French coach Baptiste Rouault spent four seasons at Quevilly Rouen Métropole (league National 1), including three as the lead of the U7 category. Reflecting on his experience, the young coach shares an important takeaway: "It's a very interesting age group, but one that's often overlooked. In some clubs, people still see it as a daycare for kids with their first soccer license." At QRM, Rouault consistently aimed to move away from this perception and the stereotype of "the "joystick coach" who focuses solely on team play or results without considering the children's development". This is the key message Baptiste wants to convey: "I believe that for U7s, the coach must be a creator of situations, listening to the kids and providing a competitive environment where they can express themselves. Some kids will shoot too much, others will dribble too much, but even if it takes time, you have to let them make mistakes. That’s how they build confidence and develop their skills."
Brief
French coach Baptiste Rouault spent four seasons with Quevilly Rouen Métropole, including three as head of the U7s / ©QRM