June 10th, 2010 
admin Coaching soccer drills
Would you be surprised if I let you know that it’s really tricky for the young players to kick the ball with a straight leg? In coaching soccer drills, it’d not just the players but also the coaches who have a problem here. The player keeps overall balance and the leg to be used to kick the ball is bent at the knee. Both power and stance to kick the ball emerges from below the knee.
In soccer practice, this is the starting position for almost all types of kicks. The increase of rate of the foot from below the knee puts together a powerful blow on the ball. This offers great amount of power to players for carrying out different types of kicks. Yet, it is the kind of contact of the ball with the foot that decides what type of kick would originate.
For example; it could be hit very high, driven low, swung over left, or lean towards right.
There are three vital passes in soccer i.e. a side foot pass, the outside of the foot pass, and the instep drive. Let’s now discuss them some more.
Soccer Coaching
The side foot pass: This is the easiest and the most widely used pass in teaching soccer. This is usually employed to make short distance passes. Though it is a little slow and quite predictable during the game but is very easy for the kids to learn and execute accurately. The ball touches the inside of the foot and the ankle with the foot turned outwards.
In coaching soccer drills, guide the players to keep their bodies totally relaxed throughout the entire movement. This is the most basic rule with all types of kicking actions. The ankle and the foot should be stiffened only at the time of contact with the ball.
Once the players become confident, their overall action should seem relaxed, smooth and effortless.
Outside of the foot pass: Al though a little tricky to learn, this pass needs to be taught to the kids correctly as it’s quick, unpredictable, and accurate. The ball gets in touch between the outside edge of the foot and the laces with the foot extended and turned inwards. By using the foot, the pass is converted into a quick toss for short distances.
Throughout the coaching drills session, the posture of the players should be relaxed.
The Instep Drive: Here, the two versions; lofted versions and the low driven version are utilized to pass the ball to longer distances. Once the players are confident in executing it, make a “chip pass” or an “in swinging pass” by introducing some changes in it. As the approach of the instep drive is slightly angled and the non kicking foot is placed about 12 inches to the side of and behind the ball.
The contact with the ball is made between the laces and the inside of the foot and it should be stiff and extended.
So, go forward and make the kids try different things with the ball by teaching them the basic kicking techniques as well its variations.
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