Let's face it! When it comes to coach youth soccer, every coach runs short of ideas on how to make practice drills interesting and enjoyable for the kids. While teaching soccer, the biggest problem is to keep coming up with new ideas so that the kids are always interested in the game.
What follow are some drills that you can teach youth soccer players. These allow them to concentrate on the game, become good at it, and at the same time, have fun with the game.
Teach the boys dribbling and shooting: This is a straight-forward drill that all the players can take part in at the same time. Have the kid’s line up on the single goal line. Now, disperse the balls all over the ground. Then, tell the kids to move with the ball towards the opposition’s goal in an attacking position. 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. Since the kids do not have any opposition while they dribble, it also brings out their individual style.
Teach them to pass the ball: Tell the kids to position themselves at the far end of the field. Start counting till 3 and when you finish, order them to run to you as fast as they can. While they are running towards you, they also need to steal the ball from the other player who is kicking the ball. When you say Stop, the player who was kicking the ball must pass to one of the teammates.
To coach youth soccer, these drills are the best tools to teach the kids passing and dribbling. In this way, the art of gabbing the ball from other players is also learnt by them.
Touch and Go: A game full of fun that kids just love to play it. It requires the kids to stand in two rows under 40 meters away from the position of the goal. Besides, the goalpost should be defended by the goalie. Situate yourself in between these two queues.
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. 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 sport encourages team effort and helps improve shooting skills. The goalkeeper becomes skilled at protecting the ball from converting to a goal.
Maintaining the custody of the ball: The players will learn the art to proceed with the ball without losing its possession. Play with two people where one becomes the attacker and another, the protector. Now let them both play their roles in the field and the one who succeeds to take over another wins a point.
These are simple techniques to coach youth soccer. Make your kids practice them and you will help them learn and have fun at the same time. If you’re interested in knowing more about such tips, be a part of 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.
