Drills for Youth Soccer Tryouts

According to James W. Lennox, author of "Soccer Skills and Drills," dribbling, receiving, passing, shooting and heading are the most essential skills in the sport of soccer. When holding tryouts for youth soccer teams, make sure all of these basics are covered in drills that will easily identify each player's strengths and weaknesses, while still promoting an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere for the players.

  1. Dribbling

    • When dribbling, Lennox notes that the player may be attempting to beat a defender, to maintain possession of the ball or to speed into a breakaway. To practice these skills, a coach may have players perform the drill “Center Circle Dribbling.” The coach marks off the boundaries of a circle, changing the size depending on the number of players. Each player is given a ball and instructed to dribble around the circle as quickly as possible without running into the other players or losing her own ball. When the coach yells out “cones,” players must sprint to a cone on the outside of the circle, dribble around the cone and return to the center of the circle. The last player to the center is out. Repeat the drill until only one player remains.

    Passing/Receiving

    • While one player is performing a passing drill, her partner may practice receiving. The following drill from “Coaching Girls’ Soccer Successfully” by Debra LaPrath aims to assess a player's skill with both passing and receiving. Divide players into pairs and make a grid for each pair. Once in their grid, position the partners approximately 10 to 15 yards apart and have them face each other. Each player will stand next to cone. A second cone is placed next to the first cone, about one yard away. Player one (P1) will pass the ball across to player two (P2), who must move the ball laterally to the cone that is one yard away from her before passing it back to P1. P1 will receive the ball, kick it laterally to the cone that is one yard away from her, and pass it back to P2. This cycle is repeated as many times as possible in a 60-second period.

    Shooting

    • Shooting is a complex skill, as demonstrated by the following drill from “The Baffled Parent's Guide to Fix-It Drills for Youth Soccer” by Robert Koger. This shooting drill is performed in three steps. Put a cone on the ground about 10 steps from the goal and place the ball on top of the cone. Have players shoot the ball from a stationary position, making sure they kick from the laces of their cleats. Next, have them take one step before shooting. Finally, have the players perform a running kick. Make sure players follow up their shots by running toward the goal and preparing for a rebound. Each player should perform this drill from both sides, as she may be required to shoot with either foot and from any position during a game.

    Heading

    • “Youth Soccer Drills” by Jim Garland mentions several ways for a player to demonstrate her heading abilities. Split players into pairs and have them stand at least five yards apart. First, the player with the ball tosses it to herself and heads it to the other player, who does the same. Next, have one player toss to the other player, who will head it back. Finally, have one player toss to another player in motion, who will head it back. You can also ask players to attempt to juggle the ball with their heads to show their control or have them try to hit a specific area or object with a header.