| Practice is the key to success in soccer and if you | | | | practiced in a pair. During a match, there will be |
| look at most of the top players in today's game, | | | | countless occasions where you'll need to take on an |
| they're people who work hard for the skills they | | | | opponent one by one and the only way to practice |
| show on the pitch, often taking training to levels | | | | this is with the help of a friend or a teammate. |
| beyond the team's sessions. | | | | It's best if your training pair plays on a |
| David Beckham said that he spent (and probably still | | | | complementary position, as in someone that you |
| spends) several hours per week beyond training, | | | | would usually have to dribble against in a match. If |
| practicing his brilliant free kicks. Juninho | | | | you're an attacker or offensive midfielder, you'll want |
| Pernambucano, one of today's best long range | | | | to practice one on ones with a defender, or |
| snipers practices shots after hours, from various | | | | defensive midfielder. Same concept goes the other |
| ranges. And don't think that Ronaldinho or Cristiano | | | | way around. |
| Ronaldo's superb dribbling skills were all obtained | | | | It could also be a good idea to switch sides every |
| during team practice, they're also the result of long | | | | now and then. After you play the attacker and try |
| hours spent with the ball outside of the normal | | | | to get the ball past your pair, switch positions so that |
| program. | | | | you're the defender and he has the ball. This allows |
| So if you're striving to better yourself and become a | | | | you to develop your attacking and defensive skills as |
| quality soccer player, it's mandatory that you practice | | | | you practice. |
| using soccer drills, either individually, pairing up with a | | | | Also, in order to make this soccer practice drills more |
| teammate, or with a group of friends or teammates. | | | | fun, you could keep a score. Whenever the attacker |
| I've prepared 3 fun soccer practice drills for each of | | | | passes the ball past the defender, he gets a point. If |
| these setups, hopefully you'll find them useful in your | | | | the defender takes the ball away or stops the |
| training plan. | | | | attack, he gets a point. Whoever reaches 10 points |
| 1. Soccer Drill for Individual Practice - Juggling | | | | wins and you get to switch sides and start over. |
| Juggling the ball may not have any accurate use in a | | | | 3. Soccer Practice Drills for Groups - One Touch |
| match, because you'll rarely (if ever) find yourself the | | | | Passing |
| space, time and need to juggle a ball more than | | | | If you can find 3 or more teammates to get this |
| twice during a game. However, soccer juggling | | | | soccer practice drill going, it will soon work out |
| affects a lot of other base soccer skills and it's also | | | | wonders to your passing, ball control and agility skills |
| one of the easiest and fun soccer practice drills to | | | | during matches. Here's how it works (I'll assume you |
| try out individually. | | | | have 5 more teammates to work with): |
| Soccer juggling affects your ball control ability, since | | | | Split yourselves into 2 groups of 3, aligned face to |
| by constantly keeping the ball in the air, you get to | | | | face at a distance of a few yards. Group A starts, |
| naturally understand how hard or soft the ball needs | | | | with the first player in the line passing the ball to the |
| to be hit in order to control it. In-game, this affects | | | | first player in Group B. After delivering the pass, the |
| your ability to stop and receive balls, as well as your | | | | first player in Group A moves to the back of the line. |
| dribbling skills, which often rely on how well you judge | | | | The player in Group B receives the ball and |
| the strength and timing of your touch. | | | | one-touches it back to what should now be the |
| Other skills that soccer juggling has a positive effect | | | | second player in Group A and then moves to the |
| on include balance, concentration and the ability to | | | | back of his own line. |
| control the ball with both feet. Of all soccer drills for | | | | Do this as fast as possible and as accurate as |
| individual practice, juggling has the most benefic | | | | possible, without needing more than one touch. You |
| effects, so it's well worth saving up a few minutes | | | | can play with different distances between the groups |
| every day to juggle, either after practice, or even in | | | | and once you get accustomed to the system, you |
| your back yard. | | | | can try passing the ball in mid-air, without allowing it |
| 2. Soccer Practice Drills for Pairs - One on One | | | | to touch the ball and without the need for a stop. |
| Dribbling | | | | This is harder, as the passes need to be more |
| One on one dribbles work especially well when | | | | accurate in order for the soccer practice drill to work. |