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. The biggest challenge in teaching soccer is being creative enough to come up with great ideas so that the interest of the kids is sustained in the game.
Read through some tips below that you can teach youth soccer players. These drills help the kids focus on the game, get good at soccer, and enjoy it to the core.
Employ the players to do dribbling and shooting: This is an easy drill that helps all the players practice at the same time. Ask the players to queue on a single goal line. Now distribute the balls all over the soccer field. Once done, tell the kids to play with the balls as if they are moving towards the opponent’s goal. They should also shoot the ball as soon as they have an opportunity.
This workout helps the kids build their stamina, confidence and also improves their dribbling skills. As the players do not have any resistance, they move forward without any inhibitions and this brings out their unique style.
Passing the Ball: In this game, make the kids stand in a queue at a distant corner of the field. Tell them to run towards you as fast as possible as soon as you have finished 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 shout stop, the ball must be passed by the player who has it to someone else.
In order to coach youth soccer, these games help the kids display their abilities in passing and dribbling. They also learn the art of stealing the ball from other players which is very important.
Touch and Go: It’s a very interesting game which kids love to play. The kids should get in two lines distant from the goal post which is less than 40 meters away. And in addition to this, the goalie should guard the goalpost. 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 purpose must be to convert it into a goal. Once the goalie returns the ball, carry on with the practice.
Swap your goalies in between the practice meetings if there are more than two goalkeepers. This sport enables players to perk up their shooting skills through team effort. The game also provides the opportunity to learn the skill of saving the ball from getting to goalpost.
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. Guide them to play their respective roles and win points every time any player wins over the other.
These are the easiest ways to coach youth soccer. You can make your kids perform these as they help them learn along with having loads of fun. If you would like more such tips and know about drills, join 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.
Tags: coach youth soccer, coaching youth soccer, soccer coach jobs, soccer coaches, soccer coaching, soccer coaching drills, soccer coaching jobs, soccer drills coaching, teach youth soccer, teaching soccer