Soccer training should be a fun and dynamic activity for young soccer players. Many soccer coaches teach fundamental skills by having players stand in line before passing or shooting a ball, then stand in line again waiting for their next repetition. The problem is this static training is boring and does not simulate the physical and mental demands of a soccer game. Dynamic soccer training should teach fundamental skills in a fun and active environment.
Types
Dynamic soccer training involves drills that teach skills but feature consistent movement to simulate the demands of a soccer game. For example if you have a pair of soccer players passing back and forth, add in a rule that they must make at least five steps after each pass. Encourage them to look for open space to accelerate into before asking for a return pass. After a relative success, progress the practice to keep away. Have four attackers pass the ball around against two defenders, passing and moving to keep possession.
Benefits
Dynamic soccer training increases aerobic and anaerobic fitness of a soccer player, by having them sprint and jog on a regular basis. The Youth Soccer Skills website states that fun and dynamic soccer training drills will result in improved conditioning and sharper game play. Sharper game play comes from the fact that dynamic drills force a soccer player to make quicker decisions and cope with defensive pressure, making them better prepared for a soccer game.
Risks
Dynamic soccer training involves physically rigorous activity. This increases the risk of injuries such as muscle strains and pulls. Every dynamic soccer training session should be preceded by a thorough warm up and stretching routine to reduce this risk. Every session should be followed by a cool down and stretching. Shin guards should be worn during dynamic soccer training to reduce the risk of collision injury.
Considerations
A soccer coach should focus a dynamic soccer training session on one particular topic to see maximal learning of a skill from soccer players. If the training session is on passing, begin with passing and movement unopposed to teach technique. Progress the training session to keep away which adds defensive pressure to the session, making it more dynamic and game like. Further develop the training session until the players are practicing the learned skills in a full game situation. An example is to scrimmage and award five points for a goal, and one point for a team completing five consecutive passes.
Expert Insight
John Camm is a high school coach who runs the Dynamic Soccer Training coaching company. Camm's philosophy is to have players train in a fun, yet competitive environment. Coach Camm focuses on small sided games that develop mastery of the ball and quick decision making.
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