You’ve probably heard it a hundred times that practice makes a man perfect. This for sure is applicable to the soccer practice sessions. The kids enter the ground everyday with a hope to try something exciting and new. Nevertheless, it’s imperative that kids practice regularly the old techniques in soccer training as well that have been taught to them.
So the challenge before you is to ensure that monotony does not set in despite the kids practicing a few identical drills everyday. To aid you in carrying out practice sessions in a way that’s motivating, regular, and closely controlled; following are some tips.
1. Does this need more emphasis? Since kids follow their coach, you must act as their mentor. Get to the filed on time, expose them to your talent, let everyone take part in drills, and arrange the sessions properly. This way you can get the player’s attention, their respect and trust.
2. Educate the kids to carry their personal ball to the field daily. It is mandatory that every kid has a soccer ball. You should be having some extra balls in case some kids forget theirs.
3. There are certain soccer moves that need to be practiced on a daily basis. Kicking, dribbling, passing, and throw-ins are vital elements of soccer practice. The kids are required to practice these repeatedly. Involve everyone in it and see that even those kids who are apprehensive initially also become a part of it.
4. Initiate games more than soccer drills in your practice sessions. This is mainly because comparatively more resilience and skill is required in games than drills. Plus, it becomes easier to try out new things as well as concentrate on soccer with games.
5. Control is crucial for success for any team. With young players, it is no big deal to have mistakes. It is mandatory to correct all instances of indiscipline irrespective of their scale. But mind the method since you are dealing with young kids here and not adults.
6. Amidst the action, you will observe that some players do not take active part in the game. Make certain that this does not take place. All the young players should involve themselves in the game. Tell each player his position on the field and then make them accountable for it.
7. Do not encourage a lot of scrimmage. Ideally, it should not be more than 15 to 20 minutes at the end of each session. And there is no need for a goalie in scrimmaging. This will ensure that kids become good at defense.
8. Keep your eyes open for new ways to conduct trainings. That is the best way to keep the interest of the kids alive in the training sessions.
Now, go ahead and make these tips work for you in the soccer practice sessions. These will raise the ability and skills of your players within a short span of few weeks. Our youth soccer coaching community is full of resources on soccer coaching. Subscribe to them today and you will see your team’s performance go higher sooner than later.
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.
Tags: practice soccer, soccer coaching, soccer drills, Soccer practice, soccer training, training for soccer