Let’s face it! In order to coach youth soccer, it is always difficult to think and create new drills that are interesting as well as useful for the kids. In teaching soccer, the biggest difficulty is to keep thinking about new ideas that make the training for kids interesting.
Here are some exercises that you can teach youth soccer players. These drills help the kids focus on the game, get good at soccer, and enjoy it to the core.
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, scatter a lot of balls all over the field. Then, make the kids move with the ball as if they are attacking the opponent’s goal. They should also shoot the ball as soon as they have an opportunity.
This workout helps the kids build their stamina, confidence and also improves their dribbling skills. As the players do not have any resistance, they move forward without any inhibitions and this brings out their unique style.
Understanding to pass the ball: Instruct the players to make a line at a distant corner of the field. Start counting till 3 and when you finish, order them to run to you as fast as they can. 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 shout stop, the ball must be passed by the player who has it to someone else.
When you coach youth soccer, these drills bring out the best in kids when it comes to passing and dribbling. This way, the players also learn a very important skill of snatching the ball from other players.
Touch and Go: This is a very enjoyable game which the kids love. In this game, tell them to make two lines at a distance of less than 40 feet from the goal post. And in addition to this, the goalie should guard the goalpost. Situate yourself in between these two queues.
You pass the ball to one line and subsequently coach them to shoot or pass the ball with one stroke only. The objective should be to attack the goal. The goalkeeper must then return the ball and the practice continues.
In case of two or more than two goalies in team, they should be rotated between practice sessions. This game involves team effort and also improves the shooting skills. The goalie also gets to learn the art of keeping the ball away from goalpost.
Retaining the possession of the ball: This drill helps the players learn to move forward with the ball saving it from opponents. Play with two people where one becomes the attacker and another, the protector. Instruct them to start moving the ball as per their roles and when a player dominates the other, reward him with a point.
These happen to be the simplest methods to coach youth soccer. Your kids can put these into practice since they entertain your kids in addition to helping them learn. If you would like more such tips and know about drills, join our youth soccer coaching community.
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.