Let this be known! When you coach youth soccer, it becomes a challenge to come up with challenging and interesting drills 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 help them play the game well and have fun at the same time.
Teach the boys dribbling and shooting: This is a straight-forward drill that all the players can take part in at the same time. Make the players stand on a single goal line. Now, spread the balls all over the soccer field. Then, make the kids move with the ball as if they are attacking the opponent’s goal. They should also hit the ball as soon as they get a chance.
This exercise does a lot of good to the energy level, and confidence of the players and at the same time perks their dribbling skills. Since the kids do not have any opposition while they dribble, it also brings out their individual style.
Understanding to pass the ball: Instruct the players to make a line at a distant corner of the field. Count till 3 and as soon as you finish, instruct them to run towards you as fast as they can. 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 drills bring out the best in kids when it comes to passing and dribbling. This way, the players also learn a very important skill of snatching the ball from other players.
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. Besides, the goalpost should be defended by the goalie. 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 objective should be to attack the goal. The goalkeeper must then return the ball and the practice continues.
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 game also provides the opportunity to learn the skill of saving the ball from getting to goalpost.
Retaining the possession of the ball: This drill helps the players learn to move forward with the ball saving it from opponents. 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 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