You may be or may not be one of those coaches who struggle a lot to find effective free soccer drills for the players, but I bet there are many of them. What it conveys is that coaches actually look for drills that the kids can perform all alone.
The drills which do not require any equipment are of great help to kick start the training program. It is so because these soccer exercises are designed to suit the player’s age, learning potential, and the skills specific to his role in the team.
One must teach this drill to the players: To dribble the ball and at the same time, be conscious of what is going on around them. This drill is used by many coaches and it is far better than asking your players to dribble through cones.
Sure that that this drill demands more involvement from players but it makes sure of it in soccer practice.
I’ll guide you to conduct this drill.
Mark a square of about 20 yards by 20 yards. The size of this square will vary depending on the number of players, and their age.
The same number of players should be positioned evenly alongside the square. Players, with their own ball, stand opposite to each other on the sides of the square.
When the whistle is blown, each player should dribble the ball to the opposite side and stop on it. This is better than the rest of the free soccer drills because this coaches the players to dribble across the square with their heads up and at the same time not disturbing the other player’s movement in the square.
When this is repeated to make the players to turn 180 degrees, it definitely adds more fun. Across the square, for every run, the players vary the number of times they dribble the ball. Let them compete where the final player is eliminated until there is only one player left.
Its good not to ask the players to dribble the ball but to run with the ball , when the players are only a few.
The coach can have great fun with this drill and simultaneously teach the kids many important techniques of dribbling with the ball. The best of way of making soccer drills interesting is to mix some tough and some light drills together in the training. One can add some drills which are not directly linked to the soccer game but are added for fun.
It is important in soccer coaching that kids shouldn’t do too much of anything.
Believe me! Once you start to apply these free soccer drills in your training programs, you will be amazed to see how quickly the kids learn the essential elements of the game.
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About the author
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: Free Soccer Drills.