Soccer Practice Games: 3 Simple Steps To Fun-filled Sessions

Here's a really simple way to understand the logic behind starting soccer practice games once you have taught the kids basic soccer skills and techniques. Players must be exposed to real match-like situations so that they get to know the stress and pressure involved and accordingly become accustomed to soccer training.

The best way to achieve this is to introduce small-sided games and drills in which the kids immerse themselves. It is of vital importance that the kids get to contact the ball maximum so that they become comfortable with the ball.

These games and drills help the kids learn the art of positional play. The kids learn the following:

1. Run far away from the player with the ball than towards him or her. 2. Get “off the ball” and design a good passing angle. 3. Run onwards and get the delivery of the ball “in space”. 4. Pass towards the rear to enable the team to move backward.

"Positional play" also refers to the ability of the players to play in a particular position. It is common knowledge that a great soccer player can play from all positions with élan. Therefore, a coach must endeavor to teach young players to play in all positions using soccer practice games.

Moving forward, it makes no sense to teach a player to play only as a defender or a striker.

What follows are 2 soccer drills that act as good starting points for the kids.

1. This game consists of 6 players. 5 players make a circle around a player who acts as a defender. Afterwards it’s the defender who attempts to catch hold of the ball that is with the players who try to pass or dribble the ball amongst them. It’s for the coach to see that all players get to act as a defender by replacing them with another, after some time.

Train your players in this game to initially exert a pull on the defender followed by a pass. They must also control the ball to the side and keep the head up. They should attempt to make good passing positions and if possible, camouflage the pass in the end.

2. All that is essential for this game is a grid and 5 players. The one defending the ball stand within the grid and the remaining players outside it. The passers then try to make consecutive passes across the grid without any intersection. Again, change the defender after every 1 minute.

They must be in charge of the ball mostly to the sides. They must make use of the outside of their foot in conjunction with the hip and shoulder fakes.

Both these soccer exercises are extremely helpful in letting the players have a taste of different positions. The players get better at controlling the ball and become flexible as a result of these exercises.

This is the easiest way to teach your players soccer practice games. By subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community, you can get a good amount of knowledge, soccer tips, and tactics to get better at coaching players in the best way. A good number of articles, videos, and newsletters are available here to take you in the right direction of coaching soccer to kids.