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? In coaching soccer drills, this is by far the biggest problem that a coach and the players face. The player is required to maintain absolute balance and the leg with which ball is to be kicked at is bent at the knee. Both power and stance to kick the ball emerges 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. This offers great amount of power to players for carrying out different types 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 thumped very high, driven low, turn sharply to the left, or move to the right.

There are three basic passes in soccer namely, a side foot pass, the outside of the foot pass, and the instep drive. Let’s discuss them further.

Soccer Coaching

The side foot pass: In teaching soccer, this is the most widely used and the simplest pass. This is by and large applied to make short distance passes. Despite the fact that this is somewhat slow and predictable, it’s easy to learn and simple to execute. 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. Teach the players to stiffen their ankle and the foot only when they need to get into contact with the ball.

The moment players feel confident about carrying out this task well; their action should seem relaxed, simple, as well as smooth.

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. The ball gets into contact between the outside edge of the foot and the laces with the foot turned inward and extended. 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 versions of instep drive i.e. the low driven version and the lofted version are brought into play 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 forward and make the kids try different things with the ball by teaching them the basic kicking techniques as well its variations.

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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 takes both skill and instinct to develop the art of good shooting. But there is something more that is equally important and that is a persuasive attitude.

Even though, all players must do this but it is more onto 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 positioned towards a goal. It is a possibility that the goalkeeper may very well drop the ball at the foot of your forward player. Rowdy shots can turn into accurate passes. Ground shots can get a timely rebound. You might even score a goal directly from the shot.

During the soccer practice, attacking players are always on a lookout to shoot the ball into the goal at every possible opportunity. They are accustomed to think only about scoring a goal when in the field. These attacking players are known 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. They always make the most of every situation even if it is not favorable. Therefore, in coaching soccer drills you must ask the players to hit the ball at every opportunity.

In most cases, when the ball is knocked with a view to get it through the goalpost, it is termed as a shot. But the most successful technique to drive the ball is striking it through the middle by using the 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. In such a scenario, high shots are less preferred that low ground 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. This practice can be put to stop in coaching soccer drills by not allowing players to adult sized goals.

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.

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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. The reason I say this is because in the last few years, the fine line between coaching and educating has gradually dissolved.

Sadly, in teaching soccer, a majority of the coaches still don’t realize that it’s pertinent to devise the coaching plans as per the needs of the players. They should make an effort to develop them professionally together with educating them on the game. 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. Any player who wishes to become a great soccer player of huge prominence should first attempt to grow as an individual. Therefore, the coach should act strictly as pre the above mentioned principle.

If we try to figure out something that cheers a former player to become a coach is pretty easy.
Once his playing days are over, he desires to remain involved in the world of soccer. As a result, many successful players become soccer coaches. But they fail to seriously consider the nature of this job.

Soccer Coaching

Majority of them attempt to get inside the arena of coaching adult players by becoming kid’s coach initially. Some look at this opportunity as a way to be able to share their passion for the game of soccer with the budding players. 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 fact that someone has been a successful soccer player for a long time and has countless achievements does not hold well when it comes to being a successful coach.

There are a few standards that a youth soccer coach is expected to not only set but also meet. 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. The players should be able to express themselves openly at any time during the soccer practice and it’s for the coach to ensure.

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 most important is that every single player must be able to reach his own ability ultimately.

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.

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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. Let’s say that the soccer practice has one broad goal for both the coach and the player and it is to have fun while participating in the practice sessions.

Herein, you must remain careful otherwise you’ll not be able to follow the fun part. For this reason, I suggest that your goals should be as precise as possible both for your own good and for the good of your 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. Cheer them to have an attitude of fair play, sportsmanship, and team spirit. There are several objectives important in teaching soccer that can be incorporated in your list along with these.

One more concept that needs to be highlighted in youth soccer coaching is the notion of winning the match. When you coach your kids, you must instill an open concept of winning in their minds. Teach them that as long as their performance is out of ordinary on the field, they are winners, no matter what the final result.

Soccer Coaching

This will take away the pressure off the kids and they’ll focus more on playing their best game rather than just winning it.

Coaching soccer drills requires you to give clear and precise instructions to your team so that they get the desired results. There are some clear dos and don’ts in soccer on which the players must be taught before you go ahead with your coaching sessions. 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 decide to give them plain instructions, they will not appreciate it very much. Relatively, they imitate perfectly.

Therefore, consider giving demonstrations wherever you can.

Lastly, but still no less in importance is to keep the kids engaged in meaningful 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. Hence, instead of simply cancelling the session, it makes more sense to have them play soccer games or something like that.

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.

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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.