Just run through the article once and you’ll be assured of the fact that in Soccer practice, more than soccer drills, it is the games that play a key role in developing skills.

Not only are games more stimulating than drills, but the energy required is also the same like in a real tournament.

In soccer training, games require strength, are fun to play, and kids get to learn the skills while realizing the enjoyable features of the game.

You must remember the following rules while bringing in games in the training sessions.

1. Ensure that each player has the ball and gets to play with it frequently.

2. Make sure each player participates equally in the game.

It shouldn't be a case where the weak players do not get to touch the ball or get knocked out.

3. Abstain from adopting the policy of reward or penalty.

Games don’t require that.

4. The focus of the games should always be soccer skill building.

Soccer practice

5. Preferably, you should abstain from enforcing any laws or limits in a game.

6. The games should be simple to understand and play.

Complex games take time to be understood and therefore waste time.

7. Finally, increase the level of difficulty in the game after the kids have managed to pass a given level.

Every soccer practice session should have its players practice and touch the ball at least 200-300 times.

This will ensure that they are making progress in improving their skills.

Here’s a list of few soccer coaching games that are not only interesting, accepted, and useful, but also help players hone their skills.

1. Shoot the coach: Here, the kids try to put the ball into the goal by moving in a crowd and keeping their head held high.

It helps improve dribbling and also concentration ability of the player.

It always helps to make the kids play the game by starting with 3 kids and regularly introducing more players.

2. Freeze Tag: This game is great for warm ups as well as teaching the kids to keep the ball away from the defender.

In this game, every player has a ball except one and the player without the ball must touch (not kick) the ball.

When this happens, the player with the ball is frozen and must act as a goal post.

He can be de-frozen only when another player hits the ball through the frozen player's legs.

Continue playing till the time all players are in a frozen state.

3. Red light, green light: In this game, the kids make a queue.

When the coach shouts green light and turns the back towards the ball, the players must move forward with their respective balls before the coach again shouts red light and faces the kids.

If a player fails to come forward, he must return and start again.

This is a great game for building agility and focus.

So, this is it!

If you like to know more about such soccer practice games, register for our youth soccer coaching academy where you will find several such resources.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players' skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer practice