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Coaches Corner
Drills for Small Children
March 1, 2006
Tip: Keep team numbers reasonable (avoid long boring lines),
for example use two goals for two different groups so lines are half
as long.
Run and shoot
Have the players in two lines by the centre circle. Have a player
from one line start moving towards the net and feed him/her a ball
from beside the net. They have to dribble toward the net and shoot.
Normally avoid any drills with line-ups, however this one works
because the kids move quickly through the line. You should have lots
of parents to help collect balls and keep kids moving through the
lines.
Cone soccer
Play 1v1 with one player against one player, each has a cone as a
goal. This is every player; nobody stands and watches. The object is
to hit the cone; there are no boundary lines, etc. This is nothing
but 1v1 dribbling with a little bit of long passing/shooting, etc.
They figure out very quickly that they have to beat their man and
nothing else will do. After about five minutes, everybody switches
to somebody they haven't played yet. This way nobody is hopelessly
outmatched against the same player for very long. They hate to stop
doing this until about forty minutes or so when their tongues are
hanging to the ground (it's also a good conditioner). This also
teaches individual initiative - nobody else is going to stop the
opponent; nobody else is going to score the goal.
Strong sides
The team concept is best taught with unbalanced drills (i.e., 2 v.
1, and 3 v. 2, etc.)-- this is true for players of all ages, but
especially with younger players. This will make the benefit of team
play obvious and it will "let the game be the teacher". Start with 2
v. 1 drills, then when the players clearly recognize the value of
combining to beat one player-- either to beat and score or to
maintain possession-- consider a move to 3 v. 2 (vary the amount of
space the drills are carried out in-- space is almost another
subject).
Striker!
Divide players into two teams. Station each team at a corner post of
the goal, standing off, but facing the field. Place a keeper in goal
facing the field. Coach/assistant stands behind the center of the
goal with a supply of balls. Coach tosses a ball over the crossbar
to about the penalty spot. A player from each team both sprint to
the ball and attempt to control it, turn, and get a shot off. The
second to the ball defends (if he then wins the ball, then he tries
to shoot). When there is a score, save, or ball goes out of play,
restart the same way with a different pair of players. May want to
limit amount of time each pair has to attempt to score as some kids
will dribble all over the field if you let them and everyone else
gets bored. Limit the area that the combatants can "fight" in to the
penalty area.
Possession
Picture a square about 20 yards to a side. Coach is at one corner.
Two teams are at each of two corners to immediate right and left of
coach. Coach serves balls between the two teams first players in
line from each team attempt to receive ball and turn and pass to
their own team. Second player to the ball attempts to defend,
prevent turn, or gain possession and turn and pass to his team.
Score one point for turning and passing and successful reception.
This keeps the two players in line and the second players in line
who are the receivers into the game. Receivers cannot enter field
but can adjust position along a line to receive pass. Coach can vary
the service to handicap one player or another, serve hard, soft, air
balls, or into the space beyond the two lines, etc. Coach controls
time and with cones lays out the space for play (if no one can turn
and pass within a few seconds, no points and the next players are
up; dribble out of bounds and the same thing-- get back in line and
coach serves another ball).
Line Drills
Although you should limit the number of line drills, the following
drills are very helpful in teaching younger players important
fundamental aspects of the game (all these are on a field stepped
off to regulation size, preferably with a regulation goal).
Players rotate positions:
- Simple cut back move: 1 line.
Have players start at midfield and dribble half way down
sideline with coach providing minimal pressure. When coach says
'cut' the player cuts the ball toward the middle and then
finishes with a shot. As season progresses, coach adds more
pressure.
- Reverse move (U6s can begin to
do this; U7s ought to be able to do it): 1 line. Players and
coach stand on endline next to goal. Coach passes ball ahead.
Player has to run and reverse ball, then turn and shoot (or
dribble back and shoot).
- Pass to partner: 2 lines: one
along sideline and another toward the center of the field. Same
as above, but this time, when coach says pass, the player passes
to the wide-open teammate. The teammate must be yelling 'pass it
to me.' The play finishes with a shot. As season progresses,
coach adds more pressure. Also, this is the foundation for 2 v 1
or 3 v 1...As season progresses, a defender is added and is
coached on how to intercept/steal a pass.
- Throw-in play: 2 lines: one
along sideline and another toward the center of the field. The
coach (standing on the field 4-5 feet in front of players on the
sidelines) has a ball and rolls it out of bounds. He tells the
first player in line along the sideline to 'go get it and throw
it in.' The coach points to where it went out of bounds and
tells the player to throw it in from there, encouraging the
player to hurry and watching for proper technique. The throw in
goes to the teammate who is yelling 'pass it to me.' The throw
in made in front of the waiting teammate. After the throw is
made, both players run to the goal. The play finishes with a
shot. As season progresses, coach adds more pressure. This can
be done with 3 v 1. As season progresses, a defender is added
and is coached on how to intercept/steal a throw-in.
- Goal kick play: 3 lines: one
taking goal kick and 2 lines 10 yards ahead of kicker. Kicker
kicks to one of the players who, with other teammate, runs and
takes a shot. Coach is lightly covering one of the targets. As
season progresses, a defender is added and is coached on how to
intercept/steal the kick and score an easy goal. This might be
done with a dad kicking to another dad. The players are shown
how to run and intercept for an easy shot.
- Kick Off - Offense and Defense
-Position the players the way they will be in the game.
Defenders touch finger tips, offensive players positioned around
their half of center circle. Teach center forward to pass at 45
degree angle to partner who starts run as soon as ball is
kicked. Emphasize not kicking straight ahead. Teach defenders
how to handle kicks straight at them and kicks off to the side.
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