Would you answer this simple question? Almost all soccer coaches tend to ignore the soccer training tips while designing training programs for kids with the intent of just making up the numbers and going through the motions. Are you doing the same thing?
Before you design your next training programs, make sure you set some specific goals for your team. Decide on what you wish to achieve from the training program and then take all steps necessary to realize your goals.
Include new, innovative, and exciting soccer drills in the training programs to introduce variety. It will allow the players to try something new instead to repeatedly doing the same drills every day. Once the kids enjoy participating in the training sessions, their performance will improve drastically.
Make your players understand the value of respecting and listening to you, their coach, no matter what their age or level at which they play. Mutual appreciation creates a friendly environment for both players and the coach.
A high level of flexibility greatly benefits every soccer player. The same is classified into 3 parts.
Dynamic flexibility: It refers to a player’s capability to perform fast movements within the full range of motion in the joint, like twisting from side to side.
Static active flexibility: It is the ability to stretch a difficult muscle using only the tension within that very muscle. For example; hold one leg as high as possible in front of you. When you do this, your hamstrings are stretched whilst the quadriceps and hip flexors hold your leg up.
Static passive: It is the ability to hold a stretch using your body weight or some other external force. For instance; hold your leg out in front of you and rest it on a chair.
Let’s now move on to the next step in following soccer training tips. This needs your attention with respect to kid’s sports gear and make sure that their attire is well suited to the weather.
Training for soccer and a fitness program should go hand in hand with a view to work upon those areas that need most help. Following are the factors that must be kept in mind when designing a training program like this.
Kid’s age: There is a direct connection between decrease in the flexibility of soft tissues and the reduced range of movement, as one grows older, notwithstanding the gender. But, if we remain active, the flexibility will always remain.
Gender: Girls are more flexible regardless of their age.
Action: Active kids are always better at performing soccer skills and exhibiting a greater range of movement that the inactive kids.
Injury: Injuries also hinder the range of motion in a joint.
Pain: Flexibility decreases as pain increases, resulting in muscle spasms. However, strength training does not hamper flexibility unless you don’t do the exercises correctly and not in full range of motion.
Heredity: How flexible is a player’s body depends upon a player’s genetics also.
So make sure you incorporate these soccer training tips into your training programs with a view to improve their effectiveness and productivity. Subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community that has tons of articles, newsletters, and related videos to improve your coaching skills.
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Drills For Kids.