Carla Lewis Alberta, Canada. I am trying to get a hold of an article from the Dec. 7, 1998 issue of Soccer America Magazine on tips for coaches. Is that available online? Mike Woitalla: Carla, you’re probably referring to an item that ran in Soccer America’s Youth Soccer Letter, a two-page section, edited by Dan Woog, that appears every other weeks in SA. The Youth Soccer Letter covers various aspects of the youth game, profiles the nation’s notable youth clubs and players, and addresses player development issues and youth news, etc. Dan Woog also compiles coaching tips and in the Dec. 7 issue they came from Gary Williamson, director of player development for the Oklahoma Soccer Association. These tips originally appeared in the OSA publication Smoke Signals. Here they are: How to be more positive: Give lots of positive feedback, as soon as it occurs; have realistic expectations; praise effort as much as you do results. How to react to mistakes: Give encouragement immediately after a mistake; if the player knows how to correct the mistake, encouragement alone is sufficient; when appropriate, give corrective instruction, but always in an encouraging and positive way; donÆt punish when things go wrong. How to maintain order and discipline: Establish clear standards; involve players in formulating behavioral guidelines; strive for a balance between freedom and structure; emphasize that all members of the team are part of the game. How to deal with team rule violations: Allow the player to explain his or her actions; be consistent and impartial; donÆt express anger and a punitive attitude toward the athlete; donÆt lecture or embarrass the player; focus on the fact that a team policy has been broken; discuss why certain rules are necessary, and how violations affect the team; focus on following through on the agreed-upon consequences of misbehavior; avoid physical punishment (such as running or pushups), because that creates a negative attitude toward exercise. How to get positive things to happen: Model desired behavior; encourage effort, but donÆt demand results all the time; give encouragement selectively, so that it remains meaningful; never give ôencouragementö in a sarcastic or degrading manner; encourage players to support each other, and reward them when they do. How to create a good learning atmosphere: Set realistic goals; always give instructions positively, clearly and concisely; demonstrate correct technique; be patient, and donÆt expect or demand more than maximum effort; acknowledge and reward effort and progress. How to affirm your athletes: Show all players that you care about them as individuals; donÆt let players leave a practice or game feeling like worthless losers; help players separate their personal value from their performance or outcome. How to communicate effectively: Ask yourself what your actions have communicated; encourage players to express their concerns to you; be sensitive to individual needs; communicate at the time a player is most receptive. How to gain respect: Establish your role as a competent, willing teacher; be a fair and considerate leader; set a good example; donÆt demand respect earn it. How to counteract parental pressures: Communicate to your athletes that the important thing is to try hard and develop their skills, not that they must win or be a ôstarö; communicate to parents that by placing excessive pressure on children they detract from the potential sports have for enjoyment and performance; meet with parents prior to the season to discuss these matters. (If you have a question for a Soccer America Magazine editor, click “Q&A with SA Editors” in the left column of the home page under “Interactive.”)