Soccer Training at Home: A Guide for Parents

Introduction to Soccer Training at Home

As a parent, you want the best for your child, and if they’ve caught the soccer bug, you’re likely looking for ways to support their passion. Even if you’ve never kicked a soccer ball in your life, you can still help your young player develop essential skills at home with minimal equipment. This guide will walk you through the basics of ball mastery, technique, and game fundamentals, all in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re a complete soccer novice. You will become an expert on providing your child additional soccer training at home to complement what they are learning at practice.

Think of this as your cheat sheet to becoming your child’s at-home soccer coach, without needing to know an offside from an own goal. We’ll keep it lighthearted and fun, because, let’s face it, watching your kid try to juggle a soccer ball for the first time can be quite entertaining.

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Section 1: Ball Mastery

Ball mastery is all about getting comfortable with the ball. It’s like learning to dance with a partner; the more comfortable you are, the smoother the moves. Here are some drills that focus on ball mastery:

1.1 Dribbling

Dribbling is the art of moving the ball around while keeping it under control. Imagine it’s a mischievous puppy you’re trying to walk on a leash; you need to guide it without letting it run wild.

• Inside/Outside Touch: Have your child practice pushing the ball with the inside and outside of both feet. Encourage them to keep their head up and look where they’re going, not just at the ball. This is like learning to walk and chew gum at the same time, but with feet and a soccer ball.
• Sole Rolls: This involves rolling the ball back and forth with the sole of the foot. It’s a great way to improve control and get a feel for the ball. Make sure they use both feet for these drills.
• Cone Weaving: Set up some cones (or water bottles) in a line and have your child dribble the ball around them. This helps with agility and changing direction quickly. It’s like an obstacle course for the ball and your child’s feet.

1.2 Juggling

Juggling is a classic soccer skill that looks impressive and improves coordination and touch. It might seem daunting at first, but with practice, your child will be juggling like a pro (or at least keeping the ball in the air for more than two seconds).

• Start with the Feet: Have your child start by dropping the ball and kicking it back up into their hands with the laces of their foot. They can progress to dropping it and kicking it twice and back to their hands and then work their way up from there. The ultimate goal is to keep the ball up in the air as many times as possible.
• Add the Thighs and Head: Once they’re comfortable with their feet, encourage them to use their thighs and head to keep the ball up. This is where the real fun (and laughter) begins.
• Challenge Them: Set goals for how many times they can juggle the ball without letting it hit the ground. Also, you can have them use the inside of their foot as well as practice keeping the ball low and close to the feet.

1.3 Wall Work

A wall is a soccer player’s best friend. It is reliable and always passes the ball back. Here’s how to use it for training:

• Passing: Have your child practice passing the ball against the wall with different parts of their feet (inside, outside, laces). This helps with accuracy and power.
• Receiving: After passing, they should focus on controlling the ball as it comes back from the wall. This is like playing catch with a very predictable partner.
• Volleys: For a more advanced challenge, have them volley the ball against the wall (kicking it in the air before it hits the ground). This might take some practice (and maybe a few bumps on the head).

Section 2: Technique

Technique is all about performing soccer actions correctly and efficiently. Think of it as the difference between throwing a ball overhand and trying to throw it underhand; one way is clearly more effective.

2.1 Passing

Passing is the foundation of soccer. It’s how players move the ball around the field and create scoring opportunities.

• Accuracy: Have your child practice passing the ball to a target (like a cone or a laundry basket). Focus on accuracy first, then gradually increase the distance.
• Weight of Pass: The weight of the pass (how hard they kick it) is also important. They need to learn to pass the ball with the right amount of power for the situation. This is like learning to whisper versus shouting; sometimes a gentle pass is all that’s needed.
• Types of Passes: There are different types of passes, like inside of the foot passes, outside of the foot passes, and driven passes. Encourage your child to experiment with various techniques.

2.2 Shooting

Shooting is the most exciting part of soccer, and every player dreams of scoring the winning goal.

• Accuracy vs. Power: Start by having your child practice shooting at a target from close range, focusing on accuracy. As they improve, they can gradually increase the power and distance.
• Different Shooting Techniques: There are different ways to shoot the ball, like using the laces, the inside of the foot, and even the outside of the foot for a curveball effect. Encourage your child to try different techniques and see what works best for them.
• Shooting on the Run: To make it more challenging, have them dribble the ball and then shoot. This is like trying to hit a moving target, but with a soccer ball.

2.3 Heading

Heading is a useful skill for controlling and directing the ball in the air. It’s important to teach proper technique to avoid injuries.

• Start with Soft Tosses: Begin by gently tossing the ball to your child and having them head it back. Focus on using the forehead, not the top of the head.
• Increase the Height: Gradually increase the height of the tosses as they become more comfortable.
• Heading for Distance and Accuracy: Once they have the basic technique down, have them practice heading the ball for distance and accuracy. You can use a wall or a target for this.

Section 3: Game Fundamentals

Game fundamentals are the basic principles of playing soccer, like positioning, awareness, and decision-making. These are the things that separate the good players from the ball-chasers.

3.1 Positioning

Positioning is about being in the right place at the right time. It’s like predicting the future; you want to be where the ball is going, not where it’s been.

• Explain the Basic Positions: Teach your child about the different positions on the field (forward, midfielder, defender, goalkeeper) and what their roles are.
• Practice in the Yard: Use cones or markers to create a small playing area in your yard and have your child practice moving into different positions based on where the imaginary ball is.
• Watch Games Together: Watch professional or youth soccer games together and point out how players position themselves on the field. This is a real-life example of what they’re learning.

3.2 Awareness

Awareness is about knowing what’s happening around you on the field. It’s like having eyes in the back of your head but without the creepy factor.

• Encourage Head-Up Dribbling: Remind your child to keep their head up while dribbling so they can see where other players are and what’s happening around them.
• Play “Keep Away”: Play simple games like “keep away” with your child to help them develop their awareness and decision-making skills.
• Call Out Instructions: While they’re practicing, call out instructions like “look up,” “pass,” or “shoot” to help them develop their awareness and reaction time.

3.3 Decision-Making

Decision-making is about choosing the right action at the right time. It’s like playing chess with a soccer ball; you need to think ahead and anticipate your opponent’s moves.

• Create Game-Like Scenarios: Set up simple game-like scenarios in your yard and have your child make decisions about when to pass, shoot, or dribble.
• Ask Questions: After each practice session, ask your child questions like “Why did you pass the ball there?” or “What could you have done differently?” to encourage them to think critically about their decisions.
• Watch Games and Analyze: Watch games together and discuss the decisions players make on the field. This will help your child understand the thought process behind different actions.

Optional Equipment

Throughout this article I mentioned some equipment you can use to assist with training, for convenience I have provided some links here to get some ideas of things that are available for purchase or to at least help to get you thinking about what you already have around the house that you can use:

Kickwall – I have used the SKLZ brand myself and they have quality products. You are able to purchase walls that are taller to practice volleys but as the walls get higher so does the price.

Rebounder – Franklin makes an easy to use/setup rebounder that is adjustable to allow you the practice receiving the ball back in the air.

Goal/Cone Set – This has a lot of what you would look for in a good starter including an agility ladder. The goal is a good size to start and has stakes to keep it from flipping over after a hard shot. Depending on your child age you may need to get a different ball.

Conclusion

With a little creativity and effort, you can help your child develop their soccer skills at home, even if you’re not a soccer expert yourself. Remember to keep it fun and focus on the basics. The most important thing is to encourage your child’s passion for the game and help them build confidence. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a hidden talent for coaching along the way!