Soccer Practice – 8 Things You Must Know by Andre Botelho

Practice makes a man perfect is a phrase that we use very sparingly. And it’s true when it comes to soccer practice sessions. The kids enter the ground everyday with a hope to try something exciting and new. Yet, it is extremely important in soccer training that they keep practicing old techniques that you teach them regularly.

Here,s your test to ensure that kids are not bogged down by the sameness of the drills that they are made to do on a daily basis. The following are a few tips that’ll help you perform practice sessions in an exciting, controlled, and an accepted manner.

1. This has been emphasized enough. Kids emulate you so you need to behave in a way that’s expected of them. Be present on the filed before the kids; demonstrate your skill with the ball, let all the kids participate, and arrange sessions ahead of time. This way you can get the player’s attention, their respect and trust.

2. Tell the kids to come to the field daily with a ball of their own. Every kid is necessarily required to have a soccer ball. Keep some extra balls handy in case any of the kids fails to get his.

3. Some soccer moves must be practiced everyday without fail. Kicking, dribbling, passing, and throw-ins are vital elements of soccer practice. It’

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s imperative for the kids to practice these daily without fail. Involve everyone in it and see that even those kids who are apprehensive initially also become a part of it.

4. In soccer drills practice sessions, introduce games more. The reason is that games require much more stamina and dexterity in contrast to drills. Plus, it becomes easier to try out new things as well as concentrate on soccer with games.

5. Control is crucial for success for any team. With young players, it is no big deal to have mistakes. It is necessary that you deal with all issues of indiscipline as soon as they arise. But mind the method since you are dealing with young kids here and not adults.

6. Amidst the action, you will observe that some players do not take active part in the game. Make sure that this is not the case. All the children should actively participate in the action. Talk to the players about their respective positions and teach them to be responsible in those positions.

7. Do not allow a lot of scrimmage. About 15 to 20 minutes at the end of the session is good enough. Also, do not appoint a goalie when scrimmaging. This will make the team good at defense.

8. Keep innovating and experimenting with games and drills. There is no better way to keep the kids engaged in training.

Now, take these tips to your soccer practice sessions. These will raise the ability and skills of your players within a short span of few weeks. Our youth soccer coaching community has a wealth of resources. Register today and see your team’s performances get better with every training session.

Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free Soccer practice ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. To skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice fun in record time, download your free Soccer Training ebook at: Soccer Coaching.

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Kids Soccer Drills and youth soccer practice for youth soccer coaches. Visit us now and download your FREE youth soccer coaching tips report – Today Only!

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Kids Soccer Drills: Learn the Art Of Dribbling by Andre Botelho

In kids soccer drills, I”m not sure if you know this but someone who”s familiar with the game of soccer knows the importance of dribbling. Dribbling is the art of maintaining control of the ball while moving around in the field. This is the first skill that the kids are taught when the coaching begins.

But how do you decide the level of its significance in the game. It”s best to have the kids participate regularly in drills to help them develop dribbling skills. As a result the kids learn the fundamentals to move with the ball in field. Dribbling has the effect of developing your ability to pass by most of the opponents while keeping the possession of the ball.

It only takes a few essential tips to become a first-rate dribbler like being in contact with the ball. Kids soccer drills coach the kids to use the surface of their foot. Most often they will be using the front portion of their instep, especially when dribbling at a high speed.

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Yet, the kids must know the art of using the interior and exterior of both their feet on way to be good dribblers. In this manner, the kids can manage the possession of the ball regardless of the pressure from the opposite team. Teach the kids the trick of using both the sides of their feet like that of a hockey stick.

Soccer drills for kids must ensure they touch the ball with every step taken with the ball. The ball is knocked while dribbling when it is kept in front. This allows the young players to take good control and increase the dribbling speed with the ball.

The kids will therefore be able to escape the defending team as soon as they approach the ball to catch it. So start slowly and focus at it during the initial stages to make sure that kids are feeling comfortable with the ball through each step.

Instruct kids in youth soccer drills to keep altering the speed. It’s not necessary for the kids to be exceptionally fast to beat the opponent on the dribble. Alternatively, get the defender to slumber a little and move past the opponent at high speed.

Teach the players to be vigilant and keep track of the ball. They need to be both aware of the surroundings and maintain focus on the ball while dribbling.

Assist them in working upon their weak foot. Soccer drills for youth should include continuous striking of the ball against a wall using the bad foot which will help them improve slowly. When kids find some free time, instruct them to play with the ball. Guide the kids to just spin the ball backward and forward with the help of the weaker foot even when they are sitting. The more they do it, the more they will be able to control the ball.

So, there you have it! Kids must be taught the skill of protecting the ball with their body in kids soccer drills. When in close contact with the defender, make use of the body to shield the ball. For more such tips on dribbling and other soccer coaching techniques, enroll for our youth soccer coaching community.

Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in Kids soccer drills. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free Youth Soccer Drills guide visit: Soccer Training Drills.

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Simple Steps To Enjoyable Soccer Coaching Drills by Andre Botelho

Ever imagined the reason that makes kids so passionate about soccer coaching drills. Kids look at these drills as an opportunity to have pleasure and not just a sport. It is youth soccer drills which require a coach to present his skills in a way that kids eagerly wait for their turn.

You can achieve it using a range of methods. You can introduce a lot of games, fun drills, and even activities that promote a sense of competition among them. You must understand that soccer is a team-game. For that reason it should include games that encourage unity among team members.

One of the best soccer coaching strategies to get started with kids is fun soccer conditioning. It has the effect of directing their energy and keeping them focused on the game.

Guide the kids to first warm up their bodies by going for a small round of jogging or running. It’s important that they do too much of it. It’s important because kids are full of energy and might fail to identify their limit and thus overexert. Ensure a few breaks between them. It will help them to revitalize and pep up themselves. You can also use this time to talk to them about the next set of exercises.

The players should be then grouped or given individual tasks. For instance, let the player who arrives first to juggle the ball. The players then join him as they come by. In this fashion, the whole group is engaged in the activity. Make sure to divide the players into groups for the soccer coaching drills if they get bigger.

There are so many other exercise such as soccer golf where the players try to aim to a far-away object. There is another activity called the soccer volleyball in which the kids play in a small area and the idea is not to let the ball touch the ground. These soccer coaching exercises add an element of variety and fun to the sessions.

In addition, teach the players to dribble with the ball as also use different body parts except hands. Do not over assert. Remember that they are kids and will learn with time. A great way of making this exercise interesting is shouting out the name of a specific body part such as foot, knee, elbow etc when the player is ready to tackle the ball. Then the player must use that body part. This makes them attentive and focused.

Another aspect of fun drills is circuit training. It is most functional where the number of players is more. It is recommended to divide the players into tiny batches and involve them in great many activities. It is important to carry out these activities frequently with only small breaks in the middle.

Test these instantly. If you are innovative, you can create new fun-filled and exciting activities every day.

Now that you have learnt these soccer coaching drills, transfer these to the kids so that they can make the best use of them on the field. You can use the tons of resources available on our youth soccer coaching community forums by subscribing to it.

Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of Soccer coaching drills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun in less than 29 days! Download your free Soccer Drills guide at: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com – Youth Soccer Practice Drills.

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Author: Mark Ferguson

Every year what jerseys are the most popular tends to change depending on not only the design of the shirts and how the team is performing but also who signs for the club. The success of teams on the park tends to be the biggest indicator as to what soccer shirts will be the biggest sellers but this year we have seen the players who sign for clubs influencing the shirt sales more and more, before it is known whether they will be successful for the club.

The best example of this can be seen with Real Madrid this. Real Madrid spent over £200 million in the summer signing some of the best players in the world, the most notable of which were Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo in particular caused a huge soccer jersey buying frenzy when he was signed for a world record fee. Real Madrid shirts sold poorly last season with fortunes on the pitch not living up to their high standards, but this year Real Madrid shirts are set to outsell every other soccer kit on the market.

Barcelona soccer jerseys are also set to be one of the most popular after their success last season, when they won the league, the cup and the Champions League. Barcelona’s shirt sales were boosted again by the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan, who when combined with the likes of Messi, Xavi and Henry, to name a few, makes Barcelona jerseys one of the most popular.

Other teams that are likely to be amongst the biggest sellers of the 2008-09 season are the likes of Manchester United, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Liverpool. These teams have a huge following and consistently sell well worldwide. There will of course be a few surprise top selling soccer jerseys this year as teams play well and win tournaments but until the end of the season we won’t be able to tell who these teams are and how many soccer jerseys they will sell.

The sales of soccer jerseys will be boosted by the World Cup next year as well as the African Nations Cup with national team shirts likely to be some of the biggest selling shirts in 2010. In 2008 Spain shirts were one of the biggest selling shirts of the year after their win in the Euro 2008 tournament and this will likely be repeated with whoever performs well and wins the 2010 World Cup. The World Cup soccer jerseys are already getting released in preparation for the big tournament next year.

There is a long way to go in the season yet, so the success and failure of teams could determine the number of soccer jerseys sold for teams but it will take a lot of to topple the Real Madrid and Barcelona soccer kit sales this season. International shirt sales are likely to be the biggest selling jerseys for 2010 with next years World Cup in South Africa set to be one of the biggest yet.

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For more information of soccer jerseys and a full selection of soccer kits visit the site

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Most Popular Soccer Jerseys

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Should your soccer shoes last for more than one season?

Actually it all depends.  Younger players that are still growing may be lucky to get a spring and fall season out of their shoes.  But in reality you will probably need to replace shoes each season at minimum due to normal wear and tear and the conditions you play in.

Like any shoe wear and tear will depend on how often it is worn.  In the case of soccer shoes it also depends on the surface you are playing on.  Surfaces that are abrasive like astro turf and hard ground will cause accelerated wear on a pair of shoes.    It would be in a player’s best interest not to wear soccer shoes for recreation like skateboarding or playing on asphalt or cement.  Serious players will want to consider a pair of shoes for practice and a pair of shoes for games.

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By Jonas Forsberg

Do you as a coach feel the importance of acceleration in the game of soccer, but due to information-overload out there, you don’t know who to listen to or what methods to follow?

I don’t blame you. According to research, most of the youth soccer coaches out there today are voluntarily coaching a team, meaning in a lot of cases you are probably a parent to one of the kids in the team. So with this being said, you have a regular job on the side, and you simply don’t have time to spend hours reading and researching in order to find new methods.

All you need to do is what athletes back in the days focused primarily (and almost exclusively) on, and it is…SPRINTING.

You don’t need to use resistance bands, parachutes or any other fancy stuff, you simply just need to line the athletes up next to each other, and then upon your command, sprint to point B.

When talking about speed and how to improve it, there are certain laws of physics that comes to mind. The probably most important one is to teach the players how to apply more force to the ground. This may sound extremely difficult, and it can be, but just follow the drills here below and I promise you that you’ll get the players to apply more force to the ground in their start, which will result in improved acceleration, and most important of all, these drills are fun.

As a matter of fact, you may even have done these before without even thinking about the benefits.

When discussing acceleration for soccer players, I tend to set up a distance of 15-30 meters. A few years back, a long term study performed on English Premier League players showed that the most covered distance in a soccer game is between 10-30 meters, and therefore, your ability to pick it up as fast as possible, decelerate and change a direction, and then accelerate again is probably the most important aspects of soccer speed (in this lesson, where are only going to focus on acceleration, and will leave deceleration and change of direction for another day).

To sum it up, you shouldn’t have the players sprint for 50-60 meters, at least not now. Anywhere between 10-30 meters is great (go with 10-15 meters in the beginning).

When talking acceleration vs. top speed, it’s important to know that acceleration is about creating an angle, that forward lean. So below you’ll find some different variations of starts to use with your players, and these starts will create that forward lean with your players.

Here are the different starting positions:

Staggered

One foot in front, and the other back. The position they are in when ready to run. Standing Track & Field start basically.

Falling Start

Have the players stand tall and keep a straight line through their body. Then tell them to keep that line and fall forward, and just as they feel it’s getting scary and they feel like falling to the ground, that’s when they’ll explode and run out for 10-30 meters.

Pushup Position

Have the players lay in a starting pushup stance (at the top of the motion, straight arms and a straight body). Upon your signal, they’ll explode out of there as quickly as possible. Important here is that they shouldn’t stand straight up and then run. From the starting position, they should try come forward as quick as possible, and when doing that, they’ll create that forward lean that’s so important for teaching a player to apply more force and improving their acceleration.

As a last note, speed training is always done right after a proper warm-up consisting of mobility and flexibility, some activation exercises together with some running and skipping drills.

With that being said, speed training is always performed at the beginning of a practice, and make sure that your players have recovered between the starts. Soccer speed training is done in a resting state. If you perform a lot of reps with low rest in between, it’s conditioning and will not give maximum speed results, it’s that simple.

A good rule of thumb is for every 10 meters the players run, they’ll rest 45-60 seconds before repeating. So if they run 30 meters, they should rest 135-180 seconds before next rep. Don’t ignore this, it’s a very important rule to follow!

Use these tips and you’ll see great improvements with your players soccer speed!

Good luck!

If you enjoyed this article and want more tips on how to improve your players soccer specific speed without making it too complicated, then sign up for Jonas Forsberg’s speed program over at The Soccer Speed Blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonas_Forsberg
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by Trevor A. Sumner

In youth soccer, goals win games and goals come from your offensive attack. Attacks are about good teamwork, creativity, speed and composure. There are so many different ways of attacking in soccer, and that is one of the beauties of the game. Your soccer offense must be able to attack using multiple methods to be successful. It’s not enough just to score from crosses – the other team might stop you from crossing the ball and then you’d be stifled. Attacking is about out thinking and outmaneuvering the other team’s defense. Then, when your offense finds an open shot they better shoot at the goal accurately, because there will be limited open shooting opportunities during the game.

In the heat of the match, soccer players don’t have too much time to plan their attack. By practicing soccer drills and playing a ton of games, players build up their soccer speed of thought – so that eventually they always know what the best option is in an attacking move.

Attacks nearly always start in the team’s own defense. Yes, even defenders in their own half have an attacking role. They should make intelligent passes that springboard the attack. However, passes only work with movement. The attacking players should be making runs, and offering up positions to receive the ball. By moving constantly, your team becomes impossible to pin down. The offense is like a boxer that just won’t stand still.

Once the attackers get the ball, it is time to go in for the kill. However, rushing or forcing the issue never works. The team has got to be patient and clever. It is best to keep the ball, keep moving it around, and make the opposition work. Then, when the opening comes, your offense should pass the ball quickly to create scoring opportunities. With a quick wall pass, a clever through ball or a cross… All that’s left is for the striker to go for goal.

No matter how many defenders the opposition cram in front of their goal, there is always a way through – if your team has the guile, the skill and the confidence. These qualities come with experience and practice. Below are some tips and drills to get your team hitting the net. You can also find many more free soccer attacking drills online at websites like Weplay.com.

Attacking Tips for Soccer

• Your players should look to exploit the other team’s weaknesses. If the other team has a slow full back, your fastest winger should try to isolate himself with the full back and beat him 1on 1.
• Choose the right pass. Your players need to know when & where to make passes. They should learn to give the ball to the player in space and in the best position to expose the other team’s defense.
• Good movement makes for good attacks. If your players are moving then it is much harder for the defense to mark them. Your offensive soccer players should be able to switch positions and areas of the pitch to confuse the opposition.
• Keep the ball moving quickly. A slow attack is easy to thwart. The other team will simply smother the ball and block the chance. If your team passes the ball quickly, the defense won’t have the time to get behind the ball in numbers and frustrate your attackers.
• Be decisive. Hesitation on the ball lets the opposition in to steal the ball – and wastes the good opportunity. When near goal, your team should move the ball quickly and rapidly try to open up the opposition’s defense. There is a huge difference, however, between being decisive and rushing. There will be times when your team must be patient and simply keep possession.
• Play to your strengths. If your team has fast players, look to play on the counter-attack. If your team has tall strikers, seek to get crosses into the penalty box. However, try to vary your attacks to prevent the other team anticipating your moves.

Youth Soccer Attacking Drills

• Instep passing: Two players face each other, four or five meters apart. The players strike the ball to each with their instep. They should act as if they are hitting a shot but not put too much power into it. The head should be over the ball, the non-kicking foot alongside the ball and the arms outstretched. It sometimes helps to feel the instep before kicking, to remind your subconscious mind of what part of the foot to use.
• Wall Ball: Players should take turns to strike a ball against a wall. They should generate as much power as they can but keeping the ball low. Different shooting techniques can be used – e.g. instep shots, curling shots, outside of foot shots. Each player is allowed only one touch. If a player misses the wall, or takes two touches, he drops out of the game.

By Trevor Sumner who works for Weplay.com, a youth soccer community dedicated to providing parents, coaches and athletes the tools and information to celebrate the love of the game. Weplay.com has one of the most comprehensive, free soccer drill libraries in its active soccer community.

Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory

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This three DVD set of soccer training drills is meant to be used by players, parents, and friends of the game of soccer.  Coerver Coaching has become well known for developing coaching training programs, this program can be used by players, parents, and of course coaches.

This series can be used in the backyard, local field, driveway or even in your bedroom (make sure that your parents say that is ok!)

Drills can be done with a group of friends or individually.

Players can compete against their personal bests in a variety of skills against themselves or in a group with their friends.

This program reflects what is taught at Coerver Coaching soccer camps, enabling players to polish their skills year round. You have to use your skills year round to keep them fresh and sharp.

Coaches can use this program to help individual players with skills on the field or at home.

While this DVD set is suitable for use on it’s own, for maximum effectiveness one should know the material found on the Make Your Move DVD set.

What will you and your player learn?

The foundation of the DVD program is the Self-Improvement Pyramid.  This Pyramid consists of 3 levels: SKILL, STRENGTH and STAMINA.

Here is a sampling of what you will learn on the DVD:

1. SKILL

• 20 Home Assignments and 6 Variations of ground juggling skills and moves players can practice by themselves or with the help of parents or team mates. They include ground juggling exercises along with COERVER COACHING PYRAMID OF MOVES’, Changes of Direction, Stops & Starts and Feints.
• 11 Group Skill Assignments and their 12 Variations incorporating Stops and
  Starts and Feints. Designed for practice and competition with friends or team mates and useful for coaches at team practices.

2. STRENGTH

• 13 Warm up stretches
• 13 Speed drills and 7 Variations with partners and small groups.
• 22 Stamina/Skill Drills and 6 Variations with partners and small groups.

3. SCIENCE

This disk is different from the others in that it’s one that parents must watch.

You’ll learn about:

• The overweight epidemic in developed countries that’s
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• The beginnings of hardening of arteries that’s affecting children as young as 15
• Why proper hydration is so important when working out.
• How warm ups and stretches prevent injuries and promote top performance.
• How to correctly take your pulse and measure your recovery rates.
• How diet is important in combating disease and promoting fitness.
• The value of organic fruits and vegetables and the role nutrients play.
• Why you should avoid sugary drinks and cereals.
• The link between reduction of weight, diabetes and the way to fitness, good health and well

Coerver is offering a Special Limited Time Offer – Order Now and Get “Super Skills – Juggling” DVD for Free. (A $19.95 Value).  Juggling skills improve ball control and your touch on the ball.  Two great packages for the price of one!

This DVD set is a great investment in the future and skills of your young soccer player.  Don’t delay!  Get this DVD set from Coerver for their stocking today! Click Here to Order Now

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