Let me present some free soccer training drills using which you can control the ball effectively as well as shoot and pass it. This article talks in detail about two of the best known soccer drills, Shoulder To Shoulder and Shark in the Middle.
Shoulder To Shoulder is a drill that is suitable for both offensive as well as defensive players. The main purpose of this exercise is to teach offensive player to practice fast shooting under pressure and let the defensive players practice clearing the ball.
This drill utilizes 3 players in each drill group. The distance that lies between A and B is 10-15 yards apart.
B and the defensive player make a line shoulder to shoulder. B and the defensive player, who stand just next to each other, face away from the goal on the left side of the field. At the whistle of the coach, A throws the ball behind the other 2 players. B and the defensive player initiate and attempt to take control of the ball. B’s objective is to make a shot on goal while the defensive player’s aim is to turn with the ball and dribble it above the center line.
By involving players in coaching drills like Shoulder to Shoulder, players learn to win the ball despite being under immense pressure from the opposition.
Shark in the Middle is an interesting game that can be played any time during the practice and its duration can be worked out as per the need. This free soccer training drills is one of many that helps the players be attentive and self-control in players under pressure situations.
Players make a large circle in the field. Then a player is made to act like a Shark and stand in the center of the circle. There is only a single ball and it is given to the person who stands inside the circle.
On your whistle the player with the ball passes the ball to any other player alongside the circle. Then, the second player passes the ball to a third player of his choice and so on.
Then you blow the whistle again and it means that the game should start. The objective of the game is to make sure that shark does not get the ball. Player may pass the ball to anyone along the circle, be it a teammate right next to him or a teammate at a distance. Players try to make as many passes as possible.
This process goes on until the shark gets the ball.
When the ball is captured, the player that caused the ball to be intercepted becomes the new shark and the first shark finds a place along the circle.
Shark in the Middle is one of those football drills that call for quick thinking and the understanding of how sharks think.
In the end, these free soccer training drills help players to build self-confidence to handle the ball while under pressure from an approaching opposition. If you want more information and knowledge please subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community where a lot of learning resources are available.
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: Free soccer training drills.