| Before you can begin teaching kids more complicated | | | | and do not know how to follow simple directions, |
| elements of game play and soccer, it is important to | | | | they will be less of a team and more like one child |
| first teach them the basic skills so that they can get | | | | dribbling the ball down the field by himself. |
| a feel for the game. If you're a kid's soccer coach, | | | | A simple drill that can be used to teach children about |
| then it is your job to make sure that your players | | | | passing the ball and following directions requires that |
| get off on the right foot, by learning the essential | | | | you line the team up in a single file line at one end of |
| skills that are so important in this game. Below you | | | | the field. A single team member will stand in front of |
| will find some information on the basic skills that | | | | them about 5 to 10 feet away. |
| should be taught to every child. | | | | When you say go, the first person in line will try to |
| Teaching Them to Dribble and Shoot | | | | steal the ball from the teammate in the field. When |
| Dribbling and shooting are two of the most basic kid's | | | | you say stop, the player in the field with the ball |
| soccer skills. Without these essential skills, a child will | | | | must pass it to the first person in line. This teaches |
| not be able to succeed at the game of soccer. To | | | | the children that they have to listen to your |
| help teach theses skills to children, place several balls | | | | instructions in order to hear when you say stop or |
| over the soccer field and line all the players up in a | | | | go, and teaches them to pass to each other. |
| straight line on one end. | | | | Handling the Ball |
| As you blow a whistle or tell the children to go, they | | | | If you take the time to teach children how to handle |
| should run onto the field, catch a ball with their foot, | | | | the ball with other body parts besides their feet, |
| while dribbling and shooting it into a goal on the | | | | they'll be able to create more spontaneous plays on |
| opposite end of the field. Repeating this drill on a daily | | | | the field. To accomplish this you can have the |
| basis will allow children to improve both of these skills | | | | player's practice bouncing the ball with their heads |
| in a short period of time. | | | | and knees, or stopping the ball with their backs. |
| Passing the Ball and Following Directions | | | | Although it is important to make kids soccer fun, it is |
| These two kid's soccer skills teach them the | | | | also essential that they learn the basic skills needed |
| importance of being a team player. Soccer after all, is | | | | for the game. After children have mastered these |
| a team sport that should be shared equally between | | | | skills, they can move on to actual game play and |
| all children. If they do not possess good passing skills, | | | | more complicated routines. |