Soccer Drills For Match Conditions
May 2nd, 2009 Posted by: Steve Miles
Soccer is an active dynamic sport. Kids enjoy soccer because there is involvement by all of the players during the match. The ability to run on the pitch and kick a ball is highly attractive to players of all ages. Many kids loose interest in soccer because the practice that is designed by the coach is not a dynamic practice but a static practice. Static practices involve lines and waiting to get a chance to play the ball. Static practices involve the coach having the team run laps around the pitch during practice time. Waiting in a line to get a chance to kick a ball or running laps around the pitch isn’t fun. There is a method to both challenge the players’ skills and build endurance that is fun.
Everyone who plays soccer runs. When they are on the field, most of the running involves short bursts of speed combined with quick acceleration. Running laps around the field builds the wrong types of muscles to provide short bursts of speed and quick acceleration. Distance running creates long muscles. Short muscles are what are required for acceleration and bursts of speed. Developing these muscles demands that the player during practice emulate the conditions that are on the pitch during match day. Practices that emulate matches eliminate the need for lines of players waiting for the ball and running laps around the pitch.
Almost everyone has seen a line of players standing on the pitch waiting their turn to take a shot on the goal at a goalkeeper. This standing in line makes the players bored and wastes time at the practice. It is far better to break the players down into a 1 V 1 situation and utilize small goals that they can score upon. If there are 12 players on a team, then the coach would break them down to six 1 V 1 groups. The players learn individual tactics to defeat a defender and increase the accuracy of their shots with the small goal. After 5 minutes, the players switch positions and take on another opponent.
One of the basic requirements during a match is to spread the field out. This is accomplished by passing the ball from one teammate to another. Passing the ball requires the opponent to work to provide defense against the attack. To provide this opportunity during practice the coach can create three 2 V 2 teams. Each of these teams is provided a uniquely colored ball and a goal. The teams are placed in a triangular pattern and must score on an opponent’s goal while defending their own. Restrictions can be placed upon the players during play. Restrictions can include the number of touches each player makes upon the ball, number of consecutive passes or which goal can be scored upon.
The 12 players are then broken down to two 6 V 6 teams. The 6 V 6 teams are then placed onto ” of the pitch with small goals. They then play a 6 V 6 match in which restrictions can be placed upon them. These restrictions can include a consecutive number of completed passes without an opponent touching the ball, the method by which the goal is scored, on the ground, in the air, by a header etc. The small size of the field and the reduced number of players insure that everyone gets touches on the ball and that a significant amount of short distance running is involved in the practice.
Evaluating these three drills reveals that the players are engaged in running through the entire practice. All of the drills are match related and involve handling the ball. Prior to each practice of this type, the coach should introduce the technique that he wishes the players to practice during the drills. While the coach desires to make practice a physical exertion for the players, these practices can wear out the players. Time should be taken between drills for both water and recovery. During these breaks the coach can reinforce the technique introduced and amplify upon the instructions.
Many restrictions can be placed upon the players during this practice time. For younger and more inexperienced players the limits can be as simple as they must play with only their left foot. For more experienced players the limits can be as complex as performing a step over move or a step around move prior to scoring. These restrictions are only limited by the imagination of the coach.
These three drills provide the players challenges to expand their skills, keep them active during practice and make the soccer drills fun for them. The challenges that are presented to them must be age appropriate. This type of practice provides the most touches on the ball for each player, involves no running of laps around the pitch yet physically exerts each player. These practice drills are fun for the players yet increase their physical condition and stamina.
