Soccer Fitness

What if I told you that young players find it really hard to kick a soccer ball using a straight leg? In coaching soccer drills, this is by far the biggest problem that a coach and the players face. It calls for the player to keep complete balance and bend the leg at the knee in order to kick the ball. Both posture and strength to kick the ball comes out from below the knee.

This is the preliminary position in soccer practice for almost all kinds of kicks. The acceleration of the foot from below the knee creates a powerful impact on the ball. This gives players the power to execute a variety of kicks. Yet, it is the kind of contact of the ball with the foot that decides what type of kick would originate.

For example; it could be hit very high, driven low, swung over left, or lean towards right.

There are three vital passes in soccer i.e. a side foot pass, the outside of the foot pass, and the instep drive. We’ll now chat about them further.

Soccer Coaching

The side foot pass: This is the easiest and the most widely used pass in teaching soccer. This is usually employed to make short distance passes. Although this pass is slightly slow and almost predictable, it’s very simple to teach the kids and perform accurately. The foot turned outward, ball comes into contact on the outside of the ankle and the foot.

In coaching soccer drills, guide the players to keep their bodies totally relaxed throughout the entire movement. The most essential rule pertaining to various kicking action is this. The ankle and the foot need to be stiffened only at the time when the players is about to get in contact with the ball.

Subsequently, as players are convinced of their ability to perform it, the action should come out smooth, natural, and relaxed.

Outside of the foot pass: This is a little difficult to learn but is extremely important to master because it is accurate, quick, and cannot be predicted. A contact is made with the ball between the laces and outside edge of the foot with the foot extended and turned inward. With the use of a foot, the pass is transformed into a speedy throw for short distances.

In coaching drills, it’s imperative that the players maintain a comfortable posture.

The Instep Drive: Here, the two versions; lofted versions and the low driven version are utilized to pass the ball to longer distances. Once mastered, this style can also be modified to make a “chip pass” or an “in swinging pass”. Because the approach of the instep drive is angled to some extent, the non kicking foot is positioned about 12 inches toward the side of and behind the ball.

Here, the ball gets into contact in between the inside of the foot and the laces which is extended and very firm.

So then, go on and train your players on these basic techniques of kicking along with the variations so that the ball does little different things.

You can also get your hand on loads of relevant information pertaining to coaching soccer drills in form of newsletters, articles, and videos by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn  how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Training Drills.

You’ve probably heard it a hundred times that in coaching soccer drills, all tactics, skills, and teamwork taught to the players ultimately lead to a shot on the goal. It takes both skill and instinct to develop the art of good shooting. But other than this, winning attitude is also equally important.

All the players must be involved in this but more importantly; it is up to the forward players to shoot the ball. When teaching soccer, give a lot of emphasis on shooting.

There are so many things that may result from a shoot. Shots can be redirected into the goal. It may happen that the goalkeeper drops the ball right in front of your forward. Directionless shots can become beautiful passes. Ground shots may spring back. You may even hit a goal through a straight shot.

At the time of soccer practice, the attacking players always try to make the most of every goal-scoring opportunity. They are trained in a way that they think of nothing else but scoring goals. These attacking players are referred to as sniffers in England. This happens because they are always reviewing scoring chances.

Soccer Coaching

They take every chance for a shot as if it is the last chance that they’ll ever get. They are always present when the opportunity is right. They have the skills to even convert negative situations into positive ones. Hence, in coaching soccer drills, you must instruct the players to hit the ball whenever they get a chance.

As a general rule, any kick that causes the ball to go towards the goal is considered as a shot. One of the most effective techniques of driving the ball is through its middle with the help of laces of the foot. To carry this out, the player should have his head over the ball, his toe should be extended, and his upper body should keep steady.

In the course of coaching drills, teach your players to shoot the ball wide and low to the goalie. At this point, low ground shots are favored over high shots. The reason is that low shots are especially difficult for the goalies to stop as they have to move their hands a greater distance than for high shots.

When kids practice inside the regulation sized goals, they are likely to score more by striking the ball above the goalie’s head. As a result of it, the players develop the tendency to shoot high goals so this must be discouraged. When coaching soccer drills, put a stop to this activity by not permitting kids to play in adult sized goals.

So get going and train your team members to see and confirm the goalkeeper’s position before they shoot the ball into the goalpost.

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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: Youth Soccer Drills.

If you are like me, you probably feel the same way that the biggest problem that a coach faces in coaching soccer drills is to decide on the best way of organizing conditioning schedules for its players. The reason I say this is because in the last few years, the fine line between coaching and educating has gradually dissolved.

I’m sorry to say that even today, there are many coaches who fail to recognize the importance of designing player specific coaching plans in teaching soccer. The players must be taught about the game as a person along with their professional conditioning and training. There have been a number of situations where this educational facet of soccer has not been considered at all.

However, we should always remember one principle while working out the coaching drills for kids. A young player becomes an elite player of great renown only when he grows as an individual first and then as a soccer player. It is therefore the duty of the coach to act along with the lines of this principle.

What motivates a player to take on the role of a coach is very simple to work out.
After the player is no more a part of the team, he wishes to continue being associated with soccer. This results in many successful soccer players settling down as coaches. But they don’t realize the seriousness of taking up this role.

Soccer Coaching

It is considered by some as the first step that’ll take them towards the prospects of coaching adult players. Some others decide to take up this role due to their love towards the sport and an intention to instill the same passion in the kids. Both are compelling and very well acceptable reasons. But at the same time, the person should also be aware of the moral responsibility that his choice implies.

Communication is main aspect in coaching soccer drills, but unfortunately it’s very complicated for almost everyone to acknowledge. It is not enough to have a great career history spanning many years of top rated success and achievements to qualify as a professional coach.

In order to be accepted as a great coach, certain standards need to be set and followed. Being a competent and skillful coach requires helping young players to love soccer and consider it as a positive and an exciting experience in their lives. As a coach, make sure that during the soccer practice, players feel comfortable in openly expressing themselves by way of the game.

In a team, different players have their different styles of playing and a varying potential. What’s not important is that every player must possess the competence and talents of a great player. But what’s really important is that every player must reach his own competence in the due course.

So we must understand that not every soccer player is cut out to be a skillful and a proficient youth team coach. Working with kids must come naturally to him; an inherent gift to get in touch with their human side and emotional feelings.

Some food for thought; try and figure out the true motivations that cheer you to follow this prospect since it’s a pre requirement in this context.

There is lot more that you can equip yourself about coaching soccer drills by just subscribing to our youth soccer caching community that offers a great amount of knowledge by way of articles, newsletters, and videos.

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: Soccer Drills.

I don’t know a thing about you, but I’ll bet that it is necessary that you look at some common teaching suggestions before starting out with the coaching soccer drills. Let’s say that the soccer practice has one broad goal for both the coach and the player and it is to have fun while participating in the practice sessions.

At this time, it’s essential to follow your goal and not feel distracted by other things. Consequently, identify such objectives that are particularly important for you as a coach and also equally important for the team. Some examples are; focus on player’s individual soccer skills, promote the importance of their physical fitness, and help them grow into mature, professional, and sporting soccer players.

You, being the coach are solely responsible to set high standards for sportsmanship. Encourage attitudes like fair play, team spirit, and sportsmanship. In addition to the above goals, you are free to set as many goals as your feel necessary while teaching soccer to your team.

In coaching youth soccer, winning is also an important concept that should be paid due attention. Try to infuse an open idea of winning the game inside your player’s minds while training them. Let them know that to be tagged as winners, they must focus on playing their best game and not worry about the results.

Soccer Coaching

It has the effect of encouraging the players to give it their best shot and play the game without unnecessary pressure to win anyways.

When coaching soccer drills, always keep in mind the importance of giving clear and correct instructions if they are to be helpful. Before you start coaching your team, educate your players on some specific do’s and don’ts in the game of soccer. The variation between coaching and teaching is prominent because coaching deals with a bunch of players who already play soccer pretty well.

In coaching drills, it’s best to give the players 5 or 6 fine demonstrations of some specific skill and then let them perform it themselves. It is because kids have a tendency to learn quickly by watching than by listening. If you endeavor to explain in instructions, they will not understand it. However, they are good at replicating things.

So, as a general rule, demonstrate the skills yourself whenever possible.

In the end, but still important is to keep the kids involved in several activities. This is all the more important when it rains or the weather is extremely cold. It is well known that the kids love playing in the rain. So, rather than just telling them to go home, it is more beneficial to find ways so that they can still enjoy soccer in some form.

Just make sure that in a situation like this, your kids have an extra layer of clothing and proper footwear.

Now, it is time to add these tips to your training program and make the most of them. You will be surprised by the results.

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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: Coaching soccer drills.