By the time you finish reading this, you would be convinced that in Soccer practice , games play a more pivotal role in skill building than soccer drills. Not only are games more stimulating than drills, but the energy required is also the same like in a real tournament.
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. There are a few guidelines that you need to keep in mind before introducing games in training sessions.
1. Ensure that each player has the ball and gets to play with it frequently.
2. Each player’s participation in the game should be equal. In no case should it happen that weak players don’t get the opportunity to play with the ball.
3. Do away with the idea of rewarding or punishing the kids. The games are not meant for that.
4. Games should only concentrate on building soccer skills.
5. If possible, don’t impose any regulations or limitations in a game.
6. Games should be such that are easy to recognize and take part in. Complex games take time to be understood and therefore waste time.
7. Last of all, it’s a good idea to keep increasing the amount of challenge in the game once they have cleared a certain level.
Every player doing soccer practice should have at least 200-300 touches to the ball in one session. 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: This game requires the kids to travel in a crowd while maintaining their head up and attempt to strike the ball into the goal. It helps improve dribbling and also concentration ability of the player. The best way to make the kids play it is start with 3 players and then increasing the number slowly.
2. Freeze Tag: It’s best for doing the warm up sessions and making the kids learn the art of keeping 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 it comes about, the player having the ball becomes still and acts like a goal post. He can be de-frozen only upon the other player hitting the ball through the other player’s legs. Continue to play till all the players are frozen.
3. Red light, green light: In this game, the kids make a queue. What the coach does is shout green light and turns his back to the kids, who should then move forward with their balls quickly 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 there you have it! If you would like more information on such soccer practice games, enroll for our youth soccer coaching community.
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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