How to Practice Soccer for Kids

Many kids become involved in soccer. It is a great activity that helps to get them active, outside and socializing. If your kids want to become better at soccer, there are drills they can run at home to make them feel stronger during practice as well as during games. Parents can show their kids how to do some drills and encourage them while they practice.

Things You'll Need

  • Soccer ball
  • Practice cones
  • Whistle
  • Soccer goal
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Instructions

    • 1

      Try the drill called "dribbling across a square." This is a common practice technique for kids. Set up cones to make a square. Start with a small square and make the kids dribble the ball around the square. This will improve their dribbling and help them to maintain control of the ball. You can also make the square larger to help kids practice their breakaways. This is a great warm-up exercise.

    • 2

      Play the "dribble around the cone, pass and relay race." If you are running a full practice or have enough kids in your yard, you can run this drill. Divide the kids into two teams. Set a cone about 15 feet from where the kids will start. The kids dribble to this cone, and once they are around it they can pass to their next teammate. This is a fun game that also helps with soccer skills.

    • 3

      Practice throw-ins. You can watch your child practice throwing the ball onto the field. Then, kindly critique her. You should watch to make sure that one toe is being dragged, her elbows are pointed out when she throws, that she snaps her wrists and that she throws the ball over the opponent.

    • 4

      Practice shooting. Have the players face away from the goal and have them each throw a ball over their heads toward the goal. When you blow your whistle or tell them to go, they turn around, find their ball and shoot it into the net. This teaches them to have good foot/eye coordination.

    • 5

      Run a scrimmage. Kids can even have soccer games at their houses if they can get a few other kids to participate. It is important for kids to get used to the game atmosphere and put what they have learned in practice into a real game.