| A soccer coach is just like a school teacher, | | | | seem like a game. |
| but instead of working with theoretical | | | | |
| information, his goal is getting his pupils | | | | If you need them to run 5 laps, invent some |
| to apply what he's trying to get to them. | | | | sort of fun drill game, or just give them a |
| Working with kids has a lot of advantages and | | | | reward afterwards, giving them a soccer drill |
| it really gives you a sense of accomplishment | | | | that involves kicking the ball (it doesn't |
| when you see those little guys' eyes shining | | | | matter if it's a half-field match, some short |
| when you throw them a ball and tell them to | | | | passes or some 5 versus 2 groups, as long as |
| perform a fun exercise. | | | | your soccer drill involves the ball, the kids |
| | | | will love it). |
| But at the same time, it can be extremely | | | | |
| frustrating trying to get through with soccer | | | | Another big issue you'll be concerned with in |
| drills for kids, mainly because kids have | | | | your soccer drills for U8 is not taking the |
| less understanding and concentration | | | | fun away from the exercises. If you set up |
| capabilities as a grown up, or a teenager | | | | two teams and throw a ball in the middle and |
| (kids to make up for these shortcomings with | | | | ask them to play soccer, the kids will all |
| their enthusiasm, energy and ability to learn | | | | rush to it and chaotically kick it around. |
| faster). | | | | There will be no defenders, attackers or what |
| | | | not, it's just a bunch of kids having fun. |
| So if you're here looking for some soccer | | | | |
| drills for u8s, the first thing you should | | | | Obviously, that's not ok with you, because |
| know is that anything that you do, absolutely | | | | you want to infuse some sense of organization |
| must be "fun". What your kids understand by | | | | and tactics in them, even from such an early |
| fun might differ from team to team, so it | | | | age. But if you just bluntly tell some of |
| will be your job to see what they like doing. | | | | them to stay at the back, or not dribble, |
| | | | you'll just take the fun away from them. What |
| You can't try and explain soccer drills for | | | | you need to do is, again, work around a |
| young kids as you would for grown-ups. You | | | | reward-system that can help them understand |
| can't just tell them to give you 5 laps of | | | | why you want them to sit there and there, or |
| the pitch, without a certain motivation in | | | | not do this and that. |
| fun. Otherwise, you risk the youngsters | | | | |
| losing interesting in training and quitting | | | | The rewards don't have to be anything |
| soccer. | | | | material. Even congratulating your guys when |
| | | | they manage to listen to your requests is |
| When you ask a grown-up for 5 laps, you can | | | | enough of a reward for them. You'll soon see |
| tell him that it's for his endurance, | | | | them trying harder and respecting your |
| conditioning and so forth. Telling that to a | | | | requests not because you forced them, but |
| kid will go in through one ear and leave | | | | because they're striving for that "Good Job" |
| through the other. So try to make everything | | | | congratulation coming from you. |