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The following are some sample games/drills. Please check the Coaches pack and downloads for more.

Basic Foot Skill Games

The games described below can easily be incorporated into practice sessions for young children. They're fun, simple to explain and help reinforce basic skills without any pressure.

Red Light – Green Light

For the very young Under 6 the game of Red Light – Green Light is an easy game to learn and teaches the children to keep the ball close and under control.

THE GAME

Each player has a ball, except the one player that is designated as the "light".

Lines from start to finish should be approximately 20 - 30 yards.

Players start from the line opposite the "light".

The "light" then turns away from the group shouting out "GREEN LIGHT".

At this signal, the players start to dribble towards the "light".

When the "light" turns round, calling "RED LIGHT", players must freeze and stop their ball.

If the "light" catches players or a ball still moving that player must take 5 steps back.

The first player to cross the line where the "light" is standing is the winner and becomes the new "light".

You can start the game without using balls for younger players and then use their feet.

North –South – East and West

Players dribble where the coach tells them to, i.e. a direction as suggested in the title or you can make it a color or an animal, whatever. This again teaches the children to keep the ball close and shows them how to change a direction.

Dr a w

This is a very popular game with the younger crowd. Place players in 2 lines facing each other. Place one ball in the middle of the each two players.

The object of the game is to draw the ball back using the sole of the foot. The command to “Draw” is given by the coach. The fun part is that the coach has to tell a story in which he uses the word “draw” to signal the players.

draw the ball back using the sole of the foot. The command to “Draw” is given by the coach. The fun part is that the coach has to tell a story in which he uses the word “draw” to signal the players.

For example: Willy and his sister were working on cleaning their rooms. Willy said, “Where should I put these socks?", and his sister replied , “In your Drawer.” Make up really silly stories.

You can add progression to this drill by having the players jog in place, have the players only use the non-dominant foot, have the players move up a ladder if they win and down if they lose the round and see who can get to the top first.

Drawer.” Make up really silly stories.

"GET EM"

Here is a game which involves both passing and dribbling that is fun and engages players quickly. Although primarily an individual exercise that allows for differences in ability level, if the players are ready, it can quickly become a cooperative game where players work together to solve a challenge.

The Game

Each player will need a ball. Player 'A' is "It" and is the only player to start with a ball. All the other players around the outside of the grided space.
Player 'A' dribbles and tries to hit the other players below the waist with the ball.
When hit, that player gets a ball and joins player 'A'.
The game is over when all of the players have been caught.
The last player caught is “It” and starts with the ball for the next game.

If you think the task will be too difficult for the one player to get another at the

start of the game, start with 2 players being "It".

Basic Passing Game U7: Trick or Treat

Set Up and Execution

Make a square with pretty small sides - players line up on each side. Put an adult in the middle of each side (that means four adults) holding a dozen or so flat cones (you could use anything else similar size and shape). 50 cones or 50 slips of construction paper will do.

On a go signal, players dribble across the square, stop the ball with a foot on it, say “Trick or Treat”, take a cone from an adult, turn the ball, dribble back across, take a cone, etc. When all the cones are gone, who has the most? This requires dribbling at speed, avoiding the clump in the middle, controlling the ball around an opponent, but minimal coordination holding the cones.

After a few rounds dribble across the square, dribble around the coach, and then stop the ball, say "Trick or treat," etc. Or place the adults randomly in the square, moving at a walking pace. This makes them keep their heads up and look for the target (i.e. the adult)

Four Corners- Aggressiveness and Fitness

from soccerexpert.com

This soccer drill focuses on aggressiveness in winning 50/50 balls. It also improves fitness.

This drill is designed for players aged 8 and older although it could be used with younger players with caution.

Drill Info:

This is for ages U8, U10, U12, U14, U16. It is best ran with at least 4 but not more than 20 players.

Setup:

Create a grid that is 30x30 yards. Create 4 teams and have them stand at each of the four corner cones. The coach stands outside the grid near the middle of 2 side cones with a large supply of soccer balls.

Instructions:

The coach plays a ball into the center of the grid and shouts out a command (such as “GO”) to begin play. The first player in each of the 4 lines must sprint after the ball in attempt to reach the ball first. Once the ball is won cleanly, the player must hold possession from the other players for 5 seconds before passing the ball back to the coach. If any player steals the ball from the person in possession, that player will then attempt to hold possession for 5 seconds. A team scores a point by successfully holding possession for 5 seconds and making a return pass to the coach. The first team to reach 5 points wins.

Variations:

* The coach can play different types of balls such as flighted balls, bouncing balls, rolling balls, balls with large amounts of top or back spin.

Coaching Points:

* Players should be taught to go after the ball aggressively with speed, determination and vigour.

Focus:

Technical Dribbling, Technical Aggressiveness

Improve Soccer Defending Skills

a soccer practice plan from eysa.org

age group: U10

Equipment

1 ball per player, cones, pennies

Warm up

Link Tag – Create pairs of players and have them link arms, break one of the pairs apart and give one of them a penny, the player with the penny is it and will chase the other player until they link up with one of the pairs, the player on the other side of the link must now leave the link and run

Body

Pac Man – 15 minutes, 20x30 yards, two players without the ball are ghosts, the ghosts object is to get as many balls out of the grid as possible in two minutes, if a player has their ball kicked out of the grid they retrieve their ball and re-enter the grid

Praise the players that work together to trap a player and take the ball away

Team Knockout – 15 minutes, 20x30 yards, half the players with balls, the other half need to be around the outside of the grid, the players outside the grid will come into the grid and work together to steal balls away from the dribblers and dribble the outside of the grid, once a player loses their ball they can help their team mates out by passing with them, time the team that started with out with the ball on how long it takes to get the ball out of the grid

Application

End Zone – 20 minutes, two 20x30 yard grids, create two games of 3v3 or 4v4, players score by dribbling over the endline with the ball

Scrimmage – 15-20 minutes, two 20x30 yard grids, create small goals on either endline and allow the players to play without any coaching

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