Coach Grandpa Corner

Bad weather? Sleeping siblings? Thin apartment walls? You can still keep soccer fun with quiet soccer drills at home that build real skills—without the bouncing, thumping, or loud ball strikes. Here’s one of our favorite quiet soccer drills at home: The Silent Wall Pass All you need is: A pillow A small space A soft ball (or any ball) Place the pillow against the wall and have your child pass the ball softly into it. The pillow absorbs the impact, making it: Quiet Safe for in

Soccer Tournament Tips for Parents: What We Pack, Plan & Prep Soccer tournament weekends always sound exciting… until you’re the parent packing, prepping, planning, and trying to keep everyone fed, calm, and on time.We’re leaving this Friday, so this week is all about getting ahead — especially with the food. These are the soccer tournament tips for parents that actually help our family feel prepared (and avoid the nacho–slushie weekend spiral). Soccer Tournament Tips for Par

If you’ve ever looked at your child’s schedule and thought, “8:30 PM? Really?” — you’re not alone. Yesterday, my 11-year-old had a late game that kicked off at 8:30 and ended close to 10. With a 20-minute drive home and school the next morning, it felt like a logistical puzzle. Late soccer games for kids are becoming more common — especially in club and select programs. But keeping their energy steady (and their morning moods manageable) takes a bit of prep and a lot of balan

If you’ve ever tried to get your kid out the door for soccer when it’s freezing, windy, or raining sideways — I get you. Growing up in Sweden, I learned one thing early: there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing. Now that I’m raising my little soccer players in Texas (where “cold” hits differently), I’ve mastered how to dress for cold soccer games using smart layering — keeping kids warm, dry, and focused on the game (not their freezing fingers). 1. Base Layer: The Foundation

If you’ve ever tried to pack for a soccer tournament weekend, you know it’s basically family camping with shin guards . Between hotel breakfasts, back-to-back games, and endless laundry, surviving tournament season takes planning, caffeine, and a good sense of humor. This guide breaks down the top 5 must-know soccer tournament tips for parents — whether it’s your first weekend or your fifth. Smart Packing for Tournament Weekends — Soccer Tournament Tips for Parents Forget “tr

If you’ve ever tried to get 5-year-olds to warm up before soccer practice, you know — it’s part strategy, part stand-up comedy. 😂 That’s why Coach Grandpa swears by Red Light, Green Light , one of the best soccer warm-up games for kids. It sneaks in soccer fundamentals while keeping it fun. Why Red Light, Green Light Is One of the Best Soccer Warm-Up Games for Kids This isn’t just a silly start to practice. It’s one of those timeless soccer warm-up games for kids that helps

Why Encouraging Teamwork in Young Soccer Players Matters Teamwork isn’t something that just happens  — it’s built one small play, one high-five, and one shared laugh at a time. As parents and coaches, encouraging teamwork in young soccer players starts with how we celebrate effort, communication, and kindness on the field — not just goals. When your 7-year-old learns to pass instead of dribble through everyone, that’s teamwork. When your 5-year-old cheers for a friend’s goal

If there’s one thing Coach Grandpa always says, it’s this: “You don’t need a fancy field to build great players. Just cones and a ball.” And after raising soccer-obsessed kids in our backyard, driveway, and living room (oops), I can confirm — cones and pop-up goals are the MVPs  of at-home training. Whether your player is 5, 7, 11 or 13 like mine, simple equipment makes soccer fun, fast, and frustration-free. So today I’m breaking down the best soccer cones for kids  — plus t

Still confused by the soccer offside rule? Learn the offside rule for parents with this fun pizza analogy — finally, a soccer rule...

You know that moment when the ball rolls out and suddenly every kid freezes  — and all the parents start shouting, “Throw it in! No, the...

When my kids first started soccer, Coach Grandpa gave me one piece of advice that stuck: “Parents should be the cheerleaders, not the...

Coach Grandpa always says: “Soccer starts with the pass.”  For young players, passing is the first step toward teamwork, confidence, and...

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This morning, my 11-year-old and I were up before the sun. At 6:00 a.m., while most kids were still dreaming, he was lacing up his shoes...

Many young players who start soccer dream of becoming like their favorite stars — Messi, Ronaldo, Zlatan, Beckham, or even the best...

Watching your child play soccer, you may notice the difference between those who react and those who anticipate . The secret? A simple...

Looking for a fun way to burn energy, build soccer skills, and reduce screen time—especially when you're stuck indoors? Try this printable Indoor Soccer Dice Game for Kids! Created with busy parents and soccer-loving kids in mind, it's an easy, mess-free way to play, learn, and laugh as a family. No setup required—just a ball and 6-sided dice Great for all levels (ages 4–9) Sibling-friendly and encourages teamwork Builds foundational skills like coordination, balance, and con

Not every drill needs cones, timers, or turf. Sometimes, all you really need is a ball, a wall, and a few focused minutes. Beginner Setup...

Recreating Game Situations in Training As parents and coaches, it’s easy to fall into the trap of lining up our kids in front of the goal and saying, “Shoot!” But when do they ever get a perfect, still ball straight in front of the net in a real match? The truth is: most goals are scored under pressure, from awkward angles, or after a quick turn. That’s why today’s practice with my 7-year-old looked different—because we’re training his brain and body to handle real game momen

When you think “playground,” you probably think monkey bars, tag, and a place for younger siblings to burn off energy during big sibling...