Youth Soccer Drills

Would you be surprised if I let you know that it’s really tricky for the young players to kick the ball with a straight leg? Both coach and the kids feel that this is by far the greatest trouble in way of coaching soccer drills. It calls for the player to keep complete balance and bend the leg at the knee in order to kick the ball. Both poise and power to kick the ball comes from below the knee.

This is the starting point for almost all styles of kicks in soccer practice. The rushing of the foot from below the knee creates an immense impact on the ball. The players get immense power from this to perform several styles of kicks. Nevertheless, it depends upon the type of contact that the ball has with the foot which concludes the kick’s style.

For example; it could be hit very high, driven low, swung over left, or lean towards right.

In soccer, the three critical passes are the instep drive, a side foot pass, and the outside of the foot pass. Let’s talk about them further.

Soccer Coaching

The side foot pass: In teaching soccer, this pass is considered as the most extensively used and the simplest. This is usually employed to make short distance passes. Although this pass is slightly slow and almost predictable, it’s very simple to teach the kids and perform accurately. The ball touches the inside of the foot and the ankle with the foot turned outwards.

In coaching soccer drills, guide the players to keep their bodies totally relaxed throughout the entire movement. This is the most basic rule with all types of kicking actions. Players should strengthen the ankle and the foot only at the time of making contact with the ball.

After the players are confident in it’s execution, their action should appear comfortable, smooth, and natural.

Outside of the foot pass: Since this pass can never be predicted, is pretty accurate and quick, players must be trained on this even though it’s a little tough to master. A contact is made with the ball between the laces and outside edge of the foot with the foot extended and turned inward. With the use of a foot, the pass is transformed into a speedy throw for short distances.

During all these coaching drills, the body posture should be relaxed.

The Instep Drive: Both the lofted version and the low driven version of the instep drive are used to pass the ball over longer distances. Once the players are confident in executing it, make a “chip pass” or an “in swinging pass” by introducing some changes in it. The approach of the instep drive is slightly angled and the non kicking foot is placed about 12 inches to the side of and behind the ball.

The contact with the ball is made between the laces and the inside of the foot and it should be stiff and extended.

So, go ahead and teach your players these basic kicking techniques with variations to make the ball do slightly different things.

If you would like to enhance your knowledge on coaching soccer drills for kids, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community that has a huge amount of information in form of articles, newsletters and videos.

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 is well known that in coaching soccer drills, every skill and teamwork imparted to the players has only 1 objective; to shoot the goal. It is both a matter of skill and intuition to cultivate the art of shooting. But other than this, winning attitude is also equally important.

It is the responsibility of every player but more importantly that of the forward players to shoot the ball. When you are teaching soccer, give shooting top priority.

So many things may come out of a shoot. Shots can be converted into goals. It is a possibility that the goalkeeper may very well drop the ball at the foot of your forward player. Directionless shots can become beautiful passes. Ground shots may bounce back. You can even score a goal by a straight shot.

When in soccer practice, attacking players are always looking for a chance to shoot the ball right into the goal. They are trained in a way that they think of nothing else but scoring goals. These attacking players are referred to as sniffers in England. This is due to the fact that they are always on the lookout for scoring chances.

Soccer Coaching

They take every chance for a shot as if it is the last chance that they’ll ever get. You’ll always find them at the right place at the right time. Amazingly, they have the ability to be in the wrong place at the right time. So, in coaching soccer drills motivate the players to kick the ball whenever they can.

In most cases, when the ball is knocked with a view to get it through the goalpost, it is termed as a shot. One of the most effective techniques of driving the ball is through its middle with the help of laces of the foot. To carry this out, the player should have his head over the ball, his toe should be extended, and his upper body should keep steady.

The players should be taught in coaching drills to shoot the ball low and wide of the goalie. Here, low ground shots are preferred over high shots. This happens due to the fact that goalies have to stop the low ground shots by stretching their hands a lot more in comparison to high shots, thus making it difficult.

Young players while practicing inside regulation sized goals, tend to score more by kicking the ball over the head of the goalkeeper. This must be discouraged otherwise players form the habit of shooting very high goals. In coaching soccer drills, don’t allow the kids to play in adult sized goals to stop this practice.

So now go teach you kids to become master shooters when it comes to scoring goals by checking the goalie’s position once before they are ready to shoot.

You can lay your hands on loads of relevant information pertaining to coaching young players in form of newsletters, articles, and videos by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community.

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: Youth Soccer Drills.

If you think the way I do, I’m sure you’ll agree that in coaching soccer drills, zeroing down the best method to organize conditioning programs is by far the most difficult part. This is because in the past few years, the distinction between educating the players and coaching them has diminished.

I’m sorry to say that even today, there are many coaches who fail to recognize the importance of designing player specific coaching plans in teaching soccer. At the same time, they should focus not only on professionally coaching the kids but also educating them. In certain situations, it has been observed that this educational side in soccer takes a backseat.

Yet, there is just one code that must be adhered to while determining the coaching drills for the kids. A player should first grow as an individual before he grows and becomes a prominent soccer player of great repute. Therefore, the coach should act strictly as pre the above mentioned principle.

What motivates a player to take on the role of a coach is very simple to work out.
His desire to remain associated with the game even after his days as a team player are over. This is the reason that a lot of soccer players end up as soccer coaches. However, what they don’t understand is the seriousness that this role requires.

Soccer Coaching

It is considered by some as the first step that’ll take them towards the prospects of coaching adult players. Some others decide to take up this role due to their love towards the sport and an intention to instill the same passion in the kids. Theses reasons are both suitable as well as acceptable. But at the same time, the person should also be aware of the moral responsibility that his choice implies.

When it comes to coaching soccer drills, communication is the key concept and unfortunately, it is still very difficult for people to accept. The absolute qualification of a youth soccer coach is not necessarily his successful career as a brilliant player consecutively for some good number of years.

To become a youth soccer coach, the goals that one needs to set for himself are well defined. It’s a capable and an expert coach who alone can cheer his players to fall in love with soccer so much so that they begin to experience it as an upbeat and a stimulating practice. As a coach, make sure that during the soccer practice, players feel comfortable in openly expressing themselves by way of the game.

In a team, different players have their different styles of playing and a varying potential. It is not important whether each of them has great potential and skills of a winner or not. What is actually important is that each player ultimately reaches his own potential.

It is therefore of great importance for us to realize that only brilliant players having successful careers make excellent and expert coaches. He should have a special bent for working with young players; an innate gift for human contact and emotional relationships.

Some food for thought; you should seriously consider what truly motivates you as it is a major requirement in this context.

You can lay your hands on loads of relevant information pertaining to coaching soccer drills in form of newsletters, articles, and videos by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community.

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.

Before you get on with coaching soccer drills to kids, let me share with you some teaching ideas that are sure to help you, whether you agree or not. In your soccer practice, identify one goal that is common to both the team and the coach for example; to have a lot of fun while playing the game.

At this time, it’s essential to follow your goal and not feel distracted by other things. I therefore recommend that you decide on more specific objectives for yourself and your soccer team. For example; develop a sense of team spirit and a sporting attitude in your players, help them identify their individual soccer skills, and emphasize on improving their physical fitness.

Since you are the coach, you only are responsible for setting high standards of sportsmanship for players. Support them in developing a sporting attitude, a feeling of team spirit, and an attitude of fair play. There are several objectives important in teaching soccer that can be incorporated in your list along with these.

In coaching youth soccer, winning is also an important concept that should be paid due attention. Infuse an open concept of winning in your player’s minds when you are coaching them. Make them understand that so long as their play is up to the mark, they are the winners, irrespective of the final outcome.

Soccer Coaching

The players as a result will feel totally relaxed but much more responsible to play the game sensibly with the team’s objectives in their mind.

When coaching soccer drills, always keep in mind the importance of giving clear and correct instructions if they are to be helpful. Before you start coaching your team, educate your players on some specific do’s and don’ts in the game of soccer. The dissimilarity between coaching and teaching lies in the fact that coaching is concerned with a group of players who are already familiar with the game to a certain extent.

In coaching drills, it’s best to give the players 5 or 6 fine demonstrations of some specific skill and then let them perform it themselves. This is because young players generally do not respond to oral instructions very well. If you try to explain everything as a lecture, they may not get it. Instead, they take demonstrations more enthusiastically.

Therefore, consider giving demonstrations wherever you can.

In the end, but still important is to keep the kids involved in several activities. This is all the more important when it rains or the weather is extremely cold. It’s a fact that all kids love to play in the rain. Therefore, in place of cancelling the training session, rearrange it in a way that the players make the most of their energy and time.

Just be sure that the kids have additional layer of clothing and proper shoes in situations like these.

Now get out there and start incorporating these teaching suggestions into your practice sessions. The results will make you happy.

To know more about coaching soccer drills, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community that offers effective and practical knowledge to help you excel in your career as a soccer coach.

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: Coaching soccer drills.