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Soccer drills and skills

This season, never hunt around for a fresh soccer drill again. Get proven and easy to use drills for all groups and abilities with Soccer Coach Weekly. As a coach, it is your job to give your team the skills and technique to be great players.

The soccer drills in this section will help you coach your players in the core skills of the game. We’ll tell you what to look out for, how to get the ideas over to your players, and we’ll give you games and exercises to really power-up their skills.
 

Drills by skill

Drills by age group

Controlling balls in the air

in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters

I was talking to a coach this week about how to control balls in the air, especially when heading the ball in training is off the menu for most clubs. I imagine that there will be much more of a contest to win the ball with a volley once it has dropped from head height. So how do you coach controlling balls in the air? MORE

How to coach the goalkeeper w-catch - part 1

Goalkeeper W-catch

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

Catching the ball is a fundamental goalkeeping technique, and the best way to receive balls arriving at chest height or above is to set the hands in either a “W” or diamond shape. MORE

How to coach goalkeeper circuit drills- part 1

The goalkeeper’s circuit

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

This goalkeeping circuit improves your goalkeeper’s allround handling skills. From catching under pressure to getting rid of the ball quickly and making reaction saves, this session will improve their technique and decision making. MORE

How to coach the covering defender – part 1

Covering defender

in Defending, Practice plans

When a defender is applying pressure to an attacker with the ball it's important that they have back up in the form of a second or covering defender. That's to ensure that if the attacker beats the first defender, any progress is stifled by the second one. MORE

How to coach goalkeeper distribution drills- part 1

Release-the-goalkeeper

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

Look to improve your goalkeeper’s confidence by enhancing their ability to receive and pass the ball. This in turn will improve the trust between your goalkeeper and outfield players, who will feel more confident in passing back when placed under pressure. MORE

Close attacking passes

in Attacking, Passing

Often in crowded areas of the pitch teams lose the ball by trying to hold on to it or with misplaced passes. Short passing in areas like the penalty area is key to keeping the ball and creating space for the goal scorers. MORE

Striker anticipates through balls

in Attacking, Shooting

Playing a ball into a striker in space gives that player the chance to run with the ball and beat a player and smash the ball into the net. Use this session to give your receiving strikers practice in beating players and scoring goals. MORE

How to coach get to the ground for keepers - part 1

Get down to the ground

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

They don’t look as spectacular or nearly as much fun as flying through the air to tip a powerful effort over the bar, but for goalkeepers being able to save shots that skim along the ground is just as important. MORE

Skills corridor

in Ball Control and Footwork

This session aims to bring an individual skill into a game context. Skills usually happen as players run with the ball and meet an opponent. Getting players to use the skill unopposed is key to the session. MORE

Long pass to switch play

in Attacking, Passing

This gets players to understand the importance of playing a long ball after keeping possession. It comes in handy in a match situation when your team is attacking and switching play from one side to the other or when hitting a long ball to the strikers to start an attack. MORE

How to coach defending high balls- part 1

Dealing with high balls

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

This session works on improving a ‘keeper’s ability to deal with a high ball over their head. This can happen when caught off their line or if a cross catches on the wind. It will also test general footwork and handling. MORE

How to coach heading from crosses - part 1

Heading from crosses

in Heading, Practice plans

A high percentage of goals are scored from crosses into the penalty area, which is why it is crucial to practise attacking headers. Some footballers, especially young players, don’t like to head the ball. Use this session to teach your players the correct technique when running to meet a cross and heading towards goal. MORE

Developing a number 10

in Email newsletters, Passing

Players who are creative are match winners... of that there is no doubt. I love to see a player dancing around with the ball slipping a pass through or taking on a challenge to whip the ball into dangerous areas of the opposition box. It's why they are so much in demand in the top teams around the world. MORE

No tackle zones

in Attacking, Passing

Young players need to have success in training or they will not know what to do in matches – this session gives them time to think about exploiting the final third MORE

How to coach recovery saves- part 1

Recovery saves

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

There are situations in games where goalkeepers are required to make several saves within a short space of time, just a few seconds. This session encourages your goalkeeper to react quickly and adjust their position to make the next save. MORE

How to coach keeper to shut down angles - part 1

Get your angles right

in Goalkeeping, Practice plans

Soccer commentators are always expressing disapproval when a goalkeeper is beaten by a shot on his near post. Why? Because it is a sure sign he hasn’t positioned himself correctly. This session will iron out any such problems your keeper might have. MORE

Out of possession tactics

in Defending, Tactics

Out of possession teams can control the game by forcing play into areas of the pitch that are easier to control. With positional play opponents can be forced into areas that are less dangerous to the defending team MORE

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