GUIDES FOR GROWN-UPS
Coach a little better.
Short, practical guides for parents of kids 3–12: quick practices you can run at home and what to say when the game gets hard.
PRACTICE
Short, playful sessions you can run in a backyard or park.
- Ages 3–5Soccer practice at home for 3- to 5-year-oldsA playful 5-minute at-home soccer practice for ages 3–5: pretend games, gentle touches and a happy finish. No drills, no pressure.
- Ages 6–12A 10-minute soccer practice you can run with your kidA timed 10-minute backyard soccer session for ages 6–12 with warm-up, a gate game, a shooting game and a child-choice finish.
- Ages 5–7Basketball activities for 5- to 7-year-oldsSimple, fun basketball activities for ages 5–7 with a lower hoop or a laundry basket: rolling, catching, dribbling and soft shots.
- Ages 3–12Beginner baseball and softball: soft catch at homeHow to play soft catch at home with a beginner: soft balls, short distances, underhand tosses and simple ground-ball games. No pitching workload.
- Ages 4–12First-time volunteer coach? Your first practice planA simple first practice for new volunteer youth coaches: welcome, active warm-up, one skill game, a scrimmage and a positive close.
THE GROWN-UP SIDE
What to say, what to skip and how to stay calm.
- Parents of kids 3–12How to coach your own child without yellingPractical ways to stay calm when you coach your own kid: one goal per session, show once, ask before advising and end on a win.
- Parents of kids 3–12How to encourage your child after a mistake in sportsWhat to say when your child makes a mistake in a game or practice: calm reset words, effort-focused encouragement and what to avoid.
- Parents of kids 3–12What to say after a loss — and on the car ride homeHow to talk to your child after losing a game: what to say first, how to handle the car ride home, and when to wait until they're ready.
Written by the Rookie Grownups team. General guidance, not professional coaching or medical advice.