Let’s face it! When you coach youth soccer, it becomes a challenge to come up with challenging and interesting drills for the kids. In teaching soccer, it is a huge stress to keep innovating new tricks to make soccer drills enjoyable for kids.
What follow are some drills that you can teach youth soccer players. These help them play the game well and have fun at the same time.
Engage the boys in dribbling and shooting: This is a simple practice that engages all the players. Have the kid’s line up on the single goal line. Now, spread the balls all over the soccer field. Once done, tell the kids to play with the balls as if they are moving towards the opponent’s goal. They should also shoot the ball as soon as they have an opportunity.
This drill helps them build stamina, confidence, and also improves their dribbling skills. As the kids do not face any opposition while moving forward, it reflects their style of playing soccer.
Passing the Ball: In this game, make the kids stand in a queue 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. Ask the player running towards you to try to take the possession of the ball from the player who has it. 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: It’s a very interesting game which kids love to play. In this game, tell them to make two lines at a distance of less than 40 feet from the goal post. Moreover, it’s the goalie who should protect the goalpost. Position yourself anywhere amongst the two lines.
Pass the ball to either of the queue and with only one tap teach them to shoot or pass the ball to another. The intention should be to switch the ball into goal. Continue practicing the game after the goalie has returned the ball.
Swap your goalies in between the practice meetings if there are more than two goalkeepers. This game has the dual benefit of instilling team spirit and bettering the shooting skills. The goalkeeper becomes skilled at protecting the ball from converting to a goal.
Keeping the control of the ball: This exercise allows the players to learn to advance with the ball while retaining its control. Engage two players, one protecting the ball and the other attacking it. Guide them to play their respective roles and win points every time any player wins over the other.
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.
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