Soccer Coaching Tips - How to Teach Soccer Players Not to Bunch Up

Soccer is an exciting team game. And for children who are new to the sport, it is not surprising that they swarm around the ball trying to get a kick at it. This is what coaches refer to as the "beehive" formation. While children are stationed in their respective positions, they are likely to forget all their assignments once the whistle is blown and chase the ball all over the field.

It is entertaining to watch for spectators, but definitely frustrating for youth coaches. It is a common sight that coaches would yell to their players to get into their proper places. To make matters worse, parents would join in the yelling fray. But still, kids just don't listen. The good thing is that the swarming phase will just pass and the players will get the idea of team effort. For coaches, it is important to view bunching up as a natural reaction for kids who are still new to soccer.

Soccer Drills

Is Swarming Just What Kids Do?

Soccer Coaching Tips - How to Teach Soccer Players Not to Bunch Up

By viewing swarming a natural response from novice youth players, coaches can easily keep their sanity. Children do not learn the sport's aspects and adapt to its principles overnight. The concept of being part of the team is something children can't easily process.

At this stage, it is natural for children to be selfish in their game and be the popular individual. Alien to the team concept, most children won't even practice with other children's ball. Coaches should expect this and prepare a program where children can slowly and progressively digest the principles of teamwork.

Bunching Actually Helps Build Soccer Skills

Novice youth players are magnetized to the ball and would swarm over it once the game starts. Coaches should let them be since such kind of play would help them develop soccer instincts that they can use as they advance and become team-oriented. It is not new that game itself will educate children, some concepts no coaches can. Eventually, as a youth player progresses, they will learn more about the game and would later put these lessons into practice.

Swarming definitely helps children become better in terms of playing in tight spaces and abandon their fear of getting physical with other players. As they mature, these soccer training skills will become second nature and may prove to be invaluable in the future. If you ask any child development expert, they would say that children will not be able to grasp the principles of teamwork and team effort. Children will eventually progress on their own and soon realize that there are certain designs to the game and would submit themselves to the learning process.

Soccer Coaching Tips - How to Teach Soccer Players Not to Bunch Up