Soccer Drills for Kids

With the FIFA World Cup surrounding us everywhere we look, more and more parents are making use of soccer drills for kids to make their child better soccer players. The arrival of David Beckham to play soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy has really opened up US shores to the world's most famous and most played game, and the need for developing soccer at the grassroots level has never been felt more keenly.

In order to develop and build excellent soccer players, a proper training structure and administration needs to be set in place. Performing the right kind of soccer drills for 5 year olds and above is the only way to begin this process, because the right technique and skills can only be taught to a player when he is at a young age. In order to facilitate this process, a parent or a soccer trainer, needs to undertake and invoke basic soccer drills for kids as soon as possible in the players development.

Easy Soccer Drills for Kids

The advantages of conducting soccer drills for players at a young age is that they develop a real love for the game, they get to grow up surrounded by the right playing technique, and most importantly, they learn to have fun and play the game the right way. Here are some simple soccer drills for kids that will benefit them in the long run.

Coach's Revenge
This is a drill that is aimed at improving the agility, speed and finesse of a player. A circular area is created, and the coach and a few other players stand in the middle in a designated area. The aim is to have all the other players run within the bigger circle, while the people in the inner circle kick soccer balls at their feet. Players who get hit must come within the smaller circle. The last player left in the outer circle will be the winner.

Replicate This
This is a simple drill that is useful for helping the kids exercise a bit, and make their bodies flexible. The coach stands in front of everyone, and performs a certain action, and says 'Replicate this'. The action can be a form of stretching soccer exercise, it can be a motion of kicking the ball or any other similar movement. All the kids have to then proceed and carry out the same action.

Team Dribbling
For this soccer dribbling drill, a square grid must be made and a flag must be planted at each corner. Each player inside the grid must have a soccer ball at their feet, and the aim is to move around inside the grid with the ball at their feet. The coach will then call out a players name randomly, and that player has to then dribble the ball around any of the corner flags of his choice. All the other players have to then dribble around that same flag as soon as possible. This is one of the best soccer drills for kids for improving their dribbling skills.

Guard the Castle
This is a drill that builds up the passing skills and coordination between players. The coach needs to divide the team into groups of 4, and one of the players is the designated defender. A tall cone with a ball balanced on it is the castle, and the 3 other players have to knock this cone down with their soccer ball, by passing it between themselves. They can only take one touch each, and if the defender gets the ball before them, the next person becomes the defender.

Jam-Packed Drill
A large circle is drawn on the ground, and the players stand in the circle with a soccer ball each, at equal distances. Now they must all start moving in the same direction (clockwise or anti-clockwise) and listen to the coach's instruction. If he says jog they must move slowly, if he says sprint they must run as fast as they can with the ball, if he says change direction they must start moving in the opposite direction, and if he says cut across they must run through the circle and take up positions on the opposite end of the circle. This is a great soccer conditioning drill and workout for developing dribbling, and for improving their close control.

The aim of the coach should be to carry out as many offensive and defensive soccer drills for kids as possible. The more attention he pays to detail, the more skillful these players will become. The idea is to make the entire exercise fun for the kids, and to ensure that they learn something new every day.