When you have a passion for something, you want to pursue it in every available moment. Whether you’re a soccer coach looking for some practice strategies to assign to your players, a parent looking to step up your child, or a player who loves the game and wants to improve, we’ve created some soccer strategies for youth. Exercises that can be practiced alone. Every youth soccer player must learn to throw and catch the ball correctly, even if his position doesn’t require it on a regular basis.
Passing exercises that can be practiced alone
- Practice throwing a spiral. Focus on your technical grip as well as your throw. Practice at 50% of your throwing power and focus on throwing perfect spirals. The soccer ball should roll off the fingers by giving the ball a spin.
- Once the downward spiral begins to develop accuracy. Once again, keep your drills at half speed and focus on achieving the highest accuracy rating. Get a notebook to keep track of and try to improve each time.
- Once you can consistently throw a perfect spiral at a target, you can start to increase the power of your throws. Increase the speed by 10% or so until you get the maximum accuracy rating you achieved at 50% capacity.
- Now it’s time to cast while moving to simulate game activity. Practice throwing out of the pocket, rolling, backing up to avoid the run, throwing in the opposite direction…essentially, prepare for all game conditions.
Get enough rest for your arm. The problem with doing repetitive activities is that they can strain your muscles and ligaments. Practicing soccer passing drills just two or three alternate days a week is enough.
Reception exercises that can be practiced alone
- Practice your running routes for each play. Drill the thesis into your subconscious mind. Simulate game action and raise your hands to catch while forming a “pocket” with your fingers.
- As a receiver, it is important that you practice “seeing the ball in your hands” so that it becomes second nature. To practice this on your own, lie on your back and spin the ball a few feet in the air. Then “watch” the ball directly in your hands. Be sure to form a pocket with your hands with your thumbs and index fingers almost touching. Catch the ball away from your body and then put it in.
Of course, you can also perform agility and conditioning drills on your own. All youth soccer players should be taught the self-discipline to exercise. Try these youth soccer drills whenever you can and watch your game improve.
You can also find many youth soccer drills online that cover passing, receiving, running, defending, and more. Some exercises are free and others require a subscription or ordering a DVD. Free soccer drills allow you more flexibility to try a variety and see what works best for you as a coach and your youth baseball team. Always remember that the exercises must be age appropriate. The correct passing drill for a 14 year old will not suit an 8 year old and vice versa.
There are plenty of soccer coaching resources and communities like Weplay available to help you with any questions you may have. Don’t underestimate the passion of the community around you. We are all here to help children.