Certainly, you could just go through the rules with your team and wait to see what happens, but for countless kids, that’s a guaranteed way to lose enthusiasm. Making soccer drills enjoyable may go a long way toward keeping kids energized and interested, as well as reducing stress and improving abilities.
Ensuring that your players are having a good time is possibly the most important piece of advice any youth soccer coach can follow. If kids don’t actually enjoy playing soccer, they’re unlikely to improve, and, more importantly, they’re likely to stop playing entirely. Here are some fun ways you can copy.
Begin with an exciting warm-up.
Warm-ups are an important element of every practice because they get the players ready both physically and mentally for more rigorous and challenging activities. That does not, however, imply that they must be dull! Warm-up activities for younger players should include anything that gets them moving, enthusiastic and involved. Playing a fun activity with or without a ball to get players psyched for the upcoming practice session is a terrific way to start any practice. Customize a playground or pursuit game you played as a kid and add a soccer ball, or get some ideas from our entertaining warm-up routines.
Increase the level of rivalry
Everyone enjoys a little friendly rivalry, so incorporate it as much as possible into your training. There’s nothing more boring than thinking like you’re doing simply for the purpose of doing it, so have your athletes contest against each other, the clock, or their previous selves, whatever skill or technique you’re educating them. Victory isn’t everything in soccer or life, but make sure you incorporate competition into your sessions and make sure your players would like to win even if they don’t always succeed. Roll the youth soccer ball size 3, soccer ball size 5 or whatever size they are, and see how they compete while mastering their skills and having fun at the same time.
There should be no laps, lines, or lectures!
Have you ever tried running laps? Have you ever had to wait in line for a longer period of time? Have you ever sat through a long and tedious lecture? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you definitely know how boring they are! When it comes to arranging your training and trying to keep things interesting for the kids, understanding to say no to the three L’s is a fantastic general rule. We could go on, but this is already beginning to sound like a lecture, which, as we all know, is a big no-no, so let’s go on to the next point.
Incorporate some fun games into the drills.
Sharks and minnows, red light/green light, Simon says, monkey in the middle, cops and robbers, musical balls, king of the hill, tic-tac-toe, the hula hoop game, and gates are some enjoyable soccer games for kids to play. These games teach kids how to dribble a soccer ball and hold it in their grasp. My advice is to give each of these amusing soccer games for kids a try and see which ones they like best. You may alter soccer games to help players improve their talents while also ensuring that they have as much fun as possible.
Take the role of a player.
Allow your youngster to teach you how to play in the neighborhood or in your yard. When it comes to tiny children, you might playfully exasperate them by acting as if you don’t know what you’re talking about. Older children can teach you specific skills or strategies. Follow their instructions to the letter. This will help them understand how to communicate things in a way that others can understand and will be more enjoyable for you.
