What methods can you use for teaching pass into space activities soccer to young children who come for practice? The challenge is in the age group of the young players since space is a concept they may not grasp quickly. Nevertheless, you have to introduce the idea of space and passing the ball in relation to space, even if your players are completely focused on the ball.
Teaching What Is Space
Your players need to recognize that there is something called space. One of the best ways to do this is to have them play in a limited area to feel the constraints of what is NOT there. Mark off an area of 20 x 10 meters but let it be just like a soccer field with the goal and other props. Divide your players into two teams – say 6 v 6 and let them go ahead and free play within this space. Soon enough they will complain about the lack of space.
Follow up the above by asking your players to arrange themselves in a circle and hold hands. Let the circle be of about 5 meters diameter. Let them drop hands. Now get someone to volunteer to be a defender in the center. Introduce a football and tell the players in the circle to prevent the ball from being accessed by the defender, without moving.
A little while later, ask them how easy it was. The defender will not find it all that tough. Call for suggestions about making the defender’s task tougher. Someone will come up with the idea of having a little more SPACE so that they will be able to move the ball around better. Expand the circle by asking the players to move back a couple of large steps and do the exercise all over again, with the defender in the circle, getting tired.
Here comes the best part – get your players to move back ten steps each making it a circle of around 20 meters radius now. Bring in another defender, as the first must be quite exhausted. Your players will be just a little too far from each other, with the defender being able to interrupt a pass.
There are two things you can make your young players recognize here – what was not at all comfortable and what appeared to be the right circle size. These teaching pass into space activities soccer techniques are highly effective.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of teaching pass into space activities soccer. 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.
