In coaching soccer drills, there are certain training tips that I’d like to share with you before you initiate your training program even if you have been doing this for quite a long time. Let’s say that the soccer practice has one broad goal for both the coach and the player and it is to have fun while participating in the practice sessions.
At this point, it’s important to stay alert or else you’ll get distracted by other things. I therefore recommend that you decide on more specific objectives for yourself and your soccer team. For example; develop a sense of team spirit and a sporting attitude in your players, help them identify their individual soccer skills, and emphasize on improving their physical fitness.
It is your duty to set reasonably high standards for players in relation to sportsmanship. Encourage attitudes like fair play, team spirit, and sportsmanship. When teaching soccer, you have the option to include any number of relevant objectives along with the ones stated above.
In coaching youth soccer, winning is also an important concept that should be paid due attention. Infuse an open concept of winning in your player’s minds when you are coaching them. Teach them that as long as their performance is out of ordinary on the field, they are winners, no matter what the final result.
The players as a result will feel totally relaxed but much more responsible to play the game sensibly with the team’s objectives in their mind.
It’s important that your instructions during coaching soccer drills are to the point and exact for players to fetch expected results. There are some clear dos and don’ts in soccer on which the players must be taught before you go ahead with your coaching sessions. The difference in coaching and teaching is that the former is done with a group of players who are already familiar with the basic skills and concepts of the game.
In the process of coaching drills, it is nice to first impart 5 to 6 demonstrations about a drill to the kids and then let them practice it themselves. It is due to the fact that kids grasp visualizations more effectively than simple instructions. If you attempt to explain an action in words, they won’t understand it. Rather they are pretty good at imitation.
Hence, make it an imperative exercise to give a demonstration at every possible opportunity.
Lastly, but still no less in importance is to keep the kids engaged in meaningful activities. This is all the more important when it rains or the weather is extremely cold. It’s a fact that all kids love to play in the rain. Hence, instead of simply cancelling the session, it makes more sense to have them play soccer games or something like that.
Just make sure that in a situation like this, your kids have an extra layer of clothing and proper footwear.
Now, it is time to add these tips to your training program and make the most of them. You’ll be amazed to see the results.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Coaching soccer drills.
Tags: coaching drills, coaching soccer drills, Soccer practice, teaching soccer