Soccer Training 101

Soccer Training Tips for Young Players

It can be a very exciting day for parents – the day that you child takes an interest in an organized sport. Maybe you have always dreamed of being a “soccer mom”, or of being the father of the star player on the team. But, wait! Before you go off dreaming of your child carrying around the World Cup, remember that you are only at the beginning. Here are some training tips to get you and your budding soccer player into the game.

Remember, all good soccer players must start with the basics. Therefore, some of the important things that your child needs to know are the basic skills and concepts of the game.

Dribbling is an essential skill to learn. Of course, while there may be a natural or two out there, almost everyone is going to need to practice. Keep practice fun, so that your child enjoys doing them. You can dribble a ball down the field and back – racing against a teammate or against a previous record. Or get a game of “keep away” going between several players. Not only will that improve their dribbling skills, they will be working on shielding the ball as well.

Next, your child needs to learn not to be afraid of the ball. Soccer is very physical, and they have to be willing to go in for it and play aggressively. This does not mean punching another player in the face, however. For aggressive play, your child needs to be willing to go for loose balls that either team has a chance of winning and not be afraid to try to steal the ball from opposing players. If your child has dreams of being a goalie, then he or she definitely cannot be afraid of contact with the ball, but instead must be willing to dive for it at all costs. Naturally timid children may be hesitant at this, since they are used to calmer play with less risk of getting hurt. Practicing in a safe environment should help them get over these fears.

Passing and receiving balls is another essential skill. Nearly all passes and receptions of soccer are on the inside of the foot, yet many players use an incorrect technique. If this incorrect technique continues, it will become even more difficult to correct as time goes on. Show proper techniques at a young age, and practice frequently.

Another skill that budding soccer players need is the ability to communicate with each other. This includes a basic understanding of common soccer terms. These may include: far/back post – the part of the goal farthest from the ball; near/first post – the part of the goal closest to the ball; center – or the area roughly between the two goals where the game is started; midfield – which should not be confused with center, but instead is the 1/3 of the field containing the halfway line and center circle; cross/center the ball – which refers to passing the ball to the area in front of the goal; mark – guarding one-on one; and win the ball – gain possession of a loose ball that has an equal chance of being picked up by the opposing team. If the coach has slang or code words for different things, then it is important for the player to learn these as well.