Basic Kids Soccer Drills
Before you can begin teaching kids more complicated elements of game play and soccer, it is important to first teach them the basic skills so that they can get a feel for the game. If you're a kid's soccer coach, then it is your job to make sure that your players get off on the right foot, by learning the essential skills that are so important in this game. Below you will find some information on the basic skills that should be taught to every child.
Teaching Them to Dribble and Shoot
Dribbling and shooting are two of the most basic kid's soccer skills. Without these essential skills, a child will not be able to succeed at the game of soccer. To help teach theses skills to children, place several balls over the soccer field and line all the players up in a straight line on one end.
As you blow a whistle or tell the children to go, they should run onto the field, catch a ball with their foot, while dribbling and shooting it into a goal on the opposite end of the field. Repeating this drill on a daily basis will allow children to improve both of these skills in a short period of time.
Passing the Ball and Following Directions
These two kid's soccer skills teach them the importance of being a team player. Soccer after all, is a team sport that should be shared equally between all children. If they do not possess good passing skills, and do not know how to follow simple directions, they will be less of a team and more like one child dribbling the ball down the field by himself.
A simple drill that can be used to teach children about passing the ball and following directions requires that you line the team up in a single file line at one end of the field. A single team member will stand in front of them about 5 to 10 feet away.
When you say go, the first person in line will try to steal the ball from the teammate in the field. When you say stop, the player in the field with the ball must pass it to the first person in line. This teaches the children that they have to listen to your instructions in order to hear when you say stop or go, and teaches them to pass to each other.
Handling the Ball
If you take the time to teach children how to handle the ball with other body parts besides their feet, they'll be able to create more spontaneous plays on the field. To accomplish this you can have the player's practice bouncing the ball with their heads and knees, or stopping the ball with their backs.
Although it is important to make kids soccer fun, it is also essential that they learn the basic skills needed for the game. After children have mastered these skills, they can move on to actual game play and more complicated routines.
