Soccer Practice Games
Soccer practice games should teach the fundamental skills and also progress to teach players how to apply skills in a competitive game situation.
When coaching soccer practice games you should plan in advance all progressions during the practice game. Narrow down to 3 or 4 specific coaching points you wish to convey during a soccer practice game. Keeping your coaching points to 3 or 4 and consistently repeating them will be more successful than skimming over a range of different topics.
The Wall Pass Game
The ability to execute a wall pass, also known as a 1-2 combination is a valuable skill for a soccer player to possess. This game emphasizes the wall pass and subsequently coaches the fundamentals of passing, trapping, movement off the ball and communication. 8 players play this game in a 20 yard box. 4 players stand on the outside of the box, one on each side of the box. 4 players remain on the inside and are in teams of pairs.
Team A has the ball and team B wear pinnies to defend. An attacking player starts with the ball and scores 1 point by passing the ball to a player on the outside of the box and receiving the pass back, he scores 2 points if he can complete a wall pass with his teammate inside the box. No points are scored until the return pass is received, this emphasizes the need to move into space quickly after passing the ball. To make it easier to deign with you could allow the defenders to intercept only the return pass, progressing up to full defense. Allow the same team to keep possession for 2 minutes, before switching which team are the defenders and attackers. Repeat this game with the players on the outside of the box coming inside to play and the 4 players inside standing as the outside players. Coaching points during this soccer practice game should be;
Correct passing technique. Accelerate into space after passing the ball. First 3 steps must be the quickest. First touch under control and away from pressure. Awareness of what is around you. Pass then accelerate into space to receive ball back immediately.
Build up play (Patience and urgency)
Youth soccer players tend to force the ball forward and not show patience when building an attack. This game rewards using possession to build an attack. Passing side to side and showing patience is rewarded in soccer by dragging defenders out for position. In this game patience is rewarded by eliminating defenders into the game.
Have two 20 yard boxes adjoined with a goal at the end line of one. One box will have 4 attackers and 2 defenders, and the other box will have 2 v 2 towards goal. All attacking players should wear a pinnie. The ball starts in the 4 v 2 keepaway box and the attackers pass and move against full pressure. They are allowed at any time to pass into the 2 v 2 box for their teammates to shoot on goal. Every time 5 passes are completed one of the 2 v 2 defenders must take a knee and be out of the game. This rewards patience in build up play. As soon as the ball enters the attacking box coach a sense of urgency. The forwards should look to shoot inside the 18 when they get the opportunity, or quickly pass to a teammate in a better position. This game teaches the concept of using patient build up play to drag teams out of position before going forward, then urgency in the attacking box and a shoot on goal mentality.
ACTION PLAN
Incorporate these games into a progressive session plan rather than using them alone as a single entity. For example, when using the wall pass game begin your session with passing technique practice unopposed, then move on to 3 v 1 or 4 v 1 keep away to build success. Then play the wall pass game under full resistance. This way confidence builds through the session and the coaching points remain consistent throughout the session. Try and stick to similar skill sets during each practice session. Read the links below for tons of soccer practice games.
