Youth soccer is not about developing players who are going to be superstars. When kids play on soccer teams, the main idea is for the youngsters to enjoy themselves while getting better and improving their skill level. Practice drills should be short and varied so kids can stay interested and keep their concentration levels high.
Stop and Go
Have your players line up in two lines at midfield. Place a cone 15 yards downfield. Have the player with the ball jog while dribbling the ball toward the cone. Once he is halfway there, the first player in the other line races to catch up with him. When the player with the ball gets to the cone he stops but he keeps the ball under control. Then he takes off again--left, right or straight--and the defender follows. This teaches dribbling confidence and control.
Shooting Gallery
Teaching players how to shoot accurately is vital to the growth and development of soccer players. Set up six cones every 3 feet. Set the ball up 5 yards away from the cones. Have each player take six shots and see how many cones they can knock down. The player who knocks down the most cones wins the game.
Red Light, Green Light
This drill teaches players to dribble the ball with speed and control. The coach stands at the goal line and all the players are lined up at midfield with a soccer ball. When the coach yells green light, all the players start dribbling forward going as fast as they can while maintaining control of the ball. When the coach yells red light, everybody stops with control of the ball. At green light they go again. The player who gets to the endline first "wins" the drill.
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