Coach Youth Soccer: 5 Ways To Make Drills Exciting
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Let’s face it! When it comes to coach youth soccer, every coach runs short of ideas on how to make practice drills interesting and enjoyable for the kids. While teaching soccer, the biggest problem is to keep coming up with new ideas so that the kids are always interested in the game.
Here are some exercises that you can teach youth soccer players. These allow them to concentrate on the game, become good at it, and at the same time, have fun with the game.
Teach the boys dribbling and shooting: This is a straight-forward drill that all the players can take part in at the same time. Ask the players to queue on a single goal line. Now, spread the balls all over the soccer field. Once done, tell the kids to play with the balls as if they are moving towards the opponent’s goal. They should shoot the ball as soon as they can.
This drill helps them build stamina, confidence, and also improves their dribbling skills. Since the kids do not have any opposition while they dribble, it also brings out their individual style.
Teach them to pass the ball: Tell the kids to position themselves at the far end of the field. Make them run to you fast as soon as you finish counting till 3. When they are running for you, they also have to capture the ball from the other player who has the possession of the ball. When you yell stop, the player in possession of the ball must pass it instantly to one of his mates.
When you coach youth soccer, these games make the kids showcase their best skills in passing and dribbling. They also learn the art of stealing the ball from other players which is very important.
Touch and Go: This is a very enjoyable game which the kids love. Make the young players stand in two queues not more than 40 feet from the goal post. Also, the goalie should defend the goalpost. You should stand someplace between the two rows.
Pass the ball to either of the queue and with only one tap teach them to shoot or pass the ball to another. The intention should be to switch the ball into goal. Once the goalie returns the ball, carry on with the practice.
If you have more than one goalkeeper in the team, keep them alternating between different sessions. This game has the dual benefit of instilling team spirit and bettering the shooting skills. The goalkeeper becomes skilled at protecting the ball from converting to a goal.
Retaining the possession of the ball: This drill helps the players learn to move forward with the ball saving it from opponents. Take two players, one acts as the defender and the other attacker. Instruct them to start moving the ball as per their roles and when a player dominates the other, reward him with a point.
These are simple techniques to coach youth soccer. You can make your kids perform these as they help them learn along with having loads of fun. Become a member of our youth soccer coaching community for more knowledge and tips on the same.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.
