It’s not new for you to when I say, practice makes a man perfect. This for sure is applicable to the 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. The following are a few tips that’ll help you perform practice sessions in an exciting, controlled, and an accepted manner.
1. This has been emphasized enough. Kids will learn from you and hence you should be a role model. Be present on the filed before the kids; demonstrate your skill with the ball, let all the kids participate, and arrange sessions ahead of time. This way you can get the player’s attention, their respect and trust.
2. Instruct the kids to bring their own ball to the field everyday. It’s obligatory for the kids to have a soccer ball each. But have a few extra balls ready in case the kids forget to carry theirs.
3. Some soccer moves must be practiced everyday without fail. In soccer practice, kicking, passing, dribbling, and throw-ins are indispensible. It is imperative that kids practice these on a daily basis. Make sure each one of the kids participate in this even if some of them shy away in the beginning.
4. In soccer drills practice sessions, introduce games more. The reason is that games require much more stamina and dexterity in contrast to 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 keep in mind the method you adopt to do so since kids are sensitive and get hurt easily.
6. While the session is on, you will note that some players do not run with the ball while others do. Ensure that this does not happen. Every kid should participate in one way or the other in the session. Teach the players about which positions they should hold and how they can make the best use of those positions.
7. Never permit too much scrimmage. About 15 to 20 minutes at the end of the session is good enough. Also, do not appoint a goalie when scrimmaging. This will teach the kids to be good defenders.
8. Keep researching about the new games and drills. That is the best way to keep the interest of the kids alive in the training sessions.
Now, take these tips to your soccer practice sessions. These tips are sure to help the kids improve their skills in a short time. 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.