Practice makes a man perfect is something that each of us is aware of. 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. Still, it’s necessary for the kids in soccer training to continue practicing the old techniques taught by you on a daily basis.
So the challenge before you is to ensure that monotony does not set in despite the kids practicing a few identical drills everyday. The following are a few tips that’ll help you perform practice sessions in an exciting, controlled, and an accepted manner.
1. This has already been highlighted as very important. Kids will learn from you and hence you should be a role model. You should reach the filed on dot, illustrate your ability to tackle the ball, engage everyone in drills, and organize sound practice sessions. This has the effect of winning over the player’s confidence and respect.
2. Instruct the kids to bring their own ball to the field everyday. It’s compulsory for each kid to have a soccer ball. You should be having some extra balls in case some kids forget theirs.
3. There are some soccer moves which require regular practice. Kicking, dribbling, passing, and throw-ins are vital elements of soccer practice. The kids are required to practice these repeatedly. Ensure that everyone participates in it even though some may show lack of enthusiasm initially.
4. When compared with soccer drills, include games more in practice sessions. This is mainly because comparatively more resilience and skill is required in games than drills. And it is easy to keep the focus on soccer as also to test new things 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 mind the method since you are dealing with young kids here and not adults.
6. When the practice session is on, you will notice that some players just stand there while others chase the ball. Ensure that this does not happen. Every kid should participate in one way or the other in the session. Instruct the players about their position on the field and make them responsible for it.
7. Do not make them scrimmage a lot. About 15 to 20 minutes at the end of the session is good enough. Also, do not appoint a goalie when scrimmaging. This will help the team build its defensive skills.
8. Keep your eyes open for new ways to conduct trainings. There is no better way to keep the kids engaged in training.
Now, implement these tips in your soccer practice sessions. These tips will help your kids raise their performances in a short span. There are tremendous resources on youth soccer in our youth soccer coaching community. Enroll for them and your team’s performance is guaranteed to improve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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 training fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Youth Soccer Drills
