I've been coaching kids for the last three seasons, now at U9s. At the younger ages you really have to forget about whether the team is winning games, that's not important, it's about allowing the kids to get as much time as possible playing the game regardless of ability. At junior level the coaches are there to facilitate this. I've seen so many coaches that think they are Alex Ferguson shouting at 7 year olds on the pitch, substituting them if they concede a goal etc.

At U7 we used to have 8 players, and we'd simply have rolling subs right the way through the games, all getting pretty much equal time, and not having them sitting around on the side of the pitch
getting cold and bored, which is going to put them off playing. We had one or two lads that appeared to have very little ability at that age, but are now blossoming because they've been playing and training week in week out, one of them got player of the season last year.

As far as parents go, we've got a great bunch. We told them right from the start what we wanted to do, and they have supported us all the way.