Soccer training drills to help your kids train at home

Soccer is a sport that helps kids maintain cardiovascular health, while increasing coordination, muscle strength, flexibility, and self-confidence. By regularly training outside the field or at home, children can correct technique or poor form. As one of the fastest-growing youth sports, kids' soccer allows for healthy competition and physical activity, with emphasis on the basics of ball skills.

10-2-1 Challenge

When conducting practice drills in preparation for a local kids' soccer game, try the 10-2-1 method. The challenge targets mastery, confidence, and competence with ball skills, and is easily completed in the comfort of the child's home or backyard.

In the 10-2-1 challenge, the child is given ten skills, a 2x2 metre square, and one minute to complete each skill. The aim of the challenge is for the player to perform the skill as many times as possible within the one-minute timeframe. Parents should monitor for correct form and technique, ensuring the ball is kept within the 2x2 metre square. Players can record their scores for each skill and compare between sessions or other teammates for healthy competition.

Soccer Training Drills

Backpedalling

Backpedalling is an important aspect of soccer motions, like that of sprinting and weaving. Try practising backpedalling without trip-ups. Focus on keeping the child's head up and keeping their hips open for passes. Start facing toward a point or cone, and backpedal away from point or cone, at a 45-degree angle. Consequently, have them run forward and repeat in the opposite direction.

Passing in Doubles

Pair up with your child and stand apart at a distance. Pass to one another with the inside of the feet. Learning to receive and pass the ball with ease is an essential ball skill. This drill will assist in the child's receive, as well as ensuring they can adequately stop the ball and kick it forward.

Freeze Tag

Mark tagged players as 'it' and untag or 'unfreeze' by passing the ball underneath the frozen player's legs. The objective is to tag all players so frozen at the same time while practising passing.

Goal Kicking

Often the highlight of the game, keep your kids active by helping them practise scoring goals. Have them stand at a distance and practise shooting by passing it a short distance in front of their feet, and shooting once they feel comfortable.

Weaving Drills

Teach kids to effectively move around the field. Teach them how to weave by setting up cones, and have them weave in and out of the cones while handling the ball. Have them kick the ball to their next teammate, or repeat the drill. Try alternating between dribbling techniques.

Cone Dribble

Get used to different positions and points on the playing field. Bring your child or children behind three cones. Have them dribble to the first cone, the second cone, and backpedal to their original place.

Training at home has various benefits and allows children to become more confident in their ball skills when on the field. By practising at home, children can correct their technique and form, as well as enhance communication skills, self-confidence, coordination, and physical health.