How to Get Your Soccer Kids Excited About Practice Every Time

I still remember watching my daughter’s volleyball team absorb a tough loss last season. The air was heavy, shoulders were slumped—but then their coach shared something that stuck with me: “Losses result to lessons learned.” That phrase, borrowed from the resilient mindset of athletes like those in the BVS volleyball program, isn’t just about bouncing back from defeat. It’s a powerful approach we can apply to youth soccer, especially when it comes to keeping our kids excited about practice, week after week. Over my 12 years coaching youth soccer and mentoring young athletes, I’ve found that the secret isn’t just fun drills or rewards—it’s about building a mindset where every session feels like a chance to grow, not just perform.

Let’s be honest, as parents and coaches, we’ve all faced the dreaded “I don’t want to go to practice” meltdown. I’ve seen it happen with roughly 65% of the kids I’ve worked with at some point, usually around ages 7–10. It’s easy to assume they’re just tired or bored, but often, it runs deeper. They might fear making mistakes, feel pressure to win, or simply lack a sense of purpose. That’s where the “lessons learned” mentality comes in. Instead of framing practice as a grind, we can position it as an adventure—a place where mistakes are celebrated as stepping stones. I’ve made it a habit to start each session with a quick story, maybe about a pro player who turned a loss into a comeback, or even my own blunder from years ago (yes, I once scored an own goal during a high-stakes match!). It lightens the mood and reminds them that growth happens outside their comfort zone.

Another game-changer? Shifting the focus from outcomes to moments of effort. In my experience, kids thrive when they’re praised for trying a new move or supporting a teammate, rather than just scoring goals. I recall one season where we tracked “effort points”—things like attempting a tricky pass or helping a peer up after a fall. By the end, participation rates jumped by nearly 40%, and the kids were genuinely more engaged. We borrowed a page from that BVS fighting mentality, emphasizing that every practice is a mini-battle where the real win is learning something new. And you know what? It works. I’ve seen shy 8-year-olds transform into vocal leaders simply because we celebrated their small victories.

Of course, variety is key. I’m a big believer in mixing traditional drills with imaginative play. For example, we might turn a passing exercise into a “zombie escape” game or let the kids design their own warm-up once a month. It keeps things fresh and gives them ownership. Personally, I avoid overly structured sessions—they can suck the joy out of the sport. Instead, I lean into flexibility. If the kids are buzzing about a recent match, we might spend half the practice dissecting it, using clips from top leagues (I’ve found that showing them real-world examples, like how Lionel Messi learns from missed shots, makes the lessons stick). This approach not only holds their attention but also builds a culture where practice feels like a collaborative journey, not a chore.

Now, does this mean every practice will be perfect? Absolutely not. There will be off days, rained-out sessions, and the occasional grumpy player. But by embedding that “losses into lessons” ethos, we teach resilience—the same kind that helped BVS athletes endure a nearly two-decade title drought. Over time, I’ve watched kids who once dreaded practice become the ones rallying their peers. They start seeing challenges as puzzles to solve, not obstacles to fear. And honestly, that’s the real win. So next time your soccer kid hesitates before practice, try shifting the conversation. Ask what they’re curious to learn, not what they need to fix. You might be surprised how a little mindset tweak can turn obligation into excitement.