Soccer training methods can be adapted by age, skill level and team goals. While training can occur in the context of academies or special clinics, you can also to employ free soccer training tips as a coach or as a player just trying to improve your skills.
Timed Give-and-Go
One of the basic offensive plays in soccer and other sports, the give-and-go can place a player in position to score after she has passed the ball to a teammate. Have player A dribble the ball down the sideline trailed slightly by player B. When the teammates get near the penalty box, have player pass to player B, who charges forward with the ball as player A streaks down the sideline. Player B then passes to player A near the corner and runs into scoring position in front of the net, where she will await player A's crossing pass. To mix things up, do this drill on the right and left sides of the goal and mix up players A and B. Time the play and urge the players to improve their speed in running the give-and-go.
Two-Ball Circle
Goalkeepers need to have fast reflexes as well as good catching ability, and this drill develops these skills. Have six to 10 players -- include field players in this drill -- stand in a circle about 10 yards in diameter. Give one player a soccer ball, or you can mix it up with a smaller ball or a rugby ball, and have him pass to anyone in the circle but a player next to him. Keep the passes at around shoulder height. After a few minutes, add a second ball to the circle. This will force players to keep an eye on two soccer balls coming in from all angles. Advanced players can be encouraged to keep the balls moving quickly and can pass low or high to challenge their teammates.
4 v 4 Drills
Four-on-four soccer drills ensure players get plenty of action while also simulating an actual game. After warming up, players can split into groups of 4 v 4 for games with one goalkeeper and three defenders taking on four offensive players. Or play games on a short field without goalkeepers but only count goals that reach the net on the fly.
Dribbling
This drill can be done by players if they're on their own or if you have a line of players. Set up a cone as the starting line and then 20 yards away, line up several cones a couple of yards apart from each other. Place the last cone about 20 yards from the others. Start by having a player dribble the ball while walking from the first cone to the line of cones. Once there, the player should dribble the ball more quickly in a slalom pattern around the line of cones. At the end of the slalom, have the player sprint to the last cone, dribbling as fast as he can while maintaining control of the ball.
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