasted me.

The afternoon was like most of the afternoons I spent as volunteer coach of the All-Stars. I think that’s what had the moms upset. I taught my 7-year-old girls cheers, hugged them when they fell down, and dared them to chase me around the neighborhood gym where we often practiced. I showed them how to play “red light, green light” while dribbling a ball.

I had a similar style during our games. It seems, however, that I got it all wrong. That’s what I learned when the first mom, Leslie, approached me.

Read the article here:
V-Drills, Square Plays–and a Real Team Win