Soccer Strategies for Kids

Many youth soccer coaches come to the job with a considerable disadvantage because they never played the game. However, inexperienced coaches can succeed once they learn and implement a good strategy for their team. Strategy involves not only the game tactics the team uses, but the running of practice sessions. The two are related, as practices should prepare players to perform in games. Even younger kids can learn the right way to play soccer. They may not always execute correctly, but they will have the background to do so as they mature.

  1. Move as a Team

    • The most basic component of game strategy is the one that should be worked on at every possible opportunity. Some youth soccer coaches position defenders back near their own goalkeeper and have those defenders stay in that position the entire game. Not only is that bad soccer strategy overall, but it takes those players out of the action. The game is played with the team moving forward as a unit to attack the opposing goal and then retreating as a unit to defend its own goal. The defenders are the back line of the offense and the attackers are the front line of the defense. Players should learn at an early age to stay active and move to support their teammates. At younger ages, this will certainly lead to giving up more goals because it eliminates the congestion in front of the goal, but in the long term, players will become skilled at the game of soccer.

    Work on Passing

    • It is very important in developing soccer players to provide them with chances and instruction to develop their individual talents. Dribbling and shooting are very important skills to have and time should be spent improving them. In addition, equal or greater time should be spent on honing the skills of the team game. Small-sided games with three-on-three or even three-on-four help players learn how to move to space and make good passes in addition to learning how team defense works. Limiting touches on the ball is a nice added element. Giving players just two touches before they have to pass or shoot will force them into team mode and improve their overall play.

    Multiple Positions

    • A great strategy for coaching youth soccer is to have all the players on the team play and learn all the positions on the field when they are young. It makes the game more enjoyable for them. As players mature, they tend to settle into one assigned position. They will be more effective role players if they have the perspective that helps them understand what the other players on the field are doing.

    Conditioning

    • Physical conditioning is a big part of soccer, as the game involves constant motion and running. Sending players to run around the field five times is one way to build conditioning, but sprinting to a ball to take a shot is as effective as sprinting from line to line, while running up and down the field while executing soccer moves will build cardiovascular fitness just as well as running around the field for the sake of running.