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Being new to coaching I found myself looking on the web, in the local library and to more experienced coaches for guidance to help me organize my practices. If you are a new coach I am sure it would be helpful to know, What are the basic skills should I be teaching my players? Are there age specific drills I should follow? What goals should I set for the team to reach at the end of the season? Hopefully the New and Experienced coaches will find the information below useful – Please take the time to look through the offerings and comment on them. I do welcome comments/suggestions and if you have some information that I can add to this site please send me an email CoachesCorner@Dearbornsoccer.org.

I have also included links to the various websites that gave me permission to use some of their information on our website click on “Links Worth Visiting” below. I am also a member of the Coach L Email List and will add some of the topics periodically that coaches around the country are talking about.

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Coaching Soccer 101

Goal Keeping
Aggressiveness
Speed of Play
Defense – Basic Principles
Passing & Receiving
Turning The Ball
Turning Fakes (Includes Video Clips)
Warming Up
Shooting
Switch Point of Play
Coaching Philosophy – New Coaches
Characteristics of Various Age Groups
Miscellaneous Drills and Practice Plans
The FA SoccerStar Challange
Links Worth Visiting
Video Clip Library
Message Board

FOOT SKILLS

Ball Mastery
Multiple Touches on the Ball = Ball Mastery = Success

Have your players ever moaned and asked the question - "Why do we do (foot) skills every practice?" You would think that the reason was obvious but it isn’t. Simply put, foot skills are the bases for everything else we do in soccer. Teams that are National Champions to the Men's and Women's Professional Teams do foot skill work every single day. When a player becomes comfortable with the ball at their feet, when the act of dribbling becomes instinctive, the level of enjoyment of this great game becomes even greater. The notes below describe some of the basic foot skills that can be taught at any age. There are also fundamental games and more advanced moves and exercises that can be reviewed and downloaded. You find Drills on some basic moves that will get your players 1000 touches on the ball in under 15 minutes. They move from easy to hard. Pick what is age appropriate for your team and good luck
Handout: Ball Mastery

Fundamental Games
Games for Under 5's through Under 9's. Favorites like Shark, Bull Dog, Red Light Green Light, Trick or Treat, Freeze Tag and many more
Drill: Fundamental Foot Skill Games

Castles and Dragons
Drill: Castles and Dragons

Fundamental 1v1v1v1
From John Crouch of Kick Smart
Drill: Fundamental Foot Skill 1 v 1 v 1 v 1

Match Related Footskill Games
Popular games like Bulldog, Shark and Freeze Tag help to teach the footskills detailed in the previous sections but now in a Match Related setting
Drill: Match Foot Skill Games

Match Related Game -War
War is a simple match related footskill game for multiple players
Drill: Match Related Game - War

Match Related 1 v 1
The following is a new 1 V1 Exercise I received from John Crouch at Kick Smart
Drill: 1 v 1

Match Related Game - 1 v 1 v 1
1 v 1 v 1 is a simple match related footskill game that stresses the 1 v 1 skills so necessary to building confidence
Drill: Match Related Game - 1 v 1 v 1

More Advanced Footskills
For the more advanced player, Scissors, Cryuf, Rivolinos and more
Drill: More Advanced Footskill Moves

More Advanced Footskill Drills
Exercises where you can practice your new moves
Drill: More Advanced Footskill Drills

Advanced Match Related Games
Match Related Games where you can practice your new moves
Drill: Match Related Footskill Games

Match Condition Footskill Games
And finally Match Condition Games where you can practice your new moves
Drill: Match Condition Footskill Games

Juggling

Learning Juggling Skills

Keys:

-Initially practice juggling on pavement so that you can play the bounce and keep the ball moving. Learning to softly touch a bouncing ball is almost as important as a juggle touch and teaches the same movements.
-Use the shoelace or instep part of the foot for most foot touches. Use the soft, fleshy part of the thigh for thigh juggles. Stay away from the knee.

Learning to juggle is not easy! There are not many "shortcuts". It can be very frustrating to new players and they just want to quit trying. Take it slow with lots of encouragement for everything. Many times they will begin to show significant gains but seem to lose all of those gains the following practice. Go slow. The time and effort it takes a player to progress from 2 touches to 4 touches may well be the same as from 20 to 40 juggles later on. Work in games like "juggle-horse" to keep it interesting.

Start with a decent but expendable ball that you can use on pavement and not mind the scuffs. You may find that if you under-inflate it just a tiny bit, it will allow for more control. Repeat all the skills with both feet.
Hold the ball out in front of you with both hands and drop it onto the pavement for a bounce. After the bounce, tap the ball back up to your hands with the shoelace or instep part your foot. Catch the ball and repeat several times with each foot. We need to learn how to describe these movements so the teacher can lead some beginning jugglers through these skills. (I would call this a "bounce-foot-catch".)
Now, drop the ball for a bounce, tap it softly up towards your hands but let it fall back to the pavement for another bounce. Then tap it up to your hands for a catch. (I would call this a "bounce-foot-bounce-foot-catch".) Repeat this several times, again with both feet.
Next we will drop the ball directly to the foot for a tap back to the hands for a catch. (This is a "foot-catch")
Now drop the ball to the foot for a tap but let it bounce, then use the foot to tap it up to the hands for a catch. (This is a "foot-bounce-foot-catch".)
Keep adding on touches and bounces alternating a foot touch with a bounce and ending with a catch. It's important to end with a catch to maintain control.
Finally drop the ball for a bounce and tap it up with the foot but before it bounces try to tap it up again for a catch. ( This is a "bounce-foot-foot-catch".) This is the beginning of "real" juggling! This is a big step. If it seems too difficult for the player, do not hesitate to back up and work on the 1 touch exercises again with bounces inbetween.
Continue to try different variations of bouncing and 2 foot touches. Don't try to go to 3 consecutive foot juggles too soon. Getting from 2 juggles to 3 is a very big step as well. Instead try to link lots of 2 juggles together with bounces. Try a bounce-foot-foot-bounce-foot-foot-catch. Later on link together a several of these 2 touch juggles with a bounce between each one. In fact, see how long you can keep it going with 2 touches and then a bounce. Have a contest.
It may not be the first day, but eventually you are ready to go for 3 juggles. Warm-up with single touches and work up to 2 touches linked together with bounces, just as I have described above. Then try a bounce followed by 3 foot juggles and a catch. (This is a bounce-foot-foot-foot-catch.)Encourage alternating feet during the 3 touch juggle. Once they get the hang of this, start using bounces to link together more 3 and 2 touch.
You can drop the ball directly to the foot without a bounce, to start the juggle, once they begin to develop some control.
Approach thigh touches and head touches the same way, but wait until they have some control with their feet so they can "dig" it up for a catch at the end. Also they will often find the thigh touches easier and tend to overwork them thus neglecting the feet. Start with a thigh-bounce-foot-catch combo and then keep adding on. Try a thigh-thigh-bounce-foot-catch and then a thigh-thigh-foot-foot-catch and now they are up to 4 legitimate juggles!
Once you have made it this far you should encourage less bounces between touches, but I still like to see players use the bounce to keep the ball moving. I think it is better that they keep touching it back up even with bounces, as opposed to getting frustrated and stopping.
Now it will take time and practice to learn how to keep the ball airborne. Once again, introduce games and contests to keep it interesting. (click here for Juggling Games) A great game for juggling skills and improvement of all first touches is "soccer tennis"! I highly recommend it.
There will be breakthrough days when the player finally juggles 3 in a row or much later, gets to 10 for the first time. These are often followed by frustrating days where nothing seems to work. Then much later, when they finally get to about 20 juggles, the "lights" seem to come on. Juggling actually becomes a fun thing to do and they begin to attract attention and compliments from other players, coaches, and parents. Now if they keep at it, they can break 50 in "no time".

Warm-up Touches (Courtesy of Strong Soccer)

In-betweens with step-over 180 turn. Video clip
-First, to do the "in-betweens" stand with the soccer ball between your feet which are about shoulder width apart. Using the inside of the right foot, tap the ball softly to the inside of the left foot. Then using the inside of the left foot, tap it back again to the inside of the right foot. The trick is to keep the ball constantly moving between the feet as the player "hops" from foot to foot to prepare for the next touch. Once you get the hang of it, begin to move forward with each step by tapping the ball slightly forward with each touch. Eventually you should be able to keep the in-betweens going without a miss as you move slowly all over the place.

-Secondly, do the "step-over 180 turn. (This is a very important turn! Watch the pros, you will see variations of this turn a dozen times a game.) Start with the ball between your feet, as it is during your "in-betweens". Put your weight on your left foot as you swing your right foot up and over the ball (turning counter-clockwise towards the left). Plant the right foot down on the left side of the ball and step down. (This is the "stepover" part of the move and will be used in lots of fakes and feints). Now using that right foot as a pivot, spin (turning clockwise this time) around with your left foot, back towards the ball. Once you have turned a 180, take the ball with your left foot and begin the "in-betweens" the other direction.

Slight Variation to the step-over 180 Turn above is to take the ball back with the outside of the right foot instead of using it as a pivot foot. Here you fake the "stepover" as you turn counter-clockwise over the ball with the right foot, just as before. Then instead of planting that right foot, you just tap it down and then back up as you begin to pivot back clockwise still on the left foot. Then you take the ball with the outside of the right foot (the stepover foot) and move back in the new direction. Personally, I prefer this variation. I think it is quicker and a little easier to do the pivot with cleats on grass fields.
KEY POINTS: The move becomes effective when the "stepover" looks like a shot or pass or lunge in that direction. This "sells" the "FAKE" and then you take the ball quickly in the other direction.

Toe touches moving forward and alternating feet. Video clip
Begin with the ball between your feet and slightly to the front. Lift the right foot and lightly touch the top of the ball with the front (cleat side) of the shoe, underneath the toe. Replace that right foot and do the same with the left foot. Now begin to alternate touches faster until you have to make little hops back and forth with your feet while continuing to touch the top of the ball. Finally, push the ball forward a few inches with each touch as you begin to move forward with each step.
The trick is to touch the ball forward "just the right distance" and slightly in front of the other foot so you can keep the pattern going without a break. After moving forward about 10 yds. do a "pullback" turn and return to the starting spot continuing your toe touches.

Toe touches moving backwards and alternating feet. Video clip
This is nearly the same as the toe touches moving forward but instead goes backward. With each hop backwards touch the ball back and diagonally toward your next foot. This is a little more difficult to learn but is great for developing quick feet and pull back touches.

Side hop rolls moving forward (a.k.a. side drag rolls). Video clip
This is a shielding and rolling maneuver. Start by facing sideways (e.g. first face to the right) to the direction of travel, with the ball between your feet. Using the sole of your right foot, come up and over the top of the ball from right( the back) to left (the front). This gets the ball rolling to your left and down the direction of travel. After rolling over the top of the ball with your right foot, plant it down and "hop" onto your left foot and repeat. All the touches are with the right foot, rolling the ball to the left with your cleats as you "hop" down the field. You would use this to advance the ball and at the same time keep the defender to your backside. Repeat with the left foot.
KEY POINTS: Being able to roll the ball in various directions while shielding it from defenders can be crucial to finding space in tight spots. Watch a good winger use this maneuver deep in the corner to defeat a double team. Strikers often use this roll out at the 18 yd. line to protect the ball while searching for the next possible shot or pass.

Outside foot touches with fast feet Video clip

Push the ball to the outside with the outside of the foot then take 2 steps behind the rolling ball to prepare to touch it with the outside of the other foot.

KEY POINTS: Kids learn early how to move the ball around with the inside part of their feet but sometimes do not progress to using the outside part of the foot. This condems them to countless failed attempts to beat the opponent since they end up in the "fruitless kicking battle" as both players stab at the ball with the insides of their feet. Many of the great fakes (lunge, scizzors, Matthews, reverse Matthews, Rivelino, drag swerve etc.) will use the outside of the feet so the players should get comfortable with this touch at an early age.

Speed Change with "Hop-stop" - "Half Garrincha" Video clip

Have the players dribble slowly or do some "inbetweens" and then explode up the field for about 4 steps finally coming to a turning stop. Repeat.
KEY POINTS:There is little point in making a feint if the space gained is not exploited by a burst of speed. In fact, the attempt at the feint can be poor, but it will still be effective if combined with instant acceleration. I think many young players concentrate too much on the "cut" and forget to "explode" out of the fake.

Outside to inside roll right foot across body, touch forward with left foot. Video clip
This is a very important maneuver that has been referred to in some circles as the "Preki". Start with the ball between your feet. Begin with a little lean or lunge out to the right side of the ball by lifting your right foot and stepping down lightly beside the ball. Do not plant weight onto this right foot. Instead, plan to shift your weight back to the left and then "scrape" your cleats over the top of the ball, from the right side to the left, to begin it rolling to the left. After it has crossed completely in front of your body, use the inside of your left foot to touch it forward. Now repeat the same starting with the left foot.
KEY POINTS: The little lunge to the right side of the ball sets up the rapid move back to the left and "sells" this fake. Being comfortable "scraping" the ball with the cleats to get it rolling in different directions is essential to close quarters dribbling to find space for shooting and passing. Follow this "inside roll" with the "outside roll" as described below. Eventually, any time you are stopped with your foot on top of the ball, you will be able to instantly move left, right, or backwards into a pull-back and still maintain possession.

Inside to outside roll right foot to the (right) side, touch forward with right foot. Video clip
This is the sister move to the "outside to inside" roll. Start with the ball between your feet. Begin with a rapid movement with your right foot to the top of the ball and stop briefly with your cleats on top. This motion should make it appear like you are passing the ball, or taking the ball to your left side, across your body. Instead, keep your weight on your left foot and "scrape" from the inside to the outside with your right foot. This gets the ball rolling back to your right and slightly behind you. Then turn your hips to the right and touch it with the inside of the right foot to deflect it off to the right on a diagonal. Repeat with the right foot several times and then switch to the left. (This is the basic movement for the key feint known as a "pullback V".)
KEY POINTS: This move is the backbone of the important fake known as the "Vee" or better yet, the "fake-kick V". Emphasize the fake kick motion up to the ball at the beginning of the move, then rapidly pull the ball back and outside to the right, finally turn the hips to follow the ball and touch it with the inside aspect of the right foot and you have a classic "V".

Skip Touches. Video clip

Start with the right foot in front of the left, and the ball just ahead of the leading foot. Begin by touching the ball forward with the (right) front foot which you then plant on the ground and do a little "hop" (or skip), while your (left) trailing leg comes to the front. When that (left) leg is in front, touch the ball ahead with it, then plant it down for a little "hop" (skip), and continue. Do this for several dozen skips.
KEY POINTS: Ever watch a basketball guard set up his move to the basket? Many times he will put a little "stutter", "skip", or "hitch" in his movement to freeze the defender and set his own feet. The same thing applies to a football halfback who is preparing to pick his "hole" and dive for the first down. He will literally "skip" for a stride which often times either freezes the defenders, or "wrong foots" them. This concept works in soccer dribbling as well. Next time you are practicing even simple soccer feints,( like "lunges" for instance), add a skip just before the move and watch how well the move works. Notice the extra little jump you get as you complete the move. It seems to "load the spring" in your legs, helping prepare for the quick change of pace and direction.

Run Through Traps (Video clip coming soon)

Have the players toss the ball into the air and slightly in front of themselves. Then they should run through the bouncing ball to "push" it up the field. Contact can be made with head, chest, waist, thighs, shins or feet with just enough of a touch to begin the ball moving away. This kind of drill can be done in pairs, as well, but I think it is important enough to include in every warm-up.
KEY POINTS:How many games do we see young players standing in a circle watching a high ball bounce between them, their faces bobbing like bobble-heads, unable to take control? Of course there are many ways to trap high balls but simply running through the bounce is often times as good as any, and it begins the ball moving away from the defenders into space.

TURNING FAKES

(Dribble out about 5 yds. - make a 180 turn/cut, then return to starting point and make another. Do at least 10 with each foot.)

Pull Backs Video Clip - "turn with" Pullback Video Clip - "turn away" Pullback Video Clip Highlights

This is a cousin to the "outside and inside" rolls as discussed above but it "scrapes" the ball backwards. Start with the ball between your feet. Fake up to the top of the ball with your right foot in a kicking motion, but stop with your cleats on top of the ball. Then "pull-back" the ball by "scraping" your cleats backwards to get the ball rolling behind you. Now you can turn either clockwise or counterclockwise to face the ball again. If you used your right foot to "pull-back" and you turn clockwise or towards the pull-back leg it is a "turn-with pull-back". If however, your turn counterclockwise away from the right leg, it is a "turn-away pull-back". You should learn them both. The "turn-away pull-back" is the better of the two since you can continue to face a defender while you change direction and not "spin" away from him and risk losing site of him and his attempt at a steal.
KEY POINTS: The pull-back moves are some of the first moves kids learn and initially they get a lot of mileage out of them. Unfortunately, they get overused and often times used in the wrong places, especially against older and more skilled defenders. They are best used deep in the offensive third of the field, usually off to the sides to quickly change directions on a slashing attack. They should not be used anywhere near one's own penalty area or anywhere in the middle of the field where an alert defender could begin a dangerous breakaway. The shielding turns like the stepovers, 3/4 shield turns and the "sharp inside/outside cuts" are safer in these areas.

Fake kick into inside/outside cuts. (a.k.a. "chop" turns)
Video clip - "inside cut"
Video clip - "outside cut"
highlights clip #1
highlights clip #2
highlights clip #3
highlights clip #4
Everyone knows how to cut the ball with the inside and outside of the feet. The difference in this move is to cut the ball very "sharply" backwards to the inside or outside, and set it up with a fake kick.
Begin by dribbling forward. Touch the ball a little in front of your feet, plant your left foot near the ball and wind up with your right leg like you are going to shoot (or kick the ball hard). Instead of shooting you bring your right leg down in a "chopping" motion to cut the ball backwards across the front of your body. It has to be a very sharp cut back towards your left foot and maybe even in towards yourself. You may even have to hop out of the way with your left foot. Then continue in that new direction and do another with the left foot. This is known as the "inside cut". The "outside cut" begins the same, but after the fake right kick, instead of "chopping" down of the ball, you "sweep" it away with the outside of your right foot away from the defender. This is a less aggressive move and actually shields the ball as well.
KEY POINTS: Cutting the ball with the inside of the foot is the most basic maneuver in soccer. If it is done without some sort of a "fake" or violent change of pace, it is doomed to end up between you and the defender in another frustrating and purposeless kicking battle. What makes this move work is that it is preceded by the fake kick which "wrong-foots" the defender and then the cut has to be extremely sharp, literally a "chop" backwards and maybe even slightly into you.

Stepover 180 turns
Video clip - "take away inside foot"
Video clip - "take away outside foot"
Highlights clip #1
Highlights clip #2 (This is a very important turn! Watch the pros, you will see variations of this turn a dozen times a game.) Start with the ball between your feet, as it is during your "in-betweens". Put your weight on your left foot as you swing your right foot up and over the ball (turning counter-clockwise towards the left). Plant the right foot down on the left side of the ball and step down. (This is the "stepover" part of the move and will be used in lots of fakes and feints). Now using that right foot as a pivot, spin (turning clockwise this time) around with your left foot, back towards the ball. Once you have turned a 180, take the ball with your left foot and begin to move in the other direction. The initial stepover move is also known as a "Rivelino" stepover and sometimes this turn is called a "Rivelino" turn.

Another slight variation is to take the ball back with the outside of the right foot instead of using it as a pivot foot. Here you fake the "stepover" as you turn counter-clockwise over the ball with the right foot, just as before. Then instead of planting that right foot, you just tap it down and then back up as you begin to pivot back clockwise still on the left foot. Then you take the ball with the outside of the right foot (the stepover foot) and move back in the new direction. Personally, I prefer this variation. I think it is quicker and a little easier to do the pivot with cleats on grass fields.
KEY POINTS: The move becomes effective when the "stepover" looks like a shot or pass or lunge in that direction. This "sells" the "FAKE" and then you take the ball quickly in the other direction.

Swivel Video Clip Courtesy KC Legends

While moving sideways with the ball let it roll outside of the body-line and use the nearest foot to cut it back 6 inches along the line it was traveling. The foot contact should be made around the far side of the ball with the inside of the big toe joint area of the foot. It is important to swivel your hips to get the inside of the foot around the far side of the ball. After the initial cut back of about 6 inches you should swivel your hips in the opposite direction and cut it back along the original line with the inside of the big toe joint area of the opposite foot and explode 5 yards to finish. Note when performing the original cut back lean sideways away from the ball.

Shield turns. (a.k.a. 3/4 turn or "Spin Turns") Video Clips Highlight Clip "Inside Shield Turn"
If the inside cut is the most basic move in dribbling then the "shield turns" sometimes referred to as "3/4 shield turns" are a powerful way to use it. Start by dribbling forward towards a cone or mark that represents the defender. Just before reaching the mark, begin a series of sharp inside cuts with the inside of the right foot. The first cut turns you to the left, then immediately follow with another cut to be facing backwards, and immediately with another cut to end up facing to what initially was to your right. There should not be any extra steps between ball touches. The entire time the ball is shielded and multiple opportunities for lateral and trail passes are available. When done properly the dribbler can actually "shake-off" the defender and continue downfield.

Outside Shield Turns (a.k.a. Outside "Spin Turns).
Highlights clip "outside shield turn" (This is a large but excellent file.)
This move involves 2 or 3 quick turns like above, but this time cut the ball with the outside of the foot.
KEY POINTS:Many defenders are taught some variation of the "3-ways" approach to 1v1 defense.. First get in the way, second turn them away, and third take it away. Modern defenders are some of the best athletes on the field and are experts at turning or "herding" the strikers to the sidelines. This is where the "3/4 shield turn can really work. The first cut is with the "herding" defender (in the same direction), but then suddenly after 2 more sharp cuts, the striker is free again towards the middle, or has space to make a pass.
It is a speed move and works best at a full run. If the first cut to the left is emphasized, the defender often over-reacts and when the second and third cuts quickly follow, they may lose contact completely.
The outside shield move (among others) was often used by soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer and some still call it the "Beckenbauer".
{short description of image} Franz Beckenbauer

Cruyff turns (pronounced "Crow-EEf")
Video clip
Video Clip courtesy K.C. Legends Academy
highlights clip #1
highlights clip #2
highlights clip #3
OK, I will admit that the "Cruyff move could easily be listed under the next heading - "Fakes to beat the opponent", but it is still a move that turns the player 180 in the opposite direction and has some similarities to both the "turn-away pull-back" and the "inside cut".
Start by dribbling the ball forward and plant your left foot near the ball as your right leg "winds-up" for a big kick or shot. Instead of shooting however, bring the right foot down and "chop" the ball backwards and underneath your left leg. You may even have to do a little "hop" or "skip" with your left foot to get it out of the way. The difference between this move and the "turn-away pull-back" is that the "Cruyff" uses the "chop" with the inside of the foot while the pull-back uses a "scrape-roll" with the sole of the shoe.
KEY POINTS:This move takes a little practice. The classic Cruyff highlight clips show him moving diagonally to the right across the field near the opponents penalty box. He fakes a pass/kick towards the right flag but instead "chops" it underneath his left leg giving him space for a shot.
{short description of image} Cruyff "getting set!"

Stop-hop. (a.k.a. "Half Garrincha")
Video Clip
Clip #1 - "Half Garrincha"
Clip #2 - "Half Garrincha"

From a full run, stop the rolling ball by briefly tapping the top of it with the sole of the right foot. Allow your momentum to sway a little forward as you lift the right foot off the top of the ball and "hop" onto the ground (just beyond the stopped ball). Now your left foot comes up and rests on the ball with the cleats as you turn to the side.
KEY POINTS:This little move allows the player to come to a screeching halt, then turn just a little and switch feet to prepare for the next move or pass. In the process, the defender usually flies by and when he returns you have the ball nicely "shielded" and your head is up for the next play. If you were to continue into a full spin with a left footed ball drag, then it would become more like a "true Garrincha".

GOAL KEEPING

Introduction to the Keeper
The Keeper, perhaps the single most important player on your team, and perhaps the most neglected in terms of training, however most coaches don't know what to do with the keeper in practice other than to shoot at them. In this section of the website, some very basic keeper warm-ups and game-like exercises so that you can help this important position player achieve their very best.
Handout: GK Introduction

Goal Keeper Mental Preparedness

The following is from a seminar given by Dan Gaspar at the NSCAA convention and is courtesy of Gary Rue and Jim Turpin. Dan Gaspar runs Star Goalkeeper Academy, trained Portuguese National Team keepers, was the Metro Stars keeper coach, coached last year in Japanese J -League, holds an NSCAA advanced national license, and is a technical consultant for US Soccer Project 2010.

Drill: GKMental.pdf

Goal Keeper Warm Ups
Ideas from Dan Gaspar of Star Goal Keeping Academy, Kim Wyant of the US National Team and LI Lady Riders and Bobby Muuss of UCONN
Handout: Goal Keeper Warm Ups

Stance and Balance
These are exercises to help stance and balance that I saw Kim Wyant, former National Team keeper and now the keeper for the Long Island Lady Riders, demonstrate at the 1998 LIJSL soccer convention
Drill: Stance and Balance

Collapse Dive
This is an exercise and a progression for teaching the Collapse Dive that is was retrieved from a TV program called Soccer Zone
Collapse Dive

Cutting Down the Angle
This is a simple demonstration to explain how to cut down the angle on a shooter. It is adapted from basic ice hockey principles.
Drill: Cutting Down the Angle

Forward and Backward Footwork Drill
This is another drill that was adapted from ice hockey principles. It teaches agility, change of direction and concentration.
Drill: Forward and Backward Footwork Drill

Miscellaneous Goal Keeping Drills/Handouts

Goal Keeping Practice Drill

Goal Keeping Technical Drill

Diving_Sideways

Defending The Low Cross

Defending The High Cross

Goal Keeping\Forward Backward Footwork Drill

AGGRESSIVENESS

The Ball is Mine
The basics of this section is to show your players how to get the ball and to keep it after they got it. The first part of the series Basics of Shielding the Ball is available at this link.

50-50 Ball and a Fair Charge
Soccer is a physical game, but it also has rules. This handout explains how a referee generally looks at a charge to determine if it is a "fair" one.
Remember a 50-50 ball is just that. A “ball up for grabs”. Make sure your player is the one that gets it.
Drill: 50-50 Ball and a Fair Charge

50-50 Ball - Bang! and Steal the Bacon
Bang is a great game suggested by Bob Christensen of the Mandan (ND) Soccer Club. This teaches aggression, but controlled aggression and is a lot of fun.
Drill: 50-50 Ball - Bang!

Basic Possession Games
The following games and exercises were part of Frank Schmidt's original 1998 LIJSL clinic/seminar. They are wonderful teaching tools on how to maintain possession and increase the aggressive spirit.
Drill: Basic Possession Games

Aggressiveness U8-U12
This is a simple game suggested by Coach Jeff Benjamin to help instill aggressiveness in teams that are sometimes too passive.
Handout: Aggressiveness

SPEED OF PLAY

Speed of Play - An Introduction
Speed of play can be described as the combination of physical abilities and mental sharpness that leads to correct decision making on the field and then proper execution of that decision. Speed of play has many components Physically, it is affected by our first touch on the all. It is affected by how well we prepare for the second touch. From the mental side, it is affected by the type of pressure that is applied and how we react to this pressure. It is affected by our situational awareness of the field, i.e. the decision process that is made by the player as to when to turn and take on an opponent, when to drive up the field, when to lay the ball off, etc. etc.
Handout: Speed of Play - Introduction

Speed of Play Fundamentals - The Name Game
Look, then Receive with Control, and then Pass with Accuracy….Not Receive, then look then Pass. The Drill below is the key to increasing the speed of play.
Drill: Name Game

Second Attacker Support 3 v 3 v 3
This exercise was suggested to the socer coach e-mail list by Gary Rue, a high school coach from Kentucky. This is an excellent exercise for increasing the communication on your team, learning how to recognize runs off the ball and the role of second attacker support. This section takes you from the fundamental exercise to a non-directional match related game to a directional match condition game.
Drill: 3 V 3 V 3

SOP4 L Shape Passing Pattern
The L movement is a basic speed of play pattern that you will see in a two-man front. This is another great suggestion by Gary Rue of Kentucky that I have expanded on and illustrated for this module.
Drill: L Shape Passing Pattern

Build Up From The Back
Another great idea from Gary Rue that I have expanded (a little) and illustrated. Gary's key concept in this exercise is "Owning the Ball"
Drill: Build Up From The Back

Improving Vision and Speed of Play
A series of fundamental and match related exercise for improving vision and decision making
Drill: Improving Vision

DEFENSE – BASIC PRINCIPALS

Basic Principles of Defense
Team and Individual defense is a part of practice that is oft times overlooked, particularly at the younger ages where the more athletic players typically strip the ball from the less mature players by sheer brute force. But as the players all mature, and the athletic gap closes, those children who have learned the team and individual concepts of defense, will have an advantage over those who have survived on athletic ability alone. The concepts of PCB “Pressure – Cover – Balance “
Handout: Concepts of Defending Team and Individual Principles of Defense

How to Stand to Approach, Stop and Channel Your Opponent
Handout: Proper Defensive Stance

The concepts of 1 v 1 Defending, Containment, Pressure, Shepherding, Maintaining the Mark as explained by Gary Rue, high school coach from Kentucky
Handout: 1 v 1 Defending

Some easy to use defending games for the younger set
Drill: Defending Games

Some basic defending games from Coach Jeff Pill of Team Discovery and New Hampshire.
Drills: Jeff Pill's Defending Games

The principles of slide tackling as explained by former US National Team member Balboa
Handout: Slide Tackling

Miscellaneous Defensive Drills/Handouts

Stopping the Thru Ball

Team_Defending U18

TURNING THE BALL

Turning the Ball - An Introduction
Players turn the ball against pressure to create time and space to pass, shoot, or dribble. Players who can receive and turn the ball against intense pressure and in tight space, and who can then take on defenders to go to goal, are extremely valuable to their teams. Such players have the ability to compete and contribute at the most competitive levels.
Turning the Ball - Introduction

Checking Back
The first techniques that needs to be mastered is the ability to come back at the ball, at speed, and control the pass put at your feet
Checking Back

Basic Turn Drills- Match Related
Players who can receive and turn the ball against intense pressure and in tight space, and who can then take on defenders to go to goal, are extremely valuable to their teams. Such players have the ability to compete and contribute at the most competitive levels.
Turning the Ball - Match Related

Check Back and Spin Away
Some teams have a problem getting their forward players to come back for the ball (check). However the teams that are able to get their forwards to check to the ball sometimes have the opposite problem -- getting the forwards back into a forward position. The check and spin is a good technique to get your forward players to use, to put themselves back into a forward position after they have checked to the ball.
Drill: Check Back - Spin Away

Turn- Hit the Target Player
The first progression of Turn is to turn the ball and hit a downfield Target Player
Drill: Target

Turn - Give and Go
The second progression of Turn is to turn the ball and hit a support player for a give and go
Drill: Give and Go

Turn - Overlap
The third progression of Turn is to turn the ball and hit a support player overlaping
Drill: Overlap

Turn- Hit the Target Player - Run to Space
The Fourth progression of Turn is to turn the ball and hit a support player overlaping
Drill: Target-Space

SHOOTING

The fundamental coaching points of teaching a youngster how to shoot
Fundamentals of Shooting

Basic Shooting Drills
Some great shooting ideas like Near Post Far Post and Flag Shooting
Drill: Basic Shooting

Shooting on the Move
Scoring from the run of play..very important at the younger ages
Drill: Shooting on the Move

Shooting on the Move - With a Pass
Now we're not only moving, we're taking a pass and setting up the shot
Drill: Shooting on the Move - With a Pass in the Loop

Progression: Staggered Goals
This is a progression of the stagggered goal shooting exercises that I received from someone on the soccer-coach-e-mail list ( whom I can't recall)
Drill: Progression: Staggered Goals

World Cup
The first game in this series is World Cup, an easy game, lots of fun and action and sure to be a favorite! The second in the series is a variation of World Cup that helps simulate the chaos found in front of the keeper on crosses. Last but not least is a description of Anson Dorrance's "Framing the Goal".
Drill: World Cup

Mod to Near Post Far Post
This is a modification to the Near Post - Far Post exercise shown previously
Drill: MOD NPFP

Follow Up Shooting
Match Related game to get the players to follow up shots
Drill: Follow Up Shooting

Shooting on the Move - Hitting the Target Player
Playing back to the goal and being able to turn to shoot or lay the ball off to an on coming player for that strike at the goal.
Drill: Shooting on the Move - Target Players

Checking Back and Shooting
Coming back at the ball, controlling it, turning and getting the shot off. If your players can do this, then they will be valued as strikers at any level.
Drill: Checking Back and Shooting

Shooting on the Turn
Drill: Shoot - Turn

Rapid Fire Drills
Lots of shots in only a little time
Drill: Rapid Fire Shooting

Advanced Shooting - Drop Thru Pass and Shoot
A drill I borrowed from Gary Rue
Drill: Advanced Shooting - Drop Thru - Pass and Shoot

Advanced Shooting - Overlap
Drill: Overlap-Shoot

Advanced Shooting - Winger Check and Cross
Drill: Another gem from Gary Rue
WC&C

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PASSING & RECEIVING

Fundamentals of Passing
The notes below describe some of the fundamental things which should be taught on the subject of passing the ball.

Fundamentals of Passing
Basic Passing Games
Basic Types of Passing

Fundamentals of Receiving the Ball
The fundamentals of receiving the ball from the Toes to the Nose.
Handout: Fundamentals of Receiving the Ball

Easy Games
Easy games for putting the fundamentals of Passing and Receiving the ball together
Handout: Games to Put the Passing/Receiving Skills Together

Dynamic Receiving Under 8
This is a good game to teach the concept of moving and receiving the ball.
It was submitted to the soccer coach e-mail list by USSF D coach Peter Gratton
Handout: Dynamic Receiving

No Where to Hide
This is a Pass and Receive game for Under 10s forwarded to me by Pam Konrad
Drill: No Where to Hide

Under 10 Pass and Move
This is a section that emphasizes several different types of passing and movement off the ball. It is simpler than the Quad Tris and a good drill for that travel team just starting out.

Drill: Pass and Move

Advanced Passing and Receiving
Some more advanced ideas for passing and receiving the ball. The PDF includes: Double Overlap Patterns; 4 V 2 Exercises; Corner Goal Game
Drills: Advanced Passing and Receiving

Under 12 Keep Away
This is a new Keep Away game, suitable for Under 12's from Coach Gerry Sanders
Drill: U12 Keep Away

Under 10 Passing Soccer Marbles
This is a section on Under 10 Passing from John Condia of the Orange Junior Soccer Club
Drill: Soccer Marbles

Grid Passing Exercise
This is a section on Passing and Moving off the Ball sent in by Bob Christensen, with editorial additions by Gary Rue
Drill: Grid Passing

Diamond 4
This is a simple pass and move exercise suggested by David Graham a coach from Canada who moderates the soccer coach e-mail list.
This exercise is fluid and moves alternately in two directions. This exercise can be progressed to a one-touch drill at higher intensity
Handout: Diamond 4

Passing Pattern #1 Pass and Move
Passing patterns are integral to the game. Watch any high level team and you will see the patterns in this section repeated within the context of the game over and over. The first in this series is the Pass and Move exercise.
Drill: PP#1PM

Passing Pattern #2 Takeovers
The second passing pattern in the series developed to work the quick switch of the point of the attack.
Drill: PP#2 TO

Passing Pattern #3 L Shape for Strikers
The third passing pattern for teaching strikers in a two man front one of the pass and move options. This one was submitted by my friend Gary Rue.
Drill: PP#3 L Shape

Passing Pattern #4 Checking and Laying Off
Another co-written by the Lasher Rue team. This one works on checking back to the ball and then quickly switching the pint of the attack with a layoff.
Drill: PP#4 Chklo

Passing Pattern #5 Wall Passes
Wall Passes, 1-2 combination passes, whatever you term them they are an underutilized way of breaking an attacker free.
Drill: PP#5 Wall

Pass & Receive Complete Practices
The following are complete practices revolving around passing and receiving

Ron Alber, is a trainer for a Girls U10 team, showed me the basics of this exercise several years ago. Ron holds an Advanced National NSCAA diploma and a USSF A License.

Watt Keller, a coaching colleague from Georgia, added the 1-2 give and go section to the drill and called it the Quad Tris, a name which has stuck.
A progression of a third man running off the ball and the defenders pressuring the player checking back were added. All in all a cooperative coaching effort which has been requested at least a hundred times from various websites and the soccer-coach-l e-mail list.
Drill: Movement Off the Ball

The second practice is from Bo Wernersbach of Farmingdale (NY) College. It was demonstrated at the Suffolk County Soccer Coaches Association Winter Clinic. The title is Making the Killer Pass
Drill: Making the Killer Pass

The final complete practice is a 1-2 Combination practice that JA King used to achieve his LIJSL "A" license.
Drill: 1-2 Combination Practice

QT Build Up
A simple build up for younger players before moving them on to the more advanced Quad Tri
Drill: QT BU

Quad Tris - Give and Go Alternatives
The basic exercise is in the Movement Off the Ball section but I have added an alternative Give and Go to this section
Drill: QT G&G

Quad Tri Spin Away Long Pass
This is another idea I got on an alternative off the basic Quad Tri
Drill: QT Spin Away

Quad Tri - Turn
This is another alternative to the Quad Tri where we the checking player turning the ball and playing to one of the 4 corners
Drill: QT Turn

Quad Tris- Over Lapping and Bending Runs
This is another alternative to the Quad Tri where we have one of the participants over lapping. A second progression on the same theme is to have one of the participants in a long bending run after the field switch
Drill: QT Over Lap

Three Man Front Passing Options
This is a section on the passing options ffrom a three man front forwarded to me by Gary Rue, a high schol coach in Frankfort Kentucky. Gary based this on what the US Women's National Team was doing in early 2000
Drill: Three Man Front Passsing Options

Center Mid Play
This is a section on Center Mid Play forwarded to me by Gary Rue, a high schol coach in Frankfort Kentucky.
Drill: Center Mid Play

Practice - Target Player
This is a complete practice on teaching forwards to make penetrating runs and having their teammates play forward to them
Drill: Target

Overlaps and Walls
This is a passing pattern that combines overlapping runs with wall passess that was received from Larry Fine
Drill: O&W

Drop and Penetrate U12-U14
This is a practice session that was received from Gary Rue , a high school coach in Frankfort, KY, and a frequent contributor to soccer coaching websites around the globe. The objective of this session is to train players, who after receiving a drop pass, to make the next pass to a (target) player in a more advanced position. This session is reasonably advanced . Gary recommends Under 14 and above. It might be useful for an advanced team at Under 12.
Drill: D&P

Passing Pattern #6 Quick Turns
Following is the next in a series tactical combination of passes that can be used in the line-passing exercise. This exercise was suggested by Gary Rue, a high school coach in Frankfort, Kentucky. This exercise develops the technique of quick turns.
Drill: PP6

Passing Pattern #7 Check Drop and Spin
This exercise helps to develop the technique of moving into a drop position in order to play a through ball and is called Check, Drop and Spin.
Drill: CDS

Passing Pattern #8 Check Drop and Penetrate
This exercise helps to develop the technique of moving into a drop position in order to play a penetraiing ball to a target player.
Drill: CDP

Fundamental Exercise: Away From Pressure
This is a fundamental exercise for developing first touch away from pressure.
Drill: Away

Creating Opportunities
This is an exercise from Jeff Pill on playing the ball into the Strikers to create scoring opportunities

Drill: Creating Opportunities

COACHING PHILOSOPY

New coaches may find this section helpful

Sportsmanship

Must Read for All Coaches Players and Fans

Sportsmanship in the Sun and Shadow

Goal Setting

Most successful athletes swear by goal setting to achieve excellence. As the start of a new season approaches, a coach and his/her team should review why setting goals is so important, and some key characteristics of successful goal setting.
Goal Setting

Winning in Youth Sports

The question is; “How important is winning in youth sports?” The answer to this question depends upon who is responding. For the young athletes themselves, the answer evidently is, "Not very."
Winning- How Important

Motivation is more than Winning and Losing

Creating a Team Bond

Are individuals more apt to act on their own or as a group? Tough question. But soccer is a sport that surely enables players to create as individuals, but who must successfully perform with teammates. The phrase that a team is more than a sum of its parts is perhaps more accurate and telling in our sport than any other.
Team Bond

Girls/Boys and Competition

The Novice Player

What is a Coach?

A coach can be many things to many different people. A coach is a teacher, a mentor, a role model, sometimes a friend and confidant. Most of all though a coach must be positive.
What is a Coach

Defining the Word-Coach!

Over-Coaching

Coaching Comments and Their Messages

Involving Parents

A coach can be many things to many different people. A coach is a teacher, a mentor, a role model, sometimes a friend and confidant. Most of all though a coach must be positive.

Game Day - Helpful Tips for Parents

Is This You or Someone You Know

Let The Children Play – The DO’s and DON’TS for Parents and Coaches

The Player

The first is an article regarding specializing in one sport at an early age, along with two other articles that you may find helpful.

Specialization

Psychological Profile of Elite Soccer Players

Management and Discipline

Developing Decision Makers

Talent is only a starting point

Various Age Group Activities

A good Starting Point for ready-made practice plans are these three 8 week plans put together by Gavin Spooner. They cater for any size group, they’re well structured, easy to understand and come with good general coaching advice.

Suitable for U6-U14 age groups.

Gavin's 8 week practice plan U6-U8 (zip file)

Gavin's 8 week practice plan U8-U10 (zip file)

Gavin's 8 week practice plan U12-U14 (zip file)

Blank Practice Plan

More Soccer Practice Ideas and Plans

Activities for U8

Dearborn Soccer Club plays Under 8 (first and second graders) on an approximately 40 x 60 yard field with six (6) per side including a keeper. Players move up to a #4 ball at this age. Real goals are used, corner kicks are made as well as throw-ins.

U8 Dribbling

U8 Receiving a bouncing Ball

U8 Pairs Activities

Throw-ins

Activities for Very Young Players

Coaching children less than six years of age presents some additional challenges due to their immaturity, short attention span, and less developed muscles. You will also need to deal with a great variation between personalities, physical size, and abilities. Your objective should be for all of the kids to have fun, make friends, and learn some soccer skills that will help them should they decide to continue to the next level.

What sorts of drills should I do for 5-6 year olds during practice?

Games for Pre-School Children Parts 1-3

Training Young Players

Soccer Basics

Shooting, Speed & Stamina

Mini Soccer

Novice Players

U6 Balance – Coordination (US Youth Soccer Assoc)

U6 Coordination Movement (US Youth Soccer Assoc)

U6 Dribbling (US Youth Soccer Assoc)

Activities & Games for the U6-U10 Player

U6-U10 Games