There is massive amount of excellent free coaching information available on the internet. Many sites offer written plans while the newer video sites have a rapidly growing set of free instructional videos.

Successful coaches do the following:

  • Plan practices in advance and structure as follows:
    • Warm-up
      • Warm-up activity 1
      • Warm-up activity 2
    • Main body
      • Activity 1
      • Activity 2
    • Game (doesn't always have to be a scrimmage)
      • Game activity 1
      • Game activity 2
  • Choose a main topic/theme for the whole practice (ex: passing). All practice activities should support the main topic/theme
  • Choose age appropriate activities that teach the chosen topic
  • Choose activities that are efficient
  • Adjust activities through each iteration as needed to accomplish goals
  • No laps, no lines, no lectures
  • Create a fun learning environment

 

Here are some resources that our coaches have found to be very helpful....

Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (practice plans by age): 
www.mayouthsoccer.org/pages/2302_practice_sessions.cfm

Decatur Sports Soccer Drills (drills, practice plans and articles): 
www.dprsports.com/drills.htm

Footy4kids (drills, practice plans and articles):
www.footy4kids.co.uk/index.htm

Dutch inspired activities
http://www.bettersoccermorefun.com/

FIFA.com (an illustrative description of Law 11 -Offside, send this to your 8v8 team!):
http://www.fifa.com/lotg/football/en/flash/start.html

Youtube.com (do a search for 'soccer drill'):
www.youtube.com

UEFA Training Ground (drills and demonstrations):
www.uefa.com/trainingground/index.html

NSCAA Coaching Tips:
www.nscaa.com/coachingtips.php