Keep It Fun!!!!!!

Kids brains require more than a game and one sesion to program the musculo-skeletal proprioception (coordination) required for high end skills such as football.

Children who wish to play on the better side of average need to do at least one to two home sessions of 15-30 min per week.

Its important children practice the exact skills they wish to attain.  Eg: players who simply practice kicking a still ball from a standing position will be excellent at that skill but may not improve in any other aspect of the game. Therefor variety is essential.

Small sided games like 1 verse 1 or 2 verse 2 are excellent as they have the full range of skills. If children have no-one to play against then the most essential skills are dribbling, kicking and passing. They should do these with lots of variety and with both feet.

Do this 12 minute session

http://www.thesoccerhelper.com/pages/soccer-skills/12-minute-session.php

Or a sample training program for a child with no training partner.

• 20 x right then 20 x left foot kicks at the trampoline on its side or a fence or wall.
• 3 flat out sprints for 30m
• 3-5 min juggling, start by catching, then do two and catch, then three and catch. Or with bounces in between each kick.
• 5-10 min of dribbling and ball work with lots of variation in speed and direction, practice faints, pull backs, and cut backs.
• 3 flat out sprints for 30m
• 20 big kicks with each foot
• 20 - 50 passes with the inside of the foot
• a 5-10 min continuous jog, slowwing towards the end.

For tips and techniques try www.soccerhelp.com

Some kids hate the thought of attending some training session because they dislike drills.  It is important as parents to emphasise the importance of drills with the ball at the feet of every child.  In 60 minutes of game time some players may have a ball for less than ten seconds and may get only 10 touches on a ball.  This makes it incredibly difficult to practice or perfect skills. In comparison drills can easily get up to 60 touches per minute and up to 3000 touches in 1 hour. It is easy to see why drills are the key to fast improvement. 

Games also play a role in that they teach the child how to use these new found skills under pressure and in context.  Games also develop higher order thinking, team awarness, positioning and competition.

When talking to your child about what it takes to be a good football player its simple

• Practice more than average
• Patience to improve
• Listening Skills
• Attitude to want to improve and to want to listen how to correct errors

 Or do the 12 minute session

http://www.thesoccerhelper.com/pages/soccer-skills/12-minute-session.php