The Truth About Soccer Practice Games

Here’s a really straightforward way to know the reason behind teaching kids Soccer practice games when they have already learnt basic soccer skills and techniques. Players must know in the early stages of their training the stress and pressure associated with real match-like situations so that they can get acquainted with soccer training.

It is best achieved using small-sided games and drills in which the kids get involved as much as possible. It is also important that they get to contact the ball as much as possible because this is what will make them comfortable and confident in handling the ball.

Players get to know positional play through these drills. They absorb the following:

1. Run away from the player who has the possession than running to him or her. 2. Shift “off the ball” and develop a good passing angle. 3. Run forward and receive the ball “in space”. 4. Pass towards the rear to enable the team to move backward.

The word “positional play” also means the ability of the players to play from a single most important position. It is known to everyone that a great soccer player demonstrates the ability to play from all positions. So, a coach must teach the players to play from all positions using soccer practice games.

Moving forward, it makes no sense to teach a player to play only as a defender or a striker.

What follows are 2 soccer drills that act as good starting points for the kids.

1. This game has 6 players. 5 players spread themselves around a player who acts as a defender. Then the players who have the ball dribble or pass the ball to each other and the defender tries to steal the ball from them. The coach must change the player acting as the defender every couple of minutes.

In this game, teach the players to draw the defender and then pass. Besides, they must also maintain control of the ball even as they keep their head held high. They must strive to create good passing angles and finally, disguise the pass, if possible.

2. 5 players and a grid is all that is necessary in this game. The defender stands inside the grid and the passers outside it. The passers then try to make consecutive passes across the grid without any intersection. Yet again, keep changing the defender after every 1 minute.

They must be in charge of the ball mostly to the sides. They must use the outside of the foot along with employing hip and shoulder fakes.

Both of these soccer exercises greatly help the players by allowing them to play from different positions. They also make them agile and increase their ability to control the ball.

This is the easiest way to teach your players soccer practice games. Should you wish to get more detailed knowledge about soccer tips and tricks, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community to help you become a great soccer coach? There are numerous articles, newsletters, and videos etc that guide you to train your players better.

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: Soccer practice games.