Soccer Practice - Learn Skill Building Games

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. Not only are games more stimulating than drills, but the energy required is also the same like in a real tournament.

When it comes to soccer training, games demand intensity, are more fun and the kids appreciate the enjoyable aspect of the game while mastering its skills. There are a few guidelines that you need to keep in mind before introducing games in training sessions.

1. Every player should have the ball and play with it as much as possible.

2. Ensure equal participation of the players in the games. Ensure that the weak players also get a chance to play with the ball and not be deprived of it.

3. Do away with the idea of rewarding or punishing the kids. Games don’t require that.

4. Games should only concentrate on building soccer skills.

5. Preferably, you should abstain from enforcing any laws or limits in a game.

6. Make the games easy to comprehend and participate. Complex games take time to be understood and therefore waste time.

7. Last but not the least, it is important to increase the challenge in a game once the kids have passed a certain level.

In a soccer practice session, 200-300 times is the least that every player participating should touch the ball. This has the effect of ensuring each player’s progress in improving soccer skills. Listed below are certain soccer coaching games which are effective, trendy, and attractive and help develop the skills of players.

1. Shoot the coach: In this game, the kids move about in a crowd while keeping their head up and trying to shoot the ball to the goal. As a result of this, the concentration power and dribbling skill of the players improve. The most effective way to play the game is by introducing 3 kids initially and slowly adding on the number.

2. Freeze Tag: This game is great for warm ups as well as teaching the kids to keep the ball away from the defender. The game calls for each player to have a ball with the exception of one who must touch and not kick the ball. When this happens, the player with the ball is frozen and must act as a goal post. He can be de-frozen only when another player hits the ball through the frozen player’s legs. Continue to play till all the players are frozen.

3. Red light, green light: In this game, the kids stand in a line. The coach will shout green light and turn his back to the players who will then move forward along with their balls within the time that the coach again shouts red light and faces the players. If any kid has not moved forward, he is sent back to the starting line. This is a nice game that builds quickness and focus.

Here you go! If you would like insight on more such soccer practice games, join our youth soccer coaching community that has tons of similar resources on youth soccer.

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.