Monday, April 26, 2010

Soccer Practice Games: Discover A 4 v 4 Game



This article focuses on making you realize the importance of soccer practice games especially in the 4 v 4 small-sided soccer games. It is more helpful to players that are between 5 to 6 years of age. This game is best played in a field that is approximately 50 yards long and 30 yards wide. Soccer training like this also needs an appropriately created goal post.

Here the rules are purposely kept very simple. The purpose is to allow the kids to enjoy the game more than focusing on worrying about the rules. This facilitates development of skills and movement.

Initiate the game by way of a kickoff. Next the kick off should be utilized only in the event of any one team scoring a goal. When a team kicks the ball outside the touchline, the opposition gets a throw-in. The conventional rules of corner kicks and goal kicks are changed by this game. And this game has no goalkeepers.

The kids get the opportunity to score lots of goals thus adding to their confidence level. At the same time it serves the purpose of developing shooting, dribbling, and passing skills. Besides, they get to hit the goalpost quite accurately. Since the players collide less, they suffer fewer injuries which is an additional benefit.

Another important point is that no player can enter the safety zone unless the ball is present there. Safety zone is an appointed area just ahead of the goal. If the ball is there, anyone can enter it and take the possession of the ball.

This rule facilitates the defenders to defend the ball and attackers to mount an offensive. Nevertheless, the defense cannot stand in front of the goal. And there is no place for off-side rules or penalty kicks. Only free kicks when someone commits a foul.

The best way to play these soccer practice games is making the 8 players stand in the field when the other 8 stand along the sidelines. The players in the field are the ones to start playing among themselves and are then replaced by sideliners after 10 minutes.

Do not make the kids play soccer drills for more than 10 minutes since they are young. Else, they may face the risk of getting injured due to fatigue.

The best part about the 4 v 4 games is that it allows for continuous motion with several opportunities for dribbling, passing, collection, and distribution. Kids are able to score well and this does wonders to their confidence.

In the end, the game should not last for more than half an hour. This one session of soccer exercises enables the kids to get ample workout as well as work on their skills.

Know that these soccer practice games are the only way to make a great soccer team. Enroll for our youth soccer coaching community for more soccer resources, news, articles, and tips covering soccer coaching.


Andre Botelho is known online as "The Expert Youth Soccer Coach" and his free Soccer practice games ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. To skyrocket your players' skills and make practice fun in record time, download your free Soccer Training ebook at: Fun Soccer Drills.


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