In order to help keep your players' interest high in soccer, it's important to break up practices with games that will help develop their skills and their talent. Although drills are useful and can help players increase their ability level, playing games in practice will help players learn and use their natural enthusiasm and creativity.
Two Teams Keep Away
Line up two teams on a field that is 30 yards long and 20 yards wide. There should three to six players on each team and each player on the team should have a soccer ball. On the coach's whistle, each player will dribble the ball around the field. The goal is to hold on to the ball you are dribbling and also steal one of the balls that your opponents are dribbling. The game goes on for 2 minutes. The team with the most soccer balls under its control at the end of the 2-minute period wins the game.
Small-Sided Scrimmage
This game is played on a small field and it does not include goaltenders. It emphasizes passing, dribbling and shooting. Have four or five players on a field that is up to 50 yards long and 25 to 30 yards wide. Evenly space cones every 10 yards on the field. Place red cones 10 yards in front of each goal. Play a 10-minutes game between the two teams. Goals can only be scored if they come from the scoring area, which is anywhere inside the red cones. Teammates learn to find the open player and have the patience that they need before taking a shot or making a pass.
Coach's Revenge
In this game, the coaches of the soccer team are in the middle of a soccer practice grid that is about 50 yards long by 30 yards wide. All the players line up on one end of the soccer field. On the coach's whistle, the players sprint from one end of the field to the other. While they are sprinting, the coaches are kicking soccer balls at the legs of the players. The players have to avoid the soccer balls in their sprint. If they get hit, they join the coaches in the middle of the field. The last player standing wins the game.
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