

Red light, green light: This activity is played the same way as the popular children’s game, but the players dribble the ball as they play.This can improve ball handling and directional techniques. The Ouchie Game: The coach or coaches run around, and players attempt to use their dribbling and kicking skills to target the coach with the ball.3 to 5 Years OldĮffective activities and exercises for this age group include: It is always important for coaches and parents to review exercises and drills on an individual basis to ensure that they are safe and age-appropriate. However, while there are many tried-and-true activities and exercises that are commonly utilized by coaches, it is important to note that other types can be appropriate.įurthermore, more advanced exercises can be modified to be appropriate for younger players, or even supervised by parents at home, while some, such as scrimmages, are appropriate at any age. Activities and Exercises for Young Playersīecause players in different age groups should be developing different skills, they will also need to be engaging with different, age-appropriate activities and exercises. Ideally, young soccer players should develop a determined and positive mindset that will allow them to maintain confidence and remain calm and resilient under pressure.Īny more specific skills that you develop will fall under one of these four categories. Developing a healthy mindset for sports is important because without the proper mindset to support your skills, your performance is likely to suffer. Mindset: Mindset refers to your attitude and mental fortitude.
Ideally, physical fitness should be approached with both the short-term and the long-term in mind. Good physical fitness can not only improve your performance, but also reduce the risk of injury. Physical fitness: Physical fitness is the process of ensuring that your body is strong and healthy enough to support the physical work that you are putting in.Using this information, a player can adjust their personal strategy to better suit each specific situation. With good game intelligence, a player can analyze gameplay from a perspective beyond their own designated role. Game intelligence: Game intelligence, also known as tactical awareness, refers to how well a player understands the larger dynamics of the game.These optimized movements are meant to not only improve performance, but also to reduce fatigue and risk of injury. Technique is usually developed through drills to make the movements second nature. Technique: Technique refers to the basic movements and movement strategies that sports players develop.There are four major skills groups that you can develop in soccer:


These skills include, but are not limited to:įor this reason, youth soccer is a valuable development tool that goes even beyond skills specifically related to sports strategy. How Soccer Can Help Young Players Develop Life SkillsĪs mentioned, soccer can help kids develop a wide range of life skills. The same could be said about the life skills that soccer imparts. Even toddlers ages 12 to 24 months can get a head start on honing their skillsĪt each stage, the skills kids develop in soccer prepare them to succeed when they enter the next stage. Kids can play soccer at virtually any age, although it is important for each age group to approach it appropriately. Soccer is not only a great way to boost the physical development of children, but also an opportunity to help them learn valuable life skills such as social networking, problem-solving, and decision-making. To learn more about the Soccer Stars organization, click here.
