Just run through the article once and you’ll be assured of the fact that in Soccer practice, more than soccer drills, it is the games that play a key role in developing skills.

In comparison to drills, games are more revitalizing and call for same stamina level as in a live game.

In relation to soccer training, games command passion, is a source of great fun, and in the process of learning it, kids benefit from various phases of the game.

There are a few guidelines that you need to keep in mind before introducing games in training sessions.

1. Ensure that each player has the ball and gets to play with it frequently.

2. Its vital that each player has an equal participation in the game.

In no case should it happen that weak players don’t get the opportunity to play with the ball.

3. Do away with the idea of rewarding or punishing the kids.

The games are not meant for that.

4. Games should only concentrate on building soccer skills.

Soccer practice

5. If you can, it’s better not to implement any rules or restrictions in a game.

6. The games should be simple to understand and play.

Difficulty in understanding the games results in wastage of time.

7. Last but not the least, it is important to increase the challenge in a game once the kids have passed a certain level.

Each session should include minimum 200-300 touches of the ball for every player in soccer practice.

This is to make sure that each player is improving with every passing day.

Listed below are certain soccer coaching games which are effective, trendy, and attractive and help develop the skills of players.

1. Shoot the coach: This game requires the kids to travel in a crowd while maintaining their head up and attempt to strike the ball into the goal.

It helps improve dribbling and also concentration ability of the player.

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.

In this game, every player has a ball except one and the player without the ball must touch (not kick) the ball.

When it takes place, the player possessing the ball becomes stationery acting as a goal post.

Only when the other player has hit the ball between frozen player’s legs can that player be de-frozen.

Continue to play till all the players are frozen.

3. Red light, green light: In this game, the players 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 does not come forward, he is asked to go back.

This is a great game for building agility and focus.

Now you know!

If you would like more information on such soccer practice games, enroll for our youth soccer coaching community.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer practice