3 Simple Ways to Create a Connection with Kids as a Coach

As a parent, you know that creating a strong, long-lasting bond with your children is vital to their development and your relationship. There are so many different things that we can do with our kids to increase our changes of memorable bonding moments – cooking, reading, sports, bird watching, fishing, goofing around, car rides after soccer practice, and so much more.

As a coach with Mighty Kicks, my passion is soccer (at the toddler/young youth stage) and keeping it fun. Every day I work on ways to create a connection with the kids as their soccer coach and have found a few simple hacks that you can use as a coach – or even as a parent.

Praise and Encourage

Praise resiliency: “Do not give up” “Practice at it and you will get it”
Praise the small victories: “excellent ball control” “great shot using your laces!”

Using Visual Cues

A visual and kinesthetic cue to help the child with directionality when using their left or right is as simple as having him/her “make an L” with his/her left hand.

Catchphrases

Using fun catchphrases is a super fun and useful way to communicate an idea quickly and concisely. Here are some that I use:

• Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus
• 1, 2, 3, Eye’s on Me
• Macaroni and Cheese, Everybody FREEZE!
• I have a NEED for SPEED
• Easy Peezy, Lemon Squeezey

The catch phrases also become part of your vernacular; the children often try to complete the catch phrase action before you even have a chance to finish saying it. It gets them engaged in a fun way, yet still keeps them focused on the task at hand.

While there are many ways to keep your kids focused, these have been what works for me and the dozens of toddlers we work with on a weekly basis. I’d love to hear how you create a connection with your team. Leave a comment below!