Here’s a really simple way to control the ball to pass or shoot and this skill can be mastered through performing various free soccer training drills. In this article, you will find 2 soccer drills, Shoulder To Shoulder and Shark in the Middle discussed in detail for you.
Shoulder To Shoulder drill works both for offensive and defensive players. The main goal of this exercise is to teach offensive player to practice fast shooting under pressure and let the defensive players practice clearing the ball.
This drill utilizes 3 players in each drill group. The distance existing between A and B is 10-15 yards.
B and the defensive player line up shoulder to shoulder. B and the defensive player, who stand adjacent to each other, face away from the goal on the left side of the field. When the coach whistles, A throws the ball at the back of 2 players. B and the defensive player attempt to take control of the ball. B’s aim is to shoot on the goal while the defensive player’s objective is to turn with the ball and dribble it above the center line.
By actively choosing coaching drills like Shoulder to Shoulder, players learn to win the ball despite being under immense pressure from an opposing player.
Shark in the Middle is a fun game that can be played at any time during a practice and its duration can be adjusted as per the need. It is one of many free soccer training drills that helps players achieve attentiveness and self-control in high-pressure situations.
Players form a large circle in the field. Then a player is made to act like a Shark and stand in the center of the circle. One ball is used here and it is given to a random player standing inside the circle.
When you blow the whistle, the player who has the ball passes it to the player just along the circle. Then the second player passes the ball to another player he likes and so on.
Then you’ll blow the whistle for the second time and it signals the beginning of the game. The sole purpose of the game is to keep the ball away from the shark. Player may pass the ball to anyone along the circle, be it a teammate right next to him or a teammate at a distance. The players make an effort to make as many passes as possible.
This process goes on until the shark gets the ball.
When the ball is caught, the player that caused the ball to be intercepted becomes the new shark and the first shark joins others along the circle.
Shark in the Middle is one of those football drills that call for quick thinking and the understanding of how sharks think.
To end the discussion, these free soccer training drills help players to build self-confidence to handle the ball while under pressure from an approaching opposition. Subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community to for more such youth coaching tips and tactics.
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: Free soccer training drills.
Tags: coaching drills, football drills, Free soccer training drills, soccer drills