| Use these games to warm up at the start of
practice
1. Name Circle (especially good at
first practice to help teammates learn each others' names): Team forms a ~10
yd diameter circle, players pass the ball to others in the circle, but first
must call the name of the player they are passing to.
2. Around the World (teaches players talking to
each other): Team forms a circle holding hands. One player is outside the
circle. Coach picks one of the players of the circle. The player outside must tag the
back of the selected player. The selected player gives directions to the
circle to move one way or the other to protect her. When selected player is
finally tagged, she becomes the player outside the circle.
3. High Fives (selecting teams): In a 10 yard
square, all players jog randomly. When coach says "up" or blows whistle, players give
double high fives to the nearest player. At some point, coach stops the game
and these are the paired teams for the next drill/game. Alternatively, coach
can instruct to join 'threes' or 'fours' at the whistle instead of pairs to
form larger teams.
4. Caterpillars (teaches talking and looking): In a
10 yard square. Players team up into twos or threes. One player is the
'head,' other(s) line up behind holding the shoulders of the player ahead.
Object is for the head player to tag the back of the last player in the
other caterpillars. Last team left wins.
5. Team Handball (teaches passing): Two teams of
3-4 players in a 10 yard square. Object is for one team to complete 10
consecutive successful passes--using hands. The Entire team must count out
loud each successful pass or the other team gets the ball. If the ball
touches the ground, goes outside the square or is intercepted, the other
team also gets it.
6. Keep Away (advanced passing): Divide team in
half. Use 30 x 20 yd grid. Teams play keep away inside grid. Coaches should
focus on movement without the ball, "Good soccer players find space."
7. Soccer Baseball (teaches passing, defense): One
team of 3-5 players in a 10 yard square. Coach a/ "serves" the ball to one
of the players at the same time he b/ starts a stopwatch and c/ sends one
player at a time from the opposing team to try to force the ball outside the
square. Stopwatch stops when ball leaves the square and player returns to
entry point. Team score is cumulative. When all players on the opposing team
have taken their turn, teams switch places. A "run" is scored by the team
keeping control of the ball the longest. Typically games are three innings.
8. Marbles (teaches ball control): All
players have their own ball in a 10 yard square. Object is to kick others'
balls outside the square while keeping control of own. Last player left
wins. Variation: Players must use their own ball to hit others' balls
outside the square--without theirs going out too!
9. Relay Races (dribbling skills): Set up two lines
of cones; cones in each line about 4-6 feet apart. Each relay race should
specify a different dribbling skill: right foot only, inside foot only,
outside foot only, rolling with bottom of foot, etc.
10. Cuppies (2v2 or more): Divide team into smaller
2 -3 player teams. A goalie -can be the coach- defends one common goal. Two
teams at a time on the field. Throw out a ball and both teams try to score
on the goal. When a goal is scored, the losing team rotates off and is
replaced by a new team.
11. Callout (1v1): Teams take positions on lines ~15
yards apart. Players on each team take a number. Coach tosses ball into air
in the middle between the two teams and calls a number. That number player
from each side runs to fight for the ball. The winner is the player who
dribbles to their own starting line and stops the ball on the line.
Coaches may call out more than one number as the game goes on.
12. Top Gun (1v1): Players pair up. Each pair has a
ball and a cone. They stand next to the cone and roll the ball ~10 yards
away. At the whistle, each tries to get the ball and score a goal by hitting
the cone. If the cone is hit, the other player gets the ball and tries to
score. Each game should last one minute (this is a tiring drill). Any player
that doesn't score a goal--can be both players--does one pushup. Rotate
players and continue.
Have your own favorite game? Send it to us and we'll
print it here.
|
