By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

It is a drum that I have beaten before and one that is revisited in almost every coaching license or diploma course. It is a drum built on the thousands of games I have watched over the past 20 years, and one I feel compelled to beat again, louder than ever.

We often begin this discussion by examining what makes soccer unique and how that connects to how players learn and what they enjoy. Very quickly, it becomes clear that soccer is a game that demands constant reading of the game: Scanning, perceiving and making hundreds of quick decisions. This ability to think and decide is not optional as it is central to the sport.

As coaches grow in their understanding, another realization emerges: Players like making decisions. They enjoy solving problems. They are uniquely equipped to do so because they understand their own bodies, athletic abilities and soccer skills better than anyone else. At any given moment, a player occupies a specific place on the field—on a specific blade of grass—facing a specific problem. Only that player has access to all the information required to solve it.

Each decision players make contributes to their growth. With every experience, they gain knowledge that helps them make better decisions in the future. Soccer is, and always has been, the player’s game. For players to truly develop, they must be allowed the freedom to think and decide within it.

As a soccer fan and an educator, this feels obvious to me. That is why I am continually staggered by the drive, passion, and, at times, pure anger with which some parents and coaches shout instructions on game day. Too often, this behavior makes it impossible for players to think at all.

To any parent or coach who feels compelled to constantly direct players during games, I ask you to honestly consider the following questions:

1. Do you value your child’s ability to reason and think?

2. Do you recognize that soccer is a game in which each player makes hundreds of decisions every match?

3. How would you feel if your child was in school, trying to solve a math problem, and adults began screaming answers at them?

4. What matters more to you: Your child’s long-term growth and enjoyment or the final score?

5. By what process do you place yourself inside the player’s body—seeing, feeling, and experiencing everything they do—to decide the best solution?

6. How well do you understand the coach’s philosophy and game model, and how do you know you are not contradicting it?

7. How informed are you about the ongoing debate between player development and winning?

For educational reasons, for enjoyment, and simply because it makes sense and is the right thing to do, make a pledge this season:
Let the players think. Let them decide. Let them grow.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

January 3, 2026-C stands for Central Islip as the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) will host a “C” coaching course there this spring.

Click here for the “C” coaching course kicking off on April 26, 2026 at SUSA’s Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex in Central Islip.

“This is a great course that is a vital stepping stone for those that wish to move onto the B and A courses,” commented Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching for Eastern New York. “The C is the foundation of all high-level licenses and is full of vital teaching strategies and game concepts.“

The course encompasses the various tasks of the coach, including training sessions, coaching games, leading players, leading the teams and managing a performance environment plus vital theory sessions on periodization and principles of play with field sessions.  

Any questions can be directed to Tim Bradbury.

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

December 9, 2025-The upcoming New Year will be a big one for soccer in the United States as the 2026 World Cup will be played in North America. Soccer coaches can get 2026 off on the right foot by taking an advanced coaching course from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). 

Click here for the “B” coaching course starting on January 5, 2026 at the Fox Soccer Academy in Warwick.

This license equips you to lead Under-13 or higher-level teams in a competitive environment with intermediate to advanced skill sets. Coaches with a B license are proficient in applying and evaluating player development and optimizing the learning environment for their teams.

Course goals include applying and evaluating team and player development related to a game model, as well as analyzing, evaluating and optimizing the learning environment for the team and individual players. 

Click here for the “C” coaching course kicking off on April 26, 2026 at SUSA’s Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex in Central Islip.

“This is a great course that is a vital stepping stone for those that wish to move onto the B and A courses,” commented Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching for Eastern New York. “The C is the foundation of all high-level licenses and is full of vital teaching strategies and game concepts.“

The course encompasses the various tasks of the coach, including training sessions, coaching games, leading players, leading the teams and managing a performance environment plus vital theory sessions on periodization and principles of play with field sessions.  

Any questions on either course can be directed to Tim Bradbury.

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Having spent more than 30 years coaching and educating coaches in both formal and informal environments, I can honestly say I’ve witnessed many highlights — and many lowlights. I wish that the clips playing through my mind had evolved and that we were making new mistakes in how we teach youth players. Unfortunately, one area of persistent concern remains: the half-time talk.

I’m not entirely sure why this happens. Perhaps it’s the emotion of the game, the inability of some coaches to remember what effective teaching and learning look like, or simply a lack of emotional control. Whatever the reason, the result is almost always the same.

You’d have to look long and hard to find a half-time talk that isn’t one (or more) of the following:

1. Overloaded with information: So many points and observations that players remember none of them.

2. Confusingly structured: Players leave more confused than when they came in.

3. Emotionally-charged: Full of anger or frustration, robbing players of the joy of the second half.

4. Mentally-draining: Too many words and too much noise, leaving players unable to think or problem-solve.

5. Command-driven: Filled with orders that shut down creativity and independent thinking.

6. One-way communication: Offering players no opportunity to discuss their own thoughts (even though they’re the ones playing).

7. Undermined by parents: Followed by contradictory instructions shouted from the sidelines.

8. Contradictory among adults: With multiple coaches or helpers desperate to make a point, talking over one another without listening.

To bring some clarity and purpose to the half-time pantomime, I urge coaches to try the following process:

• Observe and record key statistics throughout the first half, focusing on elements connected to your team’s style of play.
• Use substitutes to help track simple data. For example: consecutive passes, times we switched the point of attack, number of overloads created, passes that broke lines, and players joining the attack.
• Apply the “Rule of Three plus One.” Limit yourself to three clear and concise team points, supported by simple statistics.
  Example: “We need to work harder to support the player on the ball so we can build attacks. Our longest passing sequence was only three, we can do better.” (These key points should be previewed in your pregame talk so players know what to expect.)
• Plus One: After the three team points, give each player one simple technical focus.
  Example: “Tim, work on taking your first touch away from pressure.” (These should also connect to the goals discussed before the game.)
• Start the halftime talk with the players. Have them discuss what went well and what challenges they faced, ideally within their team units. and let them report back before you speak.
• Check in individually to provide feedback on each player’s pregame goal.
• Make it a habit for players to speak first and last. After all, it’s their team and their game.

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Maybe it’s because I played the game as a kid and hated every drill I was put through. Maybe it’s because I can still remember the boredom as another repetitive exercise drained all the joy from soccer as quickly as a cold drink disappears on a hot day. Or maybe it’s because I was a creative kid who loved solving problems in my own way, and drills offered nothing but rote learning, with someone telling me exactly what to do and when to do it.

Whatever the reason, my dislike for drills runs deep.

That dislike only grew stronger when I studied Physical Education at university in England. Everything I learned about teaching methods, learning theory, and effective practice reinforced what I already knew: drills were joyless, restrictive, and ineffective. I felt validated — and inspired to create training activities that gave players freedom to think, solve problems, and have fun.

And the evidence keeps piling up. Every research article, every seminar on learning environments, every training course only strengthens the case against drills.

Which is why it’s so frustrating to see so many youth coaches still leaning on them. Time and again, I watch players slog through endless drills, their body language shouting the same message: I’m bored. I’m disengaged. I’ll make my own fun if the coach won’t. Ironically, it’s often these same coaches who then ask for advice on discipline or complain that their players lack focus.

And don’t get me started on pre-game warmups. How can a string of lifeless drills — with zero connection to the actual game — possibly prepare players to compete with energy, creativity, and intensity?

It’s time to stop. For good.

Here are the Top 10 Reasons Never to Use Drills:

1. Drills are zero fun.
2. Soccer is all about decisions and drills shut down thinking.
3. Drills are boring.
4. True skill development (myelination) depends on thinking, not repetition without thought.
5. Drills create robots, not problem-solvers.
6. Quality training looks like a slice of the game but drills never do.
7. Drills push players away from the sport.
8. The game demands decisions under pressure and drills don’t replicate this.
9. Drills involve standing around waiting, guaranteed to be a fun killer.
10. There are simply better, more engaging ways to teach.
    

What to Do Instead

• Design activities that look and feel like real soccer.
• Let players think, make mistakes, and find solutions.
• Are competitive, challenging, and fun.
• Can be structured to repeat key skills under increasing pressure.
• Keep everyone involved at all times.
• Force players to juggle multiple problems at once, just like the demands in the game.

Do this, and your players will show up to practice with energy, passion, and joy. They’ll learn more, improve faster, and fall in love with the game — the way it’s meant to be played.

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Coaching games in youth sports is one of the most demanding and delicate tasks a coach will face in creating a positive and development-focused game day environment. I’ve seen intelligent, player-centered coaches who are calm and supportive during training, transform into sideline drill sergeants when the whistle blows. Game day brings out emotions, pressure and competing priorities, which can often derail the focus on development and enjoyment.

Why Game Day Is So Demanding

The Pressure to Win: The “every game is a World Cup final” syndrome is real. Instead of focusing on player growth and fun, many coaches and parents feel immense pressure to chase results, often at the expense of learning.

Overzealous Parents: Many parents prioritize joining “winning programs” over development-focused environments. They sometimes forget that soccer is a team sport, and every child needs meaningful playing time to grow.

Parents as Extra Coaches: Sideline instructions from well-meaning parents can overload young players, making independent decision-making nearly impossible.

Coaches’ Ego: Some coaches feel defined by their win-loss record. The “I am only as good as my next win” mindset can drive decisions that prioritize short-term results over long-term development.

Transactional vs. Transformational Cultures: Does your team’s game-day environment encourage fun, learning, and resilience? Or does losing feel like Armageddon? The tone set by coaches and parents directly shapes the players’ experience.

Decision-Making Overload: Soccer already requires rapid decision-making under pressure. When coaches and parents add hundreds of extra commands, they unintentionally drown players’ ability to think independently on the field.

Best Practices for Coaches and Parents on Game Day

Before the Game

• Players arrive 45 minutes before kickoff for a player-led, game-like warm-up.
• Coaches deliver short, clear team talks with a maximum of three key objectives.
• Each player gets one “Glow” (strength) and one “Grow” (area of focus).
• Coaches meet briefly with parents to explain the day’s objectives.
• Players write expectations for parents on a visible board.
• Defenders, midfielders, and forwards huddle separately to discuss roles.
• Substitutes prepare, identify matchups, and track a key game statistic.
  

During the Game

• Parents applaud effort, teamwork, and skills from both teams.
• Parents avoid shouting instructions, letting players make their own decisions.
• Parents respect referees and model positive behavior.
• Coaches ask guided questions rather than giving constant commands.
• Coaches engage substitutes in analysis and preparation.
• Coaches embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, valuing growth over results.
  

At Halftime

Coaches encourage player ownership by asking questions and allowing units to problem-solve together.

After the Game

• Each player receives another Glow and Grow for feedback.
• Units reflect on their collective performance and propose adjustments for future games.
  

The Bottom Line

If you attend a youth game where even half of these best practices are in place, you’ll notice an immediate difference: Smarter decisions, calmer sidelines and players who truly enjoy the game. Winning is fun, but building resilient, confident and creative players is far more rewarding.

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

Every month, I wrestle with the same question: What is the most important issue to write about right now? I often turn to coaches, administrators, and of course, the ENYYSA instructor group for suggestions. I do my best to reflect their ideas in these articles.

This month, when I was asked to create a Top Ten list for coaches preparing for the fall season, I quickly realized the challenge: coaching doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The development of any young player relies on the cooperation and alignment of what I call the Soccer Trinity — coaches, parents, and players.

So rather than one list, here are three — one for each group — offering guidance, reminders, and a starting point for a successful season ahead.

Top Ten for Coaches

1. See them as people first. If players know how much you care, they’ll give you their best.
2. Build trust with parents. An open, respectful relationship makes coaching more effective — you can’t do it without them.
3. Commit to lifelong learning. Seek to understand more about the game and how kids learn every single day.
4. Plan with purpose. Each practice should be carefully designed to meet the developmental needs of your players.
5. Find your learning toolkit. This season, identify three podcasts, three books, three TED Talks, and a mentor who can inspire and challenge you.
6. Prioritize learning and fun. Growth, enjoyment, and healthy competition matter far more than just winning.
7. Let them lead. Encourage players to make decisions, pick teams, resolve conflicts, and organize — their social development matters too.
8. Understand their energy. Get to know your players’ physical routines — it will help you manage training loads and performance.
9. Talk less, say more. Stick to three clear, concise coaching points — beyond that, they’re likely tuning out.
10. Keep growing. Commit to attending at least one coaching course in the next six months.
    

Top Ten for Parents

1. Remember why you started. Keep your child’s joy and development at the center of their soccer journey.
2. Skip the post-game critique. The car ride home isn’t the time for analysis — let the dust settle.
3. Respect the referees. Everyone makes mistakes. Abuse from the sidelines helps no one.
4. Don’t coach from the sidelines. Your child needs space to learn and think for themselves.
5. Let mistakes happen. They’re essential to growth — this is a process, not a performance.
6. Understand development vs. winning. This isn’t the World Cup — it’s about progress, not trophies.
7. Model respect. Show kindness to all players, coaches, and officials. Be the role model your child deserves.
8. Engage with the coach. Learn about the philosophy and approach — build a supportive relationship.
9. Know when to step back. If emotions run high, take a break. Awareness is key.
10. Help build a positive culture. Be the glue that brings parents together around shared values and support.
    

Top Ten for Players

1. Appreciate your parents. Recognize the effort they make — and say thank you often, no matter your mood.
2. Be responsible. Pack your own bag, bring your water — little habits build independence.
3. Always give your best. No matter the score or situation, your teammates deserve your full effort.
4. Help teammates succeed. Every practice is a chance to support and uplift each other.
5. Show respect, always. Treat referees, opponents, and teammates with kindness and humility.
6. Grow through failure. Mistakes are how you learn — stay calm, stay focused, and bounce back.
7. Be a positive influence. Help set up, ask thoughtful questions, support your coach’s learning environment.
8. Respect the officials. Even when things feel unfair — show class and composure.
9. Be kind to yourself. Fatigue, injury, and frustration are part of the journey. Take care of your body and mind.
10. Fall in love with the game. Watch matches, follow a team, and become a student of soccer.

Let’s make this season a great one. The strongest player development happens when coaches, parents, and players all do their part — with passion, empathy, and a shared commitment to growth.