A few soccer success drills for coaches! Articles | Soccer

By: Tine Hidalgo

Soccer drills have been a part of Coaches' job for decades. These drills are exclusively used by soccer coaches to teach numerous moves and strategies to the players. While the repetitive drills may be considered boring, the benefits of practicing the same skill over and over again surely makes a difference and can prepare a team that stand against the most powerful team.

By using a trial and error method, the coach may eventually come across a drill which he may find particularly beneficial for teaching a particular technique or activity. We will have a look at a few basic soccer drills that are commonly used.

1) Your first challenge may be to teach the players how to take control of the ball. You can do this by dividing all the players in two teams, making them stand facing each other. Now throw the ball into the air and let them try to take control of it.

2) Now this simple one on one drill can help you teach your players to protect the ball.  Make one player stand next to the ball with his feet a shoulder width apart; the second player should stand on the outside shoulder of the first player. Ask the second player 2 try his best to get his foot on the ball, This will force the opposing player to gain balance and protect the ball while playing with strong opponents.

There a number of coaches who prefer drills that are more like games and involve fun. Let's have a look at one such fun filled 8-minute drill which is designed to provide constant movement and helps players work on crossing, finishing, goalkeeping and also communication within the team. Start off dividing the group into teams of 3's or 4's, and give a ball to each divided team. Ask the player holding the ball to go to the sideline, 18 yards from the end line. The player then dribbles the ball to the end line, and crosses the ball back toward the middle, while the teammates try to score one touch.  The team scores a point if the ball is on the ground and gets scored however if the ball is served in the air and goes straight for a goal, it should be counted as 3 points. Similarly, if the ball is kicked in the air and if it hits the goal, 5 points. Before rotating. Each player serves the ball twice before rotating.

Following are few more short drills that can help your players in better kicking and controlling the ball:

1. Push-Pull: Using the inside of the foot, tap ball back and forth and thrust it forward with one foot and pulling it back with the help of opposite foot's sole.2) Inside Roll:  Roll the ball across your body from outside to inside with the inside and sole of the foot, stopping the ball with the inside of the other foot.  
2. Kick Over ball: Kick over ball with the inside of the foot. At the same time, pull it back with the sole of the same foot.
3. Pull Turn: While turning your body, pull the ball back with one foot taking the ball in the opposite direction with the inside of the first foot.