Soccer Practice – 8 Things You Must Know
by S.G.R.BPractice makes a man perfect is a phrase that we use very sparingly. I’m not sure about others, but it’s certainly true for soccer practice sessions. The kids look forward to getting to the field each day with an intention to learn something new. Still, it’s necessary for the kids in soccer training to continue practicing the old techniques taught by you on a daily basis.
So here the difficult part for you is to ensure that kids don’t get bored practicing the same drills day in and day out. To aid you in carrying out practice sessions in a way that’s motivating, regular, and closely controlled; following are some tips.
1. Do I need to emphasize this more? Kids will learn from you and hence you should be a role model. Get to the filed on time, expose them to your talent, let everyone take part in drills, and arrange the sessions properly. This has the effect of winning over the player’s confidence and respect.
2. The kids should be instructed to get to the field everyday with their own ball. Every kid is necessarily required to have a soccer ball. But have a few extra balls ready in case the kids forget to carry theirs.
3. There are certain soccer moves that need to be practiced on a daily basis. Kicking, passing, dribbling, and throw-ins account for some basic elements in soccer practice. It’s imperative for the kids to practice these daily without fail. Initially, few of the kids might not want to take part in these but you must ensure that everyone pitches in.
4. Introduce more games than soccer drills in practice sessions. The major reason is that games call for a lot more strength and judgment when compared with drills. Plus, it becomes easier to try out new things as well as concentrate on soccer with games.
5. Discipline is the key to success for any team. With kids, it is almost certain that you will have issues. It is mandatory to correct all instances of indiscipline irrespective of their scale. But do it prudently and with the fact in mind that kids need special counseling.
6. While the session is on, you will note that some players do not run with the ball while others do. Make sure that this is not the case. All the young players should involve themselves in the game. Teach the players about which positions they should hold and how they can make the best use of those positions.
7. Do not make them scrimmage a lot. Ideally, it should not be more than 15 to 20 minutes at the end of each session. And do not work with a goalie while scrimmaging. This will ensure that kids become good at defense.
8. Keep innovating and experimenting with games and drills. This is the most recommended way of keeping the students interested in the training sessions.
Now, implement these tips in your soccer practice sessions. In a short time, you will see your kids improving in every department. There are tremendous resources on youth soccer in our youth soccer coaching community. Register today and see your team’s performances get better with every training session.
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: Youth Soccer Drills.