| A big challenge as a youth soccer coach is to get | | | | remaining in the field of play you should stop the |
| your players to practice their skills. Many times | | | | game and reduce the size of the field. |
| players will respond to game play, but you just can't | | | | World Cup |
| get them to pay attention when running drills. The | | | | This practice game is played by first dividing your |
| secret is to combine the two so that the drills are | | | | team into smaller teams of two or three players |
| included in a game. These soccer practice games are | | | | each. It is played on half of a normal soccer field, |
| a great way to get your players to practice their | | | | using one regular goal. It teaches many different |
| basic soccer skills. | | | | skills, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense. |
| Knockout | | | | The game is played by having all of the teams on |
| The first of the soccer practice games is a game | | | | the field, dribbling and passing. At your whistle all of |
| called Knockout. It is a way to get your players to | | | | the teams will try to score a goal, while at the same |
| practice dribbling with their head up, shielding and | | | | time preventing other teams from scoring. All of the |
| protecting the ball, and playing aggressively. | | | | players are field players; there is no goalkeeper used |
| To set this practice game up you will need to mark | | | | for this game. When a team scores, they will |
| of a rectangle on your practice field. The size of the | | | | immediately leave the field of play for that round. |
| box depends on the number of players you have. For | | | | The team remaining after all of the other teams has |
| most teams the penalty box on the field is a good | | | | scored is eliminated from the tournament. |
| starting size. You can adjust to larger or smaller | | | | Once one team has been eliminated the surviving |
| according to the size of your team. | | | | teams will return to the field to start the next round |
| Every player will be in the box with a ball at their | | | | of play. This continues until there is only one team |
| feet. The game is played by having the players | | | | remaining. They are the winners of the world cup. |
| dribble around the space, protecting their own ball | | | | Soccer practice games can help keep your practices |
| while at the same time trying to knock other players | | | | fun and interesting, while at the same time giving |
| balls out of the playing area. Once a players ball | | | | your youth soccer players a chance to practice their |
| crosses the line, that player must immediately leave | | | | skills in game situations. As you learn more practice |
| the field of play. The object is to be the last | | | | games, your players will start to get better at much |
| surviving player in the box. | | | | needed basic skills. |
| As the game progresses and fewer players are | | | | |