Expert Football > Training > Coaching > Drills > Youth Soccer Drills
| Drill 1: Dribbling into space | ||
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Description: A number of players, each with his own
ball, are confined in a grid. They have to keep moving with the ball for a given amount of
time. Encourage the players to constantly look for open space and dribble in it.
They must watch where they are dribbling and avoid crashing into each other. Explanation: This is a great youth drill that is sometimes used by adult teams for warming up. If conducted properly, the drill will help youth players understand the importance of keeping your head up when dribbling. |
Task: each player has a ball and must dribble with it, in a
confined area. Dribblers have to look for open spaces, rather than bunching up Purpose: dribbling, basic field vision Complexity: simple
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| Drill 2: Passing into space | ||
Description: This is a youth drill that must be
done in groups of three.
Two players work as ball servers, standing 10-20 meters (30-50 feet) apart.
Between them is a target player who "checks" from one server to the other.
As he approaches each serving player, he is given a pass that he must be returned with one touch.
This goes on for a given amount of time until the players switch roles.
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Task: a target player checks from one ball server
to the other; he must return their passes with one touch Purpose: basic passing Complexity: simple Explanation: Notice how, in the diagram, the ball servers lay their passes at an angle rather than directly at the feet of the target player. This way, they are making passes into space, a very fundamental skill in soccer. To make it more challenging, encourage the ball servers to play the ball in random direction rather than on the same side of the target player. | |
| Drill 3: Fundamental ball control | ||
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Description: Two players stand
against each other at designated cones. The player without the ball
checks (Step 1) to his partner who throws it (Step 2) at him with his hands.
The ball must be directed at a specific body part of the target man
like his chest, head, thighs or the feet.
After the target player has trapped the ball completely, he passes it back (Step 3) to
the server. The target player must then run back around the
cone from which he started (Step 4.) |
Task: two players, a ball server and a
target man, stand against each other; the ball server throws the ball at
his partner who controls it and lays it back. After a given number of
repetitions, the players switch roles Purpose: fundamental ball control Complexity: simple
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| Explanation: This youth drill has the capability of targeting all aspects of soccer control. For example, the ball server can aim the ball at the chest or thighs of his partner. This will eventually increase the target player's comfort level in controlling the ball. Insist that your players trap the ball with different surfaces of the body. | ||
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