Basic Soccer Skills for Kids

Soccer is a great sport for kids because the equipment is relatively inexpensive, fields are accessible and the basic rules are easy to remember. Even first-year players can be taught how to pass, trap, dribble, shoot and run off the ball. With those basic skills in hand, players can learn more advanced techniques like fakes, one-touch passes and give-and-go's over time. Defense is in turn easier to teach and learn once the young players have an understanding of ball movement and positioning.

  1. Striking and Stopping the Ball

    • Once the players have a feel for how the ball rolls, it's time to show them how to control where it goes. The inside blade of the foot is used for passing. Ideally, they should strike the top half of the ball with their feet perpendicular to it, according to SoccerHelp. This is the same part of the foot used for trapping the ball. For shooting and long-clearing passes, teach them to use the instep, where their laces are. With shooting, the player needs to lean forward and keep the head down to keep the ball from going over the net; with clearing balls, it's OK to lean back if maximum height and distance are needed.

    Moving With the Ball

    • Professionals play with their heads up, but kids need to learn first not to kick the ball too far in front of them. Once they get used to accelerating with the ball at a controlled distance, then they can learn to turn inside or outside with the ball. Then they can learn how to move with the ball while rolling it with both feet in each of the four directions. After drilling these types of stops and starts, young players will eventually be more comfortable changing pace and direction as they dribble.

    Moving Without the Ball

    • Young players instinctively run toward the ball at all times and cluster around it. A key part of the game is knowing how to remain at appropriate distances from other players to receive the ball. Ideally, teammates should always form a diamond around the player who has a ball, giving them an option to pass forward, backward or on either side. After the pass is made, players who don't have the ball should move so they are again in a position to receive the ball. Each player also needs to learn how to quickly return to the area of the field for which they are responsible for covering defensively.