by Greg Bach
Figure 14-2: The offense has a good chance of scoring with the 3-on-2 drill.
Coaching pointers: Initially, make sure that the child makes a legal throw-in and drags her foot while releasing the ball, which we discuss in greater detail in Chapter 13. Kids with plenty of soccer experience can handle throw-ins by placing their feet close together and generating strength in their throws from their arm and abdomen muscles. Focus on the offensive player who receives the throw-in to make sure that he dribbles with his head up and delivers a pass if a teammate is open, or gets off a shot if that turns out to be the best scoring opportunity.
Passing
You may have a number of players who are proficient at putting the ball in the net, and that’s a great asset. But if few teammates can get them the ball when and where they need it, the number of scoring chances your team generates is going to sink. These drills can hone those all-important passing skills and put some sizzle in your team’s attack.
Fancy Foot
Fancy Foot develops the kids’ less-dominant feet so that they become comfortable passing and receiving with either foot.
What you need: 10- x 30-yard grid. 3 players. 1 ball.
How it works: Set up a basic 2-on-1 drill. The object is for two offensive players to try to work the ball down the field against a lone defender. The twist is that one of the two offensive players can pass and receive the ball only with his less-dominant foot. A player that is right-foot-dominant should be on the left side so he can practice receiving passes with his outside foot and sending passes back to his partner. On the return trip up the field, switch roles so the other player can practice with his less-dominant foot.
Coaching pointers: Kids may be frustrated when learning to use their less-dominant foot, because during games, they naturally use their stronger foot. So be patient; provide lots of encouragement; and help them understand that when their feet are equally skilled, they’re that much more of an offensive threat or that much stronger a defender.
Diagonal Passing
This drill works on the accuracy of the players’ short and long passes, their ability to get the ball airborne when the situation requires, and their ability to receive and gather under control different types of passes. Diagonal passes, also known as crossing passes, are typically played while attacking and are used to generate scoring opportunities at the opponent’s end of the field. Check out Chapter 11 for more details.
What you need: 10- x 20-yard grid. 4 players. 4 balls.
How it works: This drill can be run simultaneously with the entire team broken into groups of four. (See Figure 14-3.) Position 2 players about 10 yards apart, and position 2 more players about 20 yards away. Each player starts with a soccer ball.
1. The two players nearest each other exchange passes. One player must send a push pass along the ground, while the other player delivers a chip pass that gets the ball in the air so the balls don’t collide.
2. After receiving the passes, the players deliver long passes to the player downfield who’s across from them. Again, one player delivers a pass along the ground, while the other sends one in the air. Rotate the types of passes the players are using so everyone gets practice doing both.
Coaching pointers: Make sure the kids are following through toward their intended targets. When they know they have to react quickly to receive an incoming ball, they may have a tendency to cut their follow-through short in preparation for receiving a pass.
Figure 14-3: Diagonal Passing works on several skills at once.
Shooting
Choose a variety of shooting drills that challenge your players to work on their accuracy, distance, and technique. In game situations, kids have to shoot the ball from different angles and distances; using the drills in this section gets them prepared to take those shots on game day.
Bending and Chipping Balls
This drill works on a youngster’s shooting skills with both feet and getting off shots at challenging angles with a defensive player in the way. For more information on teaching these shooting techniques, see Chapter 11.
What you need: Area of field with goal. 4 players. 3 balls.
How it works: Position 2 offensive players about 30 yards away from the goal, with one player the designated shooter and the other the passer. Also, have a defensive player out about 10 yards in front to serve as an obstacle that the shooter has to work the ball around. The drill begins:
1. The passer delivers the ball to the shooter (l), who gets off a shot while the ball is rolling. (See Figure 14-4a.)
With the defensive player between the shooter and the goal, the shooter either has to chip the ball over the player’s head or, if she’s more advanced, work on using side spin to bend the ball around the player.
2. The shooter receives a diagonal pass that forces her to go to her left and take a shot with her other foot, while the defensive player slides over to cut down the shooting angle (see Figure 14-4b).
3. The shooter has to cut back to her right to receive another pass and get off a shot at a sharp angle, with the defensive player again standing in the way (see Figure 14-4c).
Coaching pointers: Watch to see whether the passer puts the ball in the most advantageous position, whether the attacker takes the right angle for the shot, and whether the defender and goalie work together to prevent the player from getting a quality shot off.
Figure 14-4: Players learn to bend and chip the ball to maneuver around obstacles.
Zig Zag
The Zig Zag helps kids work on their shooting technique and accuracy from a variety of distances and angles.
What you need: Area of field with goal. 4 players. 3 balls.
How it works: Begin with the shooter (l) about 30 yards away from the goal. (See Figure 14-5.) Position a passer (A) about 10 yards away from him with a ball, as well as another player (B) by the side of the net with 2 balls. The drill begins with the Player A giving the shooter a slow-moving ball that he connects with and shoots while running straight ahead. The passer at the side of the net (B) follows with a diagonal pass and then another pass at a sharp angle.
Coaching pointers: On the initial kick, make sure the player gets full force behind the shot and follows through at the net. Watch the positioning of his plant foot on the other shots, because he may use a sloppy technique if he isn’t used to taking sharp angle kicks.
Figure 14-5: A player takes several shots in succession with the Zig Zag drill.
Ball handling
Good ball handling plays a prominent role in a team’s success at both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. Players who can dribble out of trouble while pinned back near their own goal save their goalie from being forced to make a bundle of saves. Also, players who don’t turn the ball over while on the attack apply additional pressure on the opponent, which can translate into extra scoring chances.
Musical Soccer Balls
This drill helps youngsters learn to handle the ball in tight spaces while being pressured by a defender.
What you need: 15- x 15-yard grid. 5 players. 3 balls.
How it works: Mark off a playing area of about 15 yards by 15 yards. Place three soccer balls in the center of the playing area, and have 5 players positioned around the outside of the area. On your command, the players run in and battle for possession of the ball. Run the drill for a minute or two. The object is to see who can maintain possession of the ball when time runs out. This drill is fun for kids of all ages, and if you begin counting down out loud with 10 seconds left, the competitive juices really get flowing as the kids try to make a last-second steal or try to cling to possession of their ball.
Coaching pointers: With several players in a tight area, keep a close eye on them to make sure players aren’t committing penalties by trying to steal balls or by trying to protect them illegally.
Gridlock
Works on ball-handling skills in both a 1-on-1 setting and in those difficult 1-on-2 scenarios.
What you need: 15- x 40-y
ard grid. 3 players. 1 ball.
How it works: An offensive player starts at midfield with the ball. For about 20 yards, she dribbles downfield against a defender. If she reaches the 20-yard marker that you’ve designated with a pylon, she continues trying to move on for another 20 yards, but this time against 2 defenders. If, while going 1-on-1, she loses possession of the ball, she starts over from the spot where the ball was taken and continues until she reaches the first marker. After the player reaches the first marker (and in some cases, there may be several turnovers before she gets there), she goes against the 2 defenders.
Coaching pointers: Match up players of similar abilities during this drill. You don’t want your least-skilled ball handler going up against your best defender and not being able to get to the marker.
Heading
Well-rounded soccer players are able to utilize all parts of their body to move the ball where they want. Using the ol’ noggin can be a great weapon for scoring goals, as well as clearing the ball out of danger. The following are some drills to get your kids thinking and using their heads.
Head ’Em Up
This drill helps players zero in on an incoming ball, and learn to make quick adjustments and head a pass to an open teammate.
What you need: 5- x 5-yard grid. 2 players. 1 ball.
How it works: Position a player about 10 yards in front of you. Toss a ball up in the air to him, and as he’s getting into position to make a header, take a few steps to the left or right. The player must adjust to your movements and head the ball back to you, preferably at your feet.
Coaching pointers: Make sure the child keeps a close eye on the ball and relies on his peripheral vision to locate in which direction you’re moving. Otherwise, he won’t be able to make solid contact with the ball, and his headers will be off target.
Cross and Head
Cross and Head works on heading, delivering accurate crossing passes, and helping goalies learn to defend against headers.
What you need: Area of field with goal. 3 players. 1 ball.
How it works: Position one player (A) to the side of the net and the designated header (l) about 18 yards away from the goalie. (See Figure 14-6.) The drill begins with the player at the side delivering a crossing pass to be headed at the net. The goalie, who either makes the save or retrieves the ball, then distributes the ball on an outlet pass to the passer, who delivers a ball in the air to be headed again. The goalie then sends a pass along the end line, and the player delivers another crossing pass to be headed.
Coaching pointers: If the crossing passes aren’t on target, watch where the youngster’s foot is making contact with the ball. On headers, remind the player to follow through with his head at the target to get the maximum force behind his shots.
Figure 14-6: The Cross and Head helps passers, shooters, and goalies develop skills.
Restarts
Take a look at some drills you can incorporate into your practices to teach your team these restart related skills — many of your scoring chances will come from these situations — and how your team can best take advantage of them. For more information on teaching the techniques, see Chapter 13.
Throw-In Competition
A good throw-in drill to incorporate into your practices is to stage a mini-tournament with your players. Here’s a sample of one that works for any age group.
What you need: Half the field. Ball and cone for each player.
How it works: Place a cone several yards away from the sideline, and have each youngster take five throws. Record who gets the ball closest to the target or who hits the target the most. To avoid having the kids stuck in lines waiting to throw, set up several cones around the field at the same distance from the sideline so that a number of kids can throw simultaneously. You can also stage a throw-in competition by seeing who can throw the ball the farthest and with the most accuracy.
Coaching pointers: When conducting these mini-competitions, make sure that the team uses proper form on every throw-in. Any time the players use an incorrect technique, the throw doesn’t count in the competition, even if it hits the target.
Shooting in the Spotlight
Youngsters often feel a little more pressure than normal when taking a penalty shot because all eyes are on them, so devise drills that incorporate that factor into the equation.
What you need: Area of field with goal. Entire team. 1 ball.
How it works: At the end of practice, have each player take a few penalty shots on the goalie with the entire team watching to get them comfortable performing the skill while people watch. Turn it into a fun contest so that every time a player notches a goal, you have to do a pushup. Shooting in the Spotlight is an exciting way to help the players work on honing their shots while also giving your goalie some great practice for those situations where she’s called upon in a game to face down a penalty shot.
Coaching pointers: Some kids are going to be uncomfortable performing a skill like this with the entire team watching, so be sure that they focus on the ball and make solid contact with their shots, rather than worry about what their teammates are doing.
Corner-Kick Challenge
Corner kicks represent wonderful scoring opportunities for your team. The more comfortable and proficient your players become delivering them, the more goals you’re likely to generate.
What you need: All four corners of the field. Entire team. 4 balls.
How it works: This drill can be run simultaneously in all four corners of the field to eliminate standing-around time.
1. Position a player about 10 yards in front of the net.
2. The player delivering the corner kick must try to get the ball in the air.
3. The player receiving the ball can either work on his heading skills and attempt to head the ball into the net or work on his receiving skills by gaining control of the ball and then taking a quick shot on goal.
With this drill going on in all corners of the field, the goalie also has to react quickly and make several saves in succession. The difficulty of the drill can be increased by adding a defensive player to the mix, which makes the drill more gamelike.
Coaching pointers: Make sure your players aren’t sending the ball too close to the front of the net when making corner kicks.
Defensive Drills
In much the same way that offensive players work on different ways to control the ball and negotiate down the field, defensive players work to master the skills required of their position. You must help them learn different techniques to swipe possession of the ball and find ways to prevent the opposing players from capitalizing on a scoring opportunity when they have a player advantage on the attack. As we discuss in the preceding chapters, you can use a number of available methods. Now take a look at some drills to enhance some of those skills.
Tackling
Nothing disrupts the flow of an attack quicker than defenders who are skillful when it comes to taking the ball away. Sound tackling techniques are a necessity for any team at any level.
Chase and Catch
The Chase and Catch drill helps players learn to use their entire bodies, and specifically their shoulders, to take possession of the ball from an opposing player.
What you need: Area of field with goal. 3 players. A coach. 1 ball.
How it works: Position 2 players about 10 yards apart, with a coach between them with a ball. The coach sends the ball downfield. The two players flanking her run and try to gain possession of the ball. The player who gains control of the ball continues and tries to score a goal, while the other player takes a defensive role, trying to poke the ball away and prevent a shot on goal.
Coaching pointers: Make sure the kids keep their elbows tucked close to their body, because they may have a tendency to use them to muscle the opponent off the ball. If they do that, they’re called for a penalty that results in turning the ball over to the opposing team.
Pressure
Pressure teaches kids to receive a throw-in and to g
ather the ball under control and maintain possession of it while they’re facing heavy pressure from a defender.
What you need: 10- x 10-yard grid. 2 players. 1 ball.
How it works: Pair your players up, and give a youngster in each twosome a ball. The drill begins with the pairs facing each other with about 10 yards between them. At your command, the kids with a ball deliver a throw-in to their partners. After delivering the throw-in, they immediately charge toward their partners and try to steal possession of the ball. Run the drill for 5 or 10 seconds, or keep it going until possession of the ball is lost. Keep rotating who delivers the throw-in to start so players get practice in both scenarios.
Coaching pointers: Make sure the children receiving the ball are watching it into their bodies. Kids sometimes have the tendency to look at the player charging at them, which disrupts their ability to control the ball.
Race to the Cone
Race to the Cone gives defensive players a lot of tackling practice in a short period of time, with offensive players rapidly moving all around them. They also work on how to take the right angle to attempt stealing a ball from a player.
What you need: 20- x 20-yard grid. 5 players. 3 balls. 4 cones.
How it works: Select 2 players to serve as defenders. Position 4 (or more) cones at random spots around the playing field, and give each of the other 3 kids a soccer ball. (See Figure 14-7.) The object of the game is for the 3 offensive players to dribble their balls from cone to cone without losing possession. The cones represent safe spots, where defensive players can’t swipe the ball. Allow players to remain at the safe spots for only a few seconds to keep the game moving. Rotate the players often so that everyone gets chances to be an offensive and defensive player.
Figure 14-7: Rotate players during Race to the Cone so that they all play offense and defense.
Coaching pointers: Although this drill also promotes ball-handling skills, be on the lookout for defensive players using proper tackling techniques. Build the foundation of good defense so your players don’t receive unnecessary penalties during games for being too rough.