Here’s a really simple way to explain soccer practice; there is no set rule. You have the option to create drills based on your imagination and experience. It is also a good idea to keep your eyes and ears open to look for ready made practices and modify them for your own use. There are tips that can be real helpful in carrying out a plentiful soccer training timetable.
Formulate flexible plans. It’s not surprising that every plan might not give expected results. It might start raining, you may not be well, or kids may fail to come. Therefore, equip yourself with requisite tools to save your day’s plan as they may serve as barriers.
It is a good idea to have several soccer practice games ready. In case some of them don’t generate desired results, just remove them and move on to next. Involve yourself in the training with an open mind to find out activities that kids can easily relate with.
Tell the kids to warm up ahead of every session. Include the soccer ball in the warm up drills, in addition to the regular warm up drills. Include games such as Fetch and a few other training exercises. It’s a game wherein the coach begins with throwing the ball to the player and gets it in return by the player using one or both the feet.
Also, guide the players to roll the ball with the feet, kick the ball from side to side amid the feet and like that. There are loads of soccer drills like this that players use to warm up.
Every player needs to have soccer ball for himself. And when that is the case, design several individual activities that they can do using the ball. They should practice, shooting, dribbling, hitting the ball to the wall etc. Your movement should be free as much as possible and don’t include any lines.
In soccer coaching, group activities should happen after the individual activities are done with. There are two amazing drills for practicing; passing and receiving the ball. In group activities, it’s imperative for the kids to show some team spirit. Normally, in a transition from individual to group, the kids take time adjusting to the concept of team play. You should be the mentor here for the team. Lay emphasis on supporting each other in team for winning matches.
And also the weak team players should be appropriately guided to play as a team. These activities can be used to cheer a feeling of belongingness in the team.
The kids should be made to play soccer without a goalie and in teams. Tell them to shoot at the goals without any inhibitions. Teach them to first attack the opposition and then defend their goal. This helps them do their own thing and in the process develop something new.
This is the most straightforward method of conducting soccer practice. Just let go of your creativity and design methods that teach kids soccer in a natural way. There is no correct or incorrect drill as such. The only thing to remember is to be flexible. For more such tips and tricks, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community that has abundance of soccer coaching resources.
Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Soccer practice.
