FCR Recreational Coaches, 

We cannot thank you enough for the time and energy that you put in every week to help make our program a success. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

After observing and hearing about some lopsided games , we felt inclined to provide you with some coaching tips and educational materials to help .  The most important topic here is challenging and developing the player.  Excessive scoring is not representative of that development. Most assuredly, the players who were unable to score or were defeated by a hefty margin, and feel deflated, may lack the desire to push forward with their own development. 

This is particularly challenging for our U4-U8 Coaches and players. It is very difficult to restrict a very young player from going to goal, and you don't want to give them the impression that scoring is "bad".  There are some coachable opportunities for these young players to help in a lopsided game scenario. It is important that they are discussed prior to the game and practiced so that the players know what to do when this occurs. More importantly, these suggestions help to further the players skills. 

• The most important skill in soccer is dribbling, have your players dribble as much as possible towards goal and try moves that they are learning or have learned.

• Ask your players to pass to their teammates as many times as possible before attempting to score.

• When scoring, ask them to try and use their non dominant foot

• If your team is leading by a large margin, it is not necessary to reiterate to your players "shoot, score, etc"

• Coaches, talk to each other during the game or at half time, and devise a plan. In extreme situations, the team with the fewest goals may bring an additional player onto the field or the team with the most goals, take a player off.

*U9-U12 Players areas of opportunity for development and addressing lopsided games

Many of the aforementioned suggestions apply, particularly dribbling, multiple passing, non-dominant foot scoring. These are all especially advantageous being on a larger field and having the players learn positioning and spread out. 

• Changing formations and putting your attackers in defensive positions. 

• Have a number of passes that must be connected before you can take a shot on goal. 

• Only score from outside the penalty area.

• Only score when each player on the team has touched the ball

• Ask that the team goes back to the keepers feet before they begin their attack

• Work on moves that you have been working on.

*U13 and Up have more players, larger fields, more learning opportunities for the players!

• Dribbling, multiple passing, non-dominant foot scoring. 

• Changing formations, choosing scoring locations or only score off crosses!

• Once a score is met, then future goals must be headers

• Play a man down

• Choose moves that need to be completed before starting an attack on goal

• Only score if each player on the team has touched the ball. 

• Talk to the coaches at halftime, let them know your concerns 

Here is a good article with more ideas that may help:

http://www.playsportstv.com/soccer/articles/991/coaching-youth-soccer_how-to-manage-a-one-sided-game

All of the suggestions are for the benefit of player development while creating a positive sportsmanship environment for everyone on the pitch. 

Again, thank you so much for all you do for FC Richmond. 

Trip Dunville

Director of Coaching

FC Richmond

tripdunville@fcrichmond.com