Soccer is really fun, and it is never too early to get started, even if your child is a beginner. Just put a few aspiring soccer players on the field, give them a soccer ball and a few soccer drills, and watch the fun happen.
However, while things are quite different when it comes to soccer coaching intermediate or advanced players, beginners are most prone to feelings of discouragement. You should teach them a soccer skill or two in a fun and engaging environment to keep them interested so they can settle in with their new teammates to allow the real soccer training to begin.
The Best Soccer Skills for Kids
The following skills are carefully selected to help the young players, and even the goalie, develop better ball control and faster decision-making while on the soccer field. Here are some of the best soccer drills for kids:
The Stepover
The stepover is perhaps one of the most fundamental and most commonly used skills in soccer, and even the pros are using it due to its efficiency in guiding the ball away from the defending players. It got its name because the front leg steps over the ball after faking a pass, so that the player can quickly guide the ball away. However, it does require some conditioning, and a Red Light, Green Light exercise is a perfect soccer drill for gaining the necessary skill set that would allow players to successfully execute a stepover.
The Scissor
The scissor is regarded as the stepover’s trickier cousin and a great dribbling skill. The player also fakes a pass with the inside of the floor and brings the foot back over the ball, only to change the ball’s direction and guide it away from the defense. The same exercise routine applies to both soccer moves.
The Pull Back
This is one of the most fun soccer drills for kids, but it requires faster and more precise footwork and good dribbling skills. A pullback is done as if you’re breaking and making for a U-turn, and this simple maneuver can be done by virtually anyone looking to steer the ball away from a defending player.
The Ronaldo Chop
The Ronaldo chop is one of the best training drills for youth soccer players, as it brings them somewhat closer to the great soccer player the skill was named after. The player uses the inside of their dribbling foot to knock the ball in the opposite direction while faking a pass with the other leg, then instantly changing directions with the ball. It seems like a next level skill, but it’s actually pretty easy to learn.
Other Skills
While these are some of the most interesting skills one can learn during soccer practice, it’s really important that players develop other skills through teamwork, shooting drills, passing drills, dribbling drills, and the importance of proper warm-up and correct sprinting.
Value and Benefits of Learning Effective Soccer Skills
The value of learning effective soccer skills lies in the range of benefits the sport offers in terms of personal and health benefits. These benefits include improved fitness and enhanced coordination, improved focus and concentration, and teamwork and cooperation.
By learning effective soccer skills, your child also develops a strong work ethic and discipline while also learning how to set goals, work towards them diligently, and deal with setbacks, which is invaluable in both personal and professional settings later in life.
Summary
These were some of the most interesting and easy soccer skills a beginner player can learn. With a bit of practice on the field and at home, they’ll be able to perform these at soccer games in no time.
