| A soccer coach is just like a school teacher, but | | | | If you need them to run 5 laps, invent some sort of |
| instead of working with theoretical information, his | | | | fun drill game, or just give them a reward |
| goal is getting his pupils to apply what he's trying to | | | | afterwards, giving them a soccer drill that involves |
| get to them. Working with kids has a lot of | | | | kicking the ball (it doesn't matter if it's a half-field |
| advantages and it really gives you a sense of | | | | match, some short passes or some 5 versus 2 |
| accomplishment when you see those little guys' eyes | | | | groups, as long as your soccer drill involves the ball, |
| shining when you throw them a ball and tell them to | | | | the kids will love it). |
| perform a fun exercise. | | | | Another big issue you'll be concerned with in your |
| But at the same time, it can be extremely frustrating | | | | soccer drills for U8 is not taking the fun away from |
| trying to get through with soccer drills for kids, mainly | | | | the exercises. If you set up two teams and throw a |
| because kids have less understanding and | | | | ball in the middle and ask them to play soccer, the |
| concentration capabilities as a grown up, or a | | | | kids will all rush to it and chaotically kick it around. |
| teenager (kids to make up for these shortcomings | | | | There will be no defenders, attackers or what not, |
| with their enthusiasm, energy and ability to learn | | | | it's just a bunch of kids having fun. |
| faster). | | | | Obviously, that's not ok with you, because you want |
| So if you're here looking for some soccer drills for | | | | to infuse some sense of organization and tactics in |
| u8s, the first thing you should know is that anything | | | | them, even from such an early age. But if you just |
| that you do, absolutely must be "fun". What your | | | | bluntly tell some of them to stay at the back, or not |
| kids understand by fun might differ from team to | | | | dribble, you'll just take the fun away from them. |
| team, so it will be your job to see what they like | | | | What you need to do is, again, work around a |
| doing. | | | | reward-system that can help them understand why |
| You can't try and explain soccer drills for young kids | | | | you want them to sit there and there, or not do this |
| as you would for grown-ups. You can't just tell them | | | | and that. |
| to give you 5 laps of the pitch, without a certain | | | | The rewards don't have to be anything material. Even |
| motivation in fun. Otherwise, you risk the youngsters | | | | congratulating your guys when they manage to listen |
| losing interesting in training and quitting soccer. | | | | to your requests is enough of a reward for them. |
| When you ask a grown-up for 5 laps, you can tell | | | | You'll soon see them trying harder and respecting |
| him that it's for his endurance, conditioning and so | | | | your requests not because you forced them, but |
| forth. Telling that to a kid will go in through one ear | | | | because they're striving for that "Good Job" |
| and leave through the other. So try to make | | | | congratulation coming from you. |
| everything seem like a game. | | | | |