There’s a simple method for explaining soccer practice; no rules to follow. You are free to test new drills, come up with innovative ideas to create drills and so on. Along with this, remain alert of every small thing happening around you to identify such practices that can be changed to match your schedule. These are some tips that can be helpful in conducting a fruitful soccer training calendar.
Create plans that are flexible. It’s not surprising that every plan might not give expected results. It could be due to untimely rains, you being unwell, or the kids not showing up. So be ready to face these situations with full force since they have the capacity to ruin your plans.
It’s best to keep in stock a number of soccer practice games ready. In case some of them don’t generate desired results, just remove them and move on to next. Involve yourself in the training with an open mind to find out activities that kids can easily relate with.
Have the kids do a warm up round before the session. Make soccer ball an added feature in the usual warm up drills that kids practice on a daily basis. Include games such as Fetch and a few other training exercises. It’s a game wherein the coach begins with throwing the ball to the player and gets it in return by the player using one or both the feet.
Along with this, the kids can also be made to roll the ball using their feet, kick it backward and forward among the feet. Players use many such soccer drills to warm themselves up.
Make sure every player has a separate soccer ball that belongs to him. And in such a scenario, create many individual activities for players that include use the ball. The players must practice dribbling, hitting the ball to the wall, shooting and so on. Make sure no lines are added and keep your movement as free as possible.
In soccer coaching, group activities should happen after the individual activities are done with. Passing and receiving the ball are good drills to practice. In group activities, it’s imperative for the kids to show some team spirit. Generally, while transitioning into group from individual, the players take time to get familiar with idea of team play. You‘ve got be the guiding light here for the team. Stress on the fact that it’s each other’s support in the team that will help win matches.
And also the weak team players should be appropriately guided to play as a team. Activities like these promote team spirit and brotherhood.
Allow the kids to play in teams, the game of soccer not including a goalkeeper. Have them hit the goals and do not set boundaries for this game. Teach them to first attack the opposition and then defend their goal. All this gives them a free hand in developing their own style.
This is an effortless way of managing a soccer practice. Just let yourself free and create whatever you think will help the kids learn. There is nothing like a right or wrong drill. The only thing to remember is to be flexible. Our youth soccer coaching community has wealth of resources on youth soccer that will help you make the most of training sessions.
Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Soccer practice.
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