Coach Youth Soccer: Secrets Revealed
Let's face it! In order to coach youth soccer, it is always difficult to think and create new drills that are interesting as well as useful for the kids. In teaching soccer, it is a huge stress to keep innovating new tricks to make soccer drills enjoyable for kids.
Here are some exercises 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.
Engage the boys in dribbling and shooting: This is a simple practice that engages all the players. Ask the players to queue on a single goal line. Now distribute the balls all over the soccer field. Then, ask the kids to go after the balls and move as if they are attacking the opponent goal post. They should also hit the ball as soon as they get a chance.
This drill goes a long way in improving the stamina, dribbling skills, and confidence of the players. As the players do not have any opposing players, it makes them showcase their personal styles too.
Teach them to pass the ball: Tell the kids to position themselves at the far end of the field. Make them run to you fast as soon as you finish counting till 3. While they are running towards you, they also need to steal the ball from the other player who is kicking the ball. When you yell stop, the player in possession of the ball must pass it instantly to one of his mates.
When you coach youth soccer, these games make the kids showcase their best skills in passing and dribbling. In this way, the art of gabbing the ball from other players is also learnt by them.
Touch and Go: This is a very enjoyable game which the kids love. Make the young players stand in two queues not more than 40 feet from the goal post. Also, the goalie should defend the goalpost. Place yourself somewhere between the two queues.
Now pass the ball to one of the queues and instruct them to shoot or pass the ball using only one touch. The idea is to translate the ball into a goal. Once the goalie returns the ball, carry on with the practice.
If you have more than one goalkeeper in the team, keep them alternating between different sessions. 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. Take two players, one acts as the defender and the other attacker. Instruct them to start moving the ball as per their roles and when a player dominates the other, reward him with 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.
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