Coaches
Resources for the parents making seasons happen.
Coaching a GSMYSA team is one of the most rewarding jobs in our community. You don't need to have played the game at a high level — you just need to bring energy, patience, and a willingness to learn. This page is a living library of ideas, drills, and guidance to help you run great practices.
Five Coaching Principles
Every kid plays.
Rotate substitutions generously and give every player meaningful field time. Benchless coaching is the GSMYSA standard.
Ball at every foot.
Design drills so every player has their own ball as often as possible. More touches means faster development.
Small-sided games.
Break big groups into 3v3 and 4v4 games. Kids get more decisions, more touches, and more fun than in a single scrimmage.
Praise the attempt.
Celebrate effort, not just outcomes. A defender who tracks back is as worth a cheer as a goal scorer.
Short instructions.
Kids tune out after 30 seconds of talking. Demonstrate, let them try, correct while they play.
A Template 60-Minute Practice
0–10 min · Warmup
Dynamic movement with a ball at every foot. Tag games, toe-taps, inside-outside touches. Get their heart rate up and their hands off the goalposts.
10–25 min · Technical Drill
One focused skill — passing, dribbling, or shooting — broken into progressions. Start stationary, then moving, then under light pressure.
25–45 min · Small-Sided Games
3v3 or 4v4 on small fields with multiple goals. This is where the technical work becomes real. Rotate teams every few minutes.
45–60 min · Scrimmage & Wrap-Up
Full-team scrimmage with minimal coaching. Close with a team huddle, call out two moments of effort, and remind everyone what next week looks like.
Drill Library: More to come!
Quick-reference cards for your next practice session.
Sharks & Minnows
Classic dribbling game for U6–U10. One or two 'sharks' without a ball try to kick out the 'minnows' who are dribbling across a grid. Great for close control under pressure.
Four-Goal Game
3v3 or 4v4 small-sided game with two goals on each endline. Forces players to scan the field and change point of attack — huge for U10–U14.
Passing Pyramid
Triangle of cones, three players, pass-and-follow rotation. Simple, scalable, and the single best warmup for any age group.
1v1 Channels
Narrow channels with a goal at each end. Defender passes to attacker and closes down. Builds attacking courage and defending footwork.
Rondo (5v2)
Five attackers in a circle keep the ball away from two defenders in the middle. The best passing exercise ever invented, scalable from U10 upward.
World Cup
Pairs of players compete in a small-goal knockout. Last team standing wins the 'World Cup.' Perfect end-of-practice finisher for all ages.