It is true that there are many coaches who struggle a lot to find effective and free soccer drills for their players. It basically means that they are looking for such drills that the kids can perform all by themselves by just using the ball.
The drills which do not require any equipment are of great help to kick start the training program. This is because soccer exercises like these can be designed to suit the player’s age, learning potential, and the skills specific to his role in the team.
One must teach this drill to the players: To dribble the ball and at the same time, be conscious of what is going on around them. This is one of the highly successful drills and is being used by many coaches and Moreover, it is better than asking your players to dribble through the cones.
Sure that that this drill demands more involvement from players but it makes sure of it in soccer practice.
I’ll guide you to conduct this drill.
Firstly, mark a square of about 20 yards by 20 yards. The number of players and their age decides the size of this square.
The number of players on each side of the square should be the same. All the players should face inwards and every player should have a ball of their own.
When the whistle is blown, each player should dribble the ball to the opposite side and stop on it. Among the free soccer drills, this is simple yet effective in coaching the players to dribble the ball with their heads up and not crossing the other player’s path as the move across the square.
To add more fun into the drill, make the players dribble across the square and back again, compelling them to turn 180 degrees with the ball. The number of the times the players have to dribble the ball can be varying. At end of every run, a player is eliminated and this continues until only one player is left.
Its good not to ask the players to dribble the ball but to run with the ball , when the players are only a few.
It is possible to have good fun teaching the vital techniques of ball dribbling to the kids. The best of way of making soccer drills interesting is to mix some tough and some light drills together in the training. Nevertheless, some drills are added just for fun.
The one thing that should never forgotten in soccer coaching is that the kids shouldn’t do too much of anything.
Believe me! Once you start to apply these free soccer drills in your training programs, you will be amazed to see how quickly the kids learn the essential elements of the game.
Also, our youth soccer coaching community is full of such knowledge in the form of articles, newsletters, videos etc. Become a member today and get the leading edge.
About the author
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Free Soccer Drills.