Soccer coaches often prepare outlines to help teach the game to their players. The outline should address all phases of the game to help the players improve their skills. This includes the physical skills needed to master passing, shooting, dribbling and playing defense as well as other aspects like conditioning, strategy and the game's psychological ramifications. When you can include all of these aspects in a practice, you will have a full idea of what your players need to be successful.
Step 1
Compose a list of the technical skills you want your players to work on. The technical skills needed will vary by the experience level and talent of your players. Youngsters will need to work on basic skills like passing, shooting, dribbling and defending while more experienced players will work on chipping, crossing, heading and dummy passes. Higher-level players may work on the bicycle kick, scissor kick, backward header and airborne volley.
Step 2
Write down exercises and drills that can be used to improve fitness levels. All players will need to perform interval sprints to build speed and endurance. Young players should build their strength with exercises like push-ups while older players should complete weight training exercises, plyometics for building explosiveness and vertical jump training.
Step 3
Compose a list of tactics players should use. Passing the ball to an open teammate is a rudimentary skill for youngsters, but set plays, taking advantage of 3-on-2 situations, overlapping runs, wing play and switching the point of attack are some of the tactics that older players can use to become more effective players.
Step 4
Build a list of psychological tools that will make players better on the field. For the youngest players, this involves teaching players to try their best at all times. As players get older, factors like courage, personal responsibility, sportsmanship, personal sacrifice for the good of the team and emotional control are some issues that should be covered by the outline.
Step 5
Write your outline points down in the order that you will execute them in practice. For example, your outline may begin with conditioning exercises, which should be listed in the order that you will perform them. Follow these with the skills and techniques you will work on with your team; list the most important skill as Part A, the second-most important as Part B and continue in that manner. Next, list tactics and strategy. It is important to write down on your outline each point that you want your team to learn and execute in the games. Finally, write down the psychological aspects of the game that you want your players to think about.
Tips and Warnings
- Your outline is not a secret document. If possible, distribute it to all players and assistant coaches so that they know what to expect in each practice.
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