| Few things make a parent happier or more proud | | | | foot, but the top part of the foot (or laces of the |
| than seeing their children have fun and succeed at | | | | shoe) provide the most power. In order to generate |
| sports. Participation in sports is an integral part in any | | | | the most power, the player must have a good |
| child's life, and parents play a central role in their child's | | | | approach and follow-through. When your child |
| success. | | | | practices shooting, you can advise them to approach |
| While not indigenous to America, soccer has always | | | | from a slight angle and follow through low for a |
| been popular throughout the world and is increasingly | | | | steaming worm-burner or high for a rising shot. After |
| the sport of choice for young people today. Parents | | | | the child develops good technique and confidence, |
| across the world watch as their children prepare to | | | | you should incorporate other skills with a moving ball. |
| someday join the game at a higher level. Someone | | | | While many children across the world train with trees |
| somewhere is practicing their soccer skills right now - | | | | or rocks for goals, the advantages of practicing with |
| you can count on it. Yet not all training can be done | | | | a soccer net are extremely beneficial. Having a |
| with a team. says, "Individual training should be an | | | | soccer net of any size in your own back yard saves |
| integral part of the life of any aspiring soccer player." | | | | time and creates a realistic game environment. Power |
| [1] Even if you know little about the game, parents | | | | shooting drills can be practiced from any range, and |
| can offer much help and practice for their children at | | | | precision shooting can be helped in a unique way as a |
| home. Parents can help their children improve their | | | | net provides specific areas to shoot for. |
| skills and make it fun at the same time. Here are four | | | | Many companies make targets that can be hung in a |
| essential soccer skills and fun ways to practice them | | | | soccer goal. These targets can either hang from the |
| in your own backyard. | | | | posts or fill the net leaving holes to shoot at. Of |
| Dribbling - Of all the essential soccer skills, dribbling is | | | | course, homemade target options are virtually |
| the first and most necessary ability. Dribbling is simply | | | | limitless. Many people create targets with paper |
| moving the ball with your feet. The best soccer | | | | plates or cardboard and attach them to the net at |
| players around the world are capable of using every | | | | the desired mark. For a more explosive effect, |
| part of the foot and even every part of their with | | | | balloons or jugs filled with air or water can be |
| incredible efficiency and ease. Whenever you practice | | | | attached to the goalposts. Creating targets with your |
| dribbling, you should encourage your children to use all | | | | child is enjoyable and adds a fun dimension for the |
| different parts of their feet until they are | | | | players as they try to hit their target. |
| comfortable in any situation. | | | | Goaltending - Should your child be interested in the |
| A simple game of one on one focuses on dribbling | | | | goaltending position, the necessity for a net at your |
| skills because each player has no one to pass the ball | | | | home becomes even more important. The more time |
| to. Using only one goal and tightening the area of | | | | spent practicing game-like goaltending situations the |
| play can provide greater challenges. Individual dribbling | | | | better. Because the goaltender is the last line of |
| skills can be practiced and improved by dribbling | | | | defense, their position is vital to the success of any |
| through and around cones and various obstacles. | | | | soccer team. As with any other position in soccer, |
| Practicing with miniature soccer balls or even tennis | | | | the basics are the main thing that should be practiced. |
| balls can enhance dribbling ability with a regular soccer | | | | A goalkeeper must always be aware of his position |
| ball. More than in any other area of the game, you | | | | relative to the goal for several reasons - after all, |
| should encourage creativity and innovations as they | | | | their job is to keep the ball out of it. Goalkeepers |
| produce a natural connection with the ball and keep | | | | should rarely stand close to the net itself as this |
| the game fun. | | | | opens up more of the net for the shooter to aim for. |
| Ball Control - Ball control is a skill closely related to | | | | Imagine when you survey a tree line. From a distance |
| dribbling. The Touch and Technique soccer program | | | | you can see all of the trees. Yet the closer any one |
| says, "Nearly all top level players are known for | | | | of those trees appears in your line of vision, your |
| having fluent control over the ball." [2] This skill has | | | | horizon shrinks and the tree blocks the majority of |
| two aspects, namely receiving and trapping the ball. A | | | | your view. Encourage your child to come out of the |
| player traps the ball to stop movement and gain | | | | net and toward you as you approach and shoot. This |
| control. This can happen when dribbling, receiving a | | | | will take away much of your shooting angle and give |
| pass or intercepting the ball. The best way to | | | | the goalkeeper a greater chance at blocking the shot. |
| practice trapping is to kick or throw the ball for your | | | | As your child practices goaltending, you should |
| child to trap with their legs or chest. A solid wall also | | | | change your angle of shooting. Make sure that your |
| provides a good opportunity for the child to practice | | | | child stays directly between the ball and the net |
| both kicking and trapping the ball as it rebounds. | | | | when you move from side to side. Having a net in |
| Receiving is the art of preparation. A player receives | | | | your backyard can illustrate these positioning |
| the ball when they want to set up a quick shot or | | | | disciplines for your child. |
| pass. Usually the foot or head receives the ball. | | | | Goalies also need to practice their kicking and |
| Because receiving prepares the player for a shot, | | | | throwing skills. Many situations during a soccer game |
| access to a soccer net greatly improves this training. | | | | require the goalkeeper to kick the ball to half-field or |
| To practice receiving, you can pass or throw the ball | | | | throw the ball a great distance. Because most yards |
| at your child as was done with trapping. The player | | | | aren't the size of a regulation soccer field, having a |
| should then transition to shoot the ball at the net or | | | | soccer net can allow children to practice these |
| move to pass the ball back to you. | | | | essential skills at home. Children can conveniently kick |
| Shooting - Few things in soccer can break a player's | | | | and throw the ball as hard as they can into the |
| (or parent's) heart like seeing a great effort | | | | soccer net and not have to chase the ball across the |
| squandered by a bad shot. Perhaps after so many | | | | yard. |
| minutes of play an opportunity to take the lead | | | | In an age when most kids sit around playing video |
| presents itself and the shot sails high or hooks wide | | | | games or watching TV, the opportunity to practice |
| or doesn't make it to the net at all. You don't want | | | | and play sports at home promotes exercise, health |
| to take an excessive amount of time practicing | | | | and fun. Certainly, if any young player wants to gain |
| ball-handling skills without practicing how to finish the | | | | the competitive edge, they must be able to practice |
| play and shoot with accuracy. | | | | their skills on their own. Practice produces the skills |
| Two things are important when it comes to shooting: | | | | that can accomplish great plays from start to finish, |
| power and precision. Practice can be done with a | | | | and few things in life are as satisfying as helping a |
| moving ball but should begin with a stationary ball. As | | | | child succeed and enjoying watching the results. |
| in dribbling, shots can be taken from any part of the | | | | |