Soccer Drills and Skills

 In this section, animated drills with explanations and prints outs are provided (at the bottom of this page.) As you and I know the proper performance of a drill is key to the overall success of that particular soccer drill. But, it's not the drill alone that delivers successful athletes and teams. Every drill must be approached with a multi faceted effort. So as we delve into not only the drills themself we must consider these focuses as well: mental focus , physical game like effort, timing and precision, practice imperfectly, working the drill from all standpoints, blocked vs. non blocked routine, and have fun. 

Physical Game like effort

Its difficult to replicate game speed in practice but the closer you get the better off you will be.  Whenever practicing a skill work in game speed as much as possible. If everytime you practice shooting, for example, you work at 1/2 speed, when gametime comes you may not get your shots off in time or you will be slow to react to the positioning of the team. This goes for all skills. Work them like you are in a game so you are better prepared for the speed of the game.

Timing and precision

Work on timing and precision while performing drills. Let me provide a few examples.  The give and go in soccer is a primary play. It requires knowing your team mate and them knowing you.  But it also requires precision passing and optimal timing. In practice, don't think that because it is only practice you can be less than precise.

Your practice regime must include sharp cuts, not rounded cuts. If you round them in practice you are more likely to round them in games. Be sharp, be quick, and be precise with your cuts.  It makes the player more un-guardable. It can make a slower player faster just by being more precise.

Practice imperfectly

During practice its important "sometimes" to provide imperfect scenarios to adjust to.  For example, goalkeepers are not always going to be given the perfect ball to save. Another example, defenders are not always going to be guarding a forward running straight at them. There will be twists, fakes, cuts as the forward tries to score.

In soccer drills to develop an individual skill this is very prevelant. A pass from a team mate will come from all angles and will not always be perfectly at your feet. By providing imperfect scenarios you or the team will be more ready to deal with them.

Mental Focus

Be focused mentally when doing drills.

Working the drill from all stanpoints

This one is easy.  If your strong foot is your left, then work your right too. If you can only shoot with your right foot then practice shooting with your left too. In my opinion this should be done in practice. If you can't shoot or pass with your left foot and you try it in a game before you are ready your chances of success will go way down.

Blocked vs. Non Blocked Practice

Dont only practice the skill over and over and over again. There is some scientific evidence to suggest a better carryover to game situations when your practice is more like this: Heading, shooting, passing, throw in.  Not: Heading heading heading heading heading.  shooting shooting shooting shooting.  (Use your best judgement on this one.  Repetition is very important.  And switching from one skill to a different one will limit the amount of time you have and thus limit the number of repetitions.)

Blocked practice is like shooting 200 free kicks over and over again without mixing in heading or passing.  Unblocked practice is like shooting a couple, then heading a ball, then passing the ball, then maybe shooting again.

Have Fun

This is a game. If players and coaches don't enjoy it why do it. Just have fun. This is a website for youth training. Many of these players are paying to play because they love the game. Don't suck out the fun, make it enjoyable.