| Putting the 'Fun' back in Fundamentals | | | | designated as the light and stands facing the line of |
| When kids are just starting to learn the game of | | | | their teammates approximately 20-30 yards away. |
| soccer, it is necessary to engage in fun, skill building | | | | To begin the game, the light turns away from the |
| drills during practices. Kids soccer drills should focus on | | | | group and yells out the phrase "green light". This is the |
| participation and reinforcing the basic skills of the game | | | | signal for the other players to dribble forwards |
| such as dribbling, running, and passing. | | | | towards the light. Next, the light turns back around and |
| By keeping kids soccer drills fun, light and short, players | | | | yells "red light", causing all the players to stop dribbling |
| will be able to hold their focus for the duration of the | | | | and freeze immediately. |
| drill. Always include a variety of kids soccer drills that | | | | If the light catches anyone moving, that player must |
| involve a large number of players to allow everyone a | | | | move back 5 steps. The first player to reach the light |
| chance to participate. | | | | becomes the new light, and play resumes with |
| Copycat | | | | everyone starting back at the original line. |
| Here's a fun drill that introduces the team to the | | | | Draw it out |
| concepts of dribbling and quick reaction times. To | | | | This fun kids soccer drill called "Draw" reinforces |
| begin, mark a 10-yard square using orange plastic | | | | listening skills and ball control when passing. To begin |
| cones. Each child begins the drill inside the square, | | | | the drill, set up the players in 2 lines facing each other |
| dribbling a ball. | | | | approximately 15-20 feet apart. Each pair of players |
| While the players dribble, the coach or drill leader calls | | | | has a ball between them. |
| out the name of a body part and the players must | | | | Throughout the drill, players will be drawing the ball |
| touch that body part to the ball as quickly as possible. | | | | back and forth between them while the coach or drill |
| After they have touched the called body part to the | | | | leader tells a story. Whenever the coach or drill leader |
| ball, they resume dribbling the ball. | | | | says the word "draw", the player with the ball must |
| Once the kids have mastered the basic concept of | | | | gently draw the ball towards their partner using the |
| the drill, it can be made more difficult by calling out a | | | | sole of their foot. This allows the coach or drill leader a |
| series of body parts to touch the ball like "left foot, right | | | | great deal of creativity in coming up with interesting |
| elbow, nose" or by calling out a combination that would | | | | uses for the word draw, or trying to fake the players |
| require players to unite such as "two right knees" or | | | | out. |
| "twelve fingers and four left feet". | | | | Once players have mastered the basics of the drill, |
| Green Means Go! | | | | there are a number of variations that can be |
| This is another fun game called "Red Light, Green | | | | incorporating into this drill. For example, players must |
| Light" that has the players working on their ball control | | | | jog in place while waiting to draw or receive the ball, or |
| skills. To begin, players are spread out evenly | | | | having players use their opposite foot for both the |
| side-by-side, and each player has a ball. One player is | | | | drawing and receiving of the ball. |