There are many free soccer training drills available online. But how do you select the right one? You have a good idea of the skills you want to teach your players, and you would like to select the most effective drills that will enable your players learn these skills.
You have to be careful in choosing the drills that are neither too difficult nor too simple.
Tips on Selecting Drills
Here are some useful tips that will help you choose the right kind of drills for your players:
- The drill could be too tough, if it takes more than half a minute to explain the rules
- If you plan to include all the players in a conditioning drill or game, you won’t need to do much explaining.
- The drills you choose, must be structured in such a way, as to get the players who need improvement work harder to get better. It is not a good idea to select a game where the weak players get ‘out’ of the game.
- Suppose you have planned a competitive game, you can get your players to finish their individual practice on skills, after you let them know about the game. There is a general tendency to do routine drills enthusiastically, when they have something to look forward to.
- One way to minimize time being wasted is to select various drills that need the same arrangement.
- Contingency planning is essential. If one set of drills doesn’t work out, you must have an alternate plan ready.
- With young players, do not pick drills where they have to hang around waiting or in line.
- The best drills are the ones that let your players apply the skills they learn in a situation similar to a soccer game. For example, if you keep making your players practice with a static ball, they will be lost on the soccer field in a soccer game.
With free soccer training drills, you must focus on your practice session’s objective. Suppose your intention is to teach your players passing skills, this must be focused on the weaker players who need work to improve.
Never have players standing around because they were eliminated from the drill or game. If the drill involves someone becoming out, have him or her perform an activity after which they are allowed to get back into the drill.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of free soccer training drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.