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.
Games in soccer training call for great concentration, offer unlimited fun, and kids tend to enjoy different facets of the game while learning it. There are a few guidelines that you need to keep in mind before introducing games in training sessions.
1. Every player should have the ball and play with it as much as possible.
2. Each player’s participation in the game should be equal. It shouldn’t be that the weak players are deprived of playing with the ball.
3. Abstain from adopting the policy of reward or penalty. Games don’t require that.
4. Make soccer skill building the heart of your games.
5. If possible, don’t impose any regulations or limitations in a game.
6. The games should be simple to understand and play. 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: The kids in this game progress towards the goalpost in a group whilst keeping their head up. This leads to a player’s dribbling ability and concentration power getting better. The most effective way to play the game is by introducing 3 kids initially and slowly adding on the number.
2. Freeze Tag: Teach the kids the skill to keep the ball away from the defender with this game and it’s also an amazing war up exercise. 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 occurs, the player who has the ball does not move and acts as a goal post. Only when the other player has hit the ball between frozen player’s legs can that player be de-frozen. Play till all players are frozen.
3. Red light, green light: In this game, the kids stand in a line. The coach will shout green light and turn his back to the players who will then move forward along with their balls within the time that the coach again shouts red light and faces the players. If a player fails to come forward, he must return and start again. This is a great game for building agility and focus.
Now you know! If you would like insight on more such soccer practice games, join our youth soccer coaching community that has tons of similar resources on youth soccer.
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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