I can’t say about you but for sure there are many coaches who still struggle a lot to find effective free soccer drills for their players. Actually what they are looking for are drills that can be performed by the kids all alone without any supervision.
Drills which do not require any equipment are the best pick to kick start the training program. You know why, because these soccer exercises are specifically designed to suit the player’s age , learning potential and the role he plays in the team.
There is one great drill to teach players the skill to dribble a soccer ball and at the same time, be aware of what is going on around them. This drill has been successfully used by many coaches, and I can guarantee that it is so much superior than getting your players to dribble through cones.
The players may find this particular drill rather demanding but it is this competitive nature of this drill that ensures player’s wholehearted participation in soccer practice.
I’ll guide you to conduct this drill.
Start with marking out a square of about 20 yards by 20 yards. The size of this square will vary depending on the number of players, and their age.
The number of players on each side of the square should be the same. Players, with their own ball, stand opposite to each other on the sides of the square.
When the whistle is blown, each player should dribble the ball to the opposite side and stop on it. Of all the free soccer drills, this drill coaches the players to dribble across the square with their heads up and and do not interfere in each others’ path and thats why this is effective.
When this is repeated to make the players to turn 180 degrees, it definitely adds more fun. The number of the times the players have to dribble the ball can be varying. A player is eliminated for every run and this continue until only one player is left.
Its good not to ask the players to dribble the ball but to run with the ball , when the players are only a few.
Coaching the kids of the vital techniques of ball dribbling is truly a great fun. To make the players like the training, one can mix tough and light drills in the training. It is absolutely perfect, if some are just added for fun and not directly linked to the soccer game.
The important thing is that kids shouldn’t do too much of anything in soccer coaching.
Kids learn the essentials of the game very quickly when these free soccer drills are applied in the training.
Our youth soccer coaching community is full of such wisdom in the form of articles, newsletters, and videos. Why will you not subscribe then?
About the author
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Free Soccer Drills.
Tags: Free soccer drills, soccer coaching, soccer exercises, Soccer practice