Soccer-How to Train Alone
Time invested in practice is the only way to significantly improve your ability as a soccer player. Many people marvel over the ability of teams such as Brazil and wonder about the coaching methods and strategies that produce such brilliance. Taking this mindset is overlooking a basic fact, the players you watch at this level have invested thousands of hours throughout their life into training. Whether it be focused practice or pick-up games, these players grew up playing the game daily. Any player wishing to emulate their level of ability must do so. Often a player will play on a team that practices once or twice a week. These practice sessions will not be enough, as 90 minutes to three hours per week is not sufficient to truly master the skills of the game of soccer.
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First touch
All you need to work on your first touch is a soccer ball and a wall. Kicking the ball against the wall will allow you to trap the ball on the return and develop your fist touch. Warm up by rolling side foot passes into the wall and trapping the return. Progress the difficulty of your practice by increasing the power of passes, then driving passes with your laces into the wall while you stand 5 to 10 yards away from the wall. Practice taking a touch out in front, or way to the side to simulate creating space away from a defender. Practice equally with both feet when doing this drill, a player who is able to use both feet will be a valuable asset to his team. Also practice using a range of body surfaces to trap the ball. Pick the ball up in your hands and throw it at the wall, trap the ball using different body surfaces, including your thigh and chest.
Passing
You can practice passing the soccer ball by using a wall or stationary targets to pass to. Targets can be other balls or cones. Stand 10 to 20 yards away from a wall and roll passes into it. Use a small target to develop accuracy, use a specific brick in the wall as target or use chalk to mark a 3 to 6 inch target for a pass to hit. Practice with both feet. If you are on a field put balls down in scattered positions 20 to 30 yards from you. Award yourself points by hitting the ball you are passing into the stationary ball. Use side foot and driven laces passes, this drill will develop your range of passing. Practice lofted passes by putting hula hoops on the ground and landing the ball in them from different angles and distances. Designed with Coachfx
Click here to view the drillShooting
When you practice shooting find a goal or marking a goal using two cones as goal posts. When you are alone it is better to have a number of balls to avoid chasing the ball after every shot, either that or use a wall so the ball can rebound back to you. Clearly mark out a goal on the wall. Practice your shooting from 5 different points, one central one just outside either goal post, and one 5 to 10 yards wide on an angle. Aim for the top and bottom corners of the goal, as this is where the goalkeeper will find it hardest to make a save. Designed with Coachfx
ACTION PLAN
- Begin practice by jogging and stretching thoroughly.
- Juggle the ball for 5 to 10 minutes, use both feet as well as thighs and head while juggling.
- Work on your first touch by standing 10 to 20 yards away from a wall with a ball at your feet. Pass the ball 20 times with your left foot into the wall, and trap the return. Repeat the process with your right foot. Repeat this drill 20 times on each foot driving the pass as hard as possible into the wall, keeping the ball on the ground.
- Hold the ball in your hands and throw it against the wall at differing heights. Practice 20 traps with each thigh, and 20 with the chest.
- Hit 100 shots 20 from each point described above.
