Just run through the article once and you’ll be assured of the fact that in Soccer practice , more than soccer drills, it is the games that play a key role in developing skills. Games require the same amount of energy like in a live match but are more refreshing than drills.
In soccer training, games require strength, are fun to play, and kids get to learn the skills while realizing the enjoyable features of the game. A few guidelines must be taken into account prior to initiating games into training sessions.
1. Its necessary for each player to both have the ball and play with it more often.
2. Its vital that each player has an equal participation in the game. It shouldn’t be that the weak players are deprived of playing with the ball.
3. Abstain from adopting the policy of reward or penalty. Games don’t require that.
4. Make soccer skill building the heart of your games.
5. Preferably, you should abstain from enforcing any laws or limits in a game.
6. The games should be simple to understand and play. If games are complex in nature, they lead to wastage of time and energy.
7. Finally, increase the level of difficulty in the game after the kids have managed to pass a given level.
Every player doing soccer practice should have at least 200-300 touches to the ball in one session. This activity will guarantee that kids are making progress in building their soccer skills. Following are a few popular, interesting, and effective soccer coaching games that help in improving the skills of the players.
1. Shoot the coach: Here, the kids try to put the ball into the goal by moving in a crowd and keeping their head held high. This has the effect of improving the dribbling and a player’s ability to concentrate. The most effective way to play the game is by introducing 3 kids initially and slowly adding on the number.
2. Freeze Tag: Teach the kids the skill to keep the ball away from the defender with this game and it’s also an amazing war up exercise. Each player in this game has a ball apart from one player who is required to touch and not kick the ball. When it comes about, the player having the ball becomes still and acts like a goal post. Only when the other player has hit the ball between frozen player’s legs can that player be de-frozen. Play till all players are frozen.
3. Red light, green light: In this game, the kids stand in a line. When the coach shouts green light and turns the back towards the ball, the players must move forward with their respective balls before the coach again shouts red light and faces the kids. If a player fails to come forward, he must return and start again. This is a great game for building agility and focus.
So, this is it! If you like to know more about such soccer practice games, register for our youth soccer coaching academy where you will find several such resources.
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.
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