Youth Soccer Drills

It’s not wrong that in kids soccer drills, coaches are very much responsible for the downfall of the players as a team because of some errors. Yes, it is true. Most of you might wonder as to what can be so big that puts the team on a loosing streak. Well, let it be known that there are many.

To take steps pertaining to soccer drills for kids, be very alert and calculative. It’s very important for you know the kid’s psychology. Speak with them in a language that they can understand well. But sadly, most coaches are not ready to adapt to this. They fail to realize that there is a distinction in coaching kids and coaching grown-up players.

So this is it; let me share some blunders that coaches make which reduce their teams to rubble.

1. To many coaches, their job appears to be very simple. They don’t arrange the drills, refuse to plan their sessions, and are always late in getting to the field. Such behavior is bad and also has the potential to sadden the kids. Kids tend to be very serious about soccer and you should too. Youth soccer drills should be pre-planned. If you need certain equipment to carry out the drills, arrange it before hand.

Youth Soccer Drills

Don’t be late. Make it a point to reach the field earlier than the kids. In fact, you should be on the track before the kids arrive. This will also give you some time to rehearse the drills or arrange for things.

2. When the coaches are instructing before the kids soccer drills, it is normal for them to take a long time. Can you believe how boring that can be? Understand that kids come to play soccer, not to hear your long lectures. Keep your words of wisdom brief and straight forward. Use this opportunity to talk to the kids about the strategy and styles that the kids should learn.

Also, do not interrupt the kids when they are playing. If you have observed anything that needs to be corrected, note it and discuss it after the drill. Also, you should be outside the field when the kids are enjoying the game.

3. Some coaches use harsh and offensive language with the kids. In soccer drills for youth, both the traits are self-destructive. It may spell disaster for you if you get carried away by emotions on the field. It is natural for the kids to make errors on the field. Remember, they are just kids. You do not need to take this to heart and get harsh with the players.

If you do, understand that you not only make the kids lose interest in the sport but also invite disciplinary action. Soccer is played in the mind more than from the body. Make the kids realize this and you would have motivated them.

Stay away from these issues in kids soccer drills. If you would like to know more about what the positive and negative traits of a coach are, join our youth soccer coaching community. This will dramatically improve your knowledge and skills.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn  how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Training Drills.

It’s sad to know that people fail to appreciate the importance of warming up in kids soccer drills. It is something that being a coach, I would want to stress that warming up is obligatory and an important practice to lead the team towards a better start of the day. In youth soccer drills, coaches fail to take this aspect into consideration. This has a direct affect on the health of players in form of injuries while practicing.

In this article, you’ll find some useful tips on warming up the players. Train the team to use the body movements in a way that all the muscles get worked up. This is by far the best way to activate all the body parts. Doing things fast can lead to cramps or stiffness in the muscles.

Tip 1: In this make the players go for a light 5 to 7 minute jog. It’s advisable to begin with a light jog and then move on to sprinting.
This must increase the pulse rate to at least 120 beats per minute. But, slow improvement is better. Then make them swing their legs forward cross-body for about 10 times each. Finally, over 20 yards, make them stretch actively.

Tip 2: When we talk about this active stretching over 20 yards, a few warm up exercises of its own must go along with it. For instance, the players should practice hopping forward and backward. You can also teach them cross stepping. High-knee carioca can also be taught to players. These must be carried out just like sprinting.

Youth Soccer Drills

Running towards the back also accounts a very efficient warm up drill in soccer drills for kids. Yet, the correct method of doing it is to rise up the heels to the butt. No doubt, it is a little difficult to practice it this way but there’s no other way of correctly doing it.

Tip 3: There are various other warm up drills in kids soccer drills that build up the energy for practice sessions. The players can be taught to hop with swings and loops. These give an extra dimension to the skipping exercises. You can also make them cross-over skip. Quick Hip Swings is somewhat difficult to practice but it highly useful and a tried and tested technique to warm up the body.

Subsequently the players can be made to do long shuffle with spins midway. Tell the players to practice backward and forward leg swings. It’s a very efficient activity and helps in toning the body. High leg forwards and backward is just as efficient in toning the body.

Tip 4: Stretching should be carried out properly and sufficiently. For the legs, stretch hinging works the best. Guarantee that all kids work out their hamstring, groin, calf muscles, and quadriceps without missing any of these. Stretching has the benefit of preventing injury along with increasing the muscle range.

Also ensure that in soccer drills for youth, kids are discouraged from overdoing anything. They tend to get carried over by enthusiasm and injure themselves unnecessarily.

In kids soccer drills, you have to guarantee that kids attend the warm up sessions before the drills as you are now equipped with all the necessary information. There is a wealth of news and articles of similar nature on our youth soccer coaching community. Sign up now to benefit from it.

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: Youth Soccer Drills.