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Here’s a damn easy way to recognize the need to teach Soccer practice games when the kids have learnt basic soccer skills and techniques. Players must know in the early stages of their training the stress and pressure associated with real match-like situations so that they can get acquainted with soccer training.

The best way to achieve this is to introduce small-sided games and drills in which the kids immerse themselves. It is of vital importance that the kids get to contact the ball maximum so that they become comfortable with the ball.

These games and drills help the kids learn the art of positional play. The kids learn the following:

1. Run far away from the player with the ball than towards him or her. 2. Stir “off the ball” and make a good passing angle. 3. Run onwards and get the delivery of the ball “in space”. 4. Pass backward to allow the team to move backward.

The term “positional play” also refers to the ability of the players to play in a specific position. It is common knowledge that a great soccer player can play from all positions with élan. Consequently, a coach must make an effort to teach the players to play from all positions using soccer practice games.

Moving forward, it makes no sense to teach a player to play only as a defender or a striker.

Following are 2 soccer drills that act as good starting points for young players:

1. This game has 6 players. 5 players make a circle around a player who acts as a defender. Then the players who have the ball dribble or pass the ball to each other and the defender tries to steal the ball from them. You must let all players get a chance to play as a defender one by one.

Herein, the players must be taught to first attract the defender and subsequently pass the ball. Also, they must be in charge of the ball and keep their head up at the same time. They must also endeavor to generate good passing directions and disguise the pass towards the end, whenever possible.

2. All that is essential for this game is a grid and 5 players. The one defending the ball stand within the grid and the remaining players outside it. Then the passers try to make as many consecutive passes as possible across the grid without an interception. Once more, replace the players acting as defenders, every now and then.

The players must keep the control of the ball to the sides. They must employ the outside of their foot in tandem with using their hip and shoulder fakes.

Both of these soccer exercises greatly help the players by allowing them to play from different positions. The players get better at controlling the ball and become flexible as a result of these exercises.

This is the best and the easiest mode of training the players in soccer practice games. If you would like to know more of such tips and tactics, you must subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community that helps the youth coaches train their students better. There are numerous articles, newsletters, and videos etc that guide you to train your players better.

Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Soccer practice games.