It is true that there are many coaches who struggle a lot to find effective and free soccer drills for their players. It basically means that they are looking for such drills that the kids can perform all by themselves by just using the ball.
Using soccer drills that don’t need any equipment are a great way to kick start the training sessions. This is because soccer exercises like these can be designed to suit the player’s age, learning potential, and the skills specific to his role in the team.
The great drill to teach the players is to dribble a soccer ball and at the same time, be conscious 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.
Let me tell you how to organize this drill.
Mark a square of about 20 yards by 20 yards. The square’s size depends on the number of players and their age.
The same number of players should be positioned evenly alongside the square. Players, with their own ball, stand opposite to each other on the sides of the square.
As soon as the coach whistles, each player will dribble the ball to the opposite side and stop on the line opposite to them. This is better than the rest of the free soccer drills because this coaches the players to dribble across the square with their heads up and at the same time not disturbing the other player’s movement in the square.
When this is repeated to make the players to turn 180 degrees, it definitely adds more fun. Across the square, for every run, the players vary the number of times they dribble the ball. At end of every run, a player is eliminated and this continues until only one player is left.
In addition, when the number of players are few, one can make the players run with the ball and not to dribble it.
The coach can have great fun with this drill and simultaneously teach the kids many important techniques of dribbling with the ball. One way of making soccer drills interesting is mixing a whole lot of them; some tough and some light. And it is okay if some are not directly related to soccer and are only meant to have fun.
It is important in soccer coaching that kids shouldn’t do too much of anything.
When these free soccer drills are applied in your training programs, you make the kids to learn the essentials of the game quickly.
Also, our youth soccer coaching community is full of such knowledge in the form of articles, newsletters, videos etc. Become a member today and get the leading edge.
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