If you are like me, you probably understand the importance of incorporating free soccer training drills that teach every player in your team to throw the ball in. In performing youth soccer drills, nearly 70 per cent of throw-ins are foul throws and the other team gets the possession of the ball.
It is therefore imperative that every player in your team must be prepared to carry out a proper throw-in and get the ball into play almost instantly. By catching the defense unexpectedly through a sudden restart the chances of keeping hold of the ball increases highly.
The requirements to teach the players to acquire the ball back in to play quickly are only certain moves and actions performed correctly at the U-10 level and below.
While performing free soccer training drills, some soccer coaches tend to rely only on one or two players to take all throw-ins. These players are tagged as designated throwers. Obviously the designated thrower is the most exhausted player in the game. He is supposed to run up and down the sideline and also across the ground, to make a simple throw in.
Here again I would reiterate the fact that each and every player in the team should be allowed to throw the ball in. Often, when the ball goes out of the boundary, a quick step forward can help it come back in to play, but the coaches do not allow this to happen. Then when that player complains, he/she is told that he/she is not a mid-fielder and the mid fielders are the only ones who are allowed to make the throws.
In coaching drills make sure that all the players are encouraged to reach the ball whenever possible. This quick move, apart from giving a chance to score, also has long term impressions which are far beyond the win-lose theory. When we talk about young players, the game takes almost an hour before it’s over. Hence not too much of the time should go in placing the ball back into the play.
Soccer coaches play a vital role developing strategic awareness among the players, by stressing upon quick throws as compared to those who don’t. In football dills, as the usual defending against the unexpected restarts would not be practical for teams who defend against designated throwers, the defendant team has about 20 to 30 seconds to get back behind the ball.
Proper time should be given to players if the coaches sincerely want their young players to perform at a higher level. It is essential that all the beginners learn the technique of throwing-in the ball properly; and after that it could be reverted back to the ground for the kids to carry on the game.
Make no mistake about it; since skills, knowledge of the game, and stamina are limited at the lower age groups, during free soccer training drills, a coach should never ask the young players to do the impossible. You can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community for more such resources and articles, periodic newsletters, and videos to help coach young players.
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Tags: coaching drills, football drills, Free soccer training drills, soccer drills