Best soccer training tips


Soccer conditioning

Players line up side by side along thePlayer #1 from each team starts the race
touch line.on the touch line and dribbles quickly
Space 3 cones about 10 yards apart andto the first cone (to the cone, not
then a fourth cone 20 yards from thearound it) and cuts the ball with the
third cone. I usually set up about threeinside of his foot, dribbles back to the
lines of these cones just so the kidstouch line and cuts the ball with the
have an idea where to stop.inside of his foot, dribbles to the
In unison they sprint to the first conesecond cone and cuts the ball with the
and do 10 standard military styleoutside of his foot, dribbles back to
push-ups, pop back up and sprint back tothe touch line and cuts the ball with
the starting line and then sprint to thethe outside of his foot, dribbles to the
second cone and do 10 sit-ups, pop upthird cone and cuts the ball with the
and sprint back to the starting line andinside of his foot but behind his other
then sprint to the third cone and do 10leg. He then dribbles back to the touch
jumps pulling the knees up as close toline and again cuts the ball behind his
the chest as possible (land softly eachother leg. He then "sprint dribbles"
jump and push hard off ground). Theyaround the last cone and passes the ball
then sprint back to the starting lineto the next player (Player #2) in his
and then sprint to the fourth cone andgroup who is waiting at the touch-line.
back. There is no rest during thisHe does the same routine (inside,
entire repetition. Once they haveoutside, behind the back and speed
completed that repetition they may takedribble) and then passes to the next
a one minute rest and then start aplayer (Player #3) in the group. The
second rep. (Do five reps like this.)group that completes their relay and
Each practice increase the amount ofsits down wins the race. They MUST all
pushups, sit-ups, and jumps until yoube sitting down in the touch-line area
get to 30 each.in order to be considered as finished.
Make sure the players have warmed up andLosing team or teams are to do some sort
stretched before this. I usually let theof punishment. I like giving a soccer
kids mess around with the ball a littleball to the winning group and allowing
until most everyone is ready with cleatsone of that group to punt the ball as
on. This includes short passing andhard as they can. The losing team(s)
juggling but no long passes or shots onmust sprint to the ball and AROUND it
goal.without touching it. The last player
I then make them do a easy half milecan dribble the ball back.
jog, stretch, and then another half mileNOTE:
jog. I usually have the kids do someOn the first second and third cones he
"build-ups" after stretching. They willis to keep the ball close to his feet
run about 50 yards or the width of thewhen dribbling. On the last he is to
field slowly building up to about 50% ofsprint all-out 100% and the ball will be
their fastest speed.out front in typical full speed sprint.
They have about a 5 second rest to make
sure everyone is back on the line andVARIATIONS:
then do it back the other direction.Have all the players do the drill right
Then do the same building up to aboutfooted only. The next time through have
75% of their speed.them do the drill left footed only.
Then about 90%.VARIATION:
This gets the legs used to going at topOn the behind the back cut they should
speed and you have less chance of anfake a shot as they cut the ball. They
early hamstring pull. Then go to thecan throw their hands out wide to make
cone drill above.it appear they are shooting.
Conditioning Drill Number 2VARIATION:
Relay races with balls - Working onWe also do this drill as a cutting drill
cutting the ball.WITHOUT the soccer ball which makes it
Inside, Outside, Behind the Back andan ideal off-season drill for high
Speed Dribbleschools in Alabama where you can not
Use the same arrangement of cones astouch a soccer ball at school except
the drill above. Now take your totalduring specific months of the school
practice squad and have them divide intoseason.
equal teams of 3 or 4 players each.



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