Group of young athletes in blue jerseys gathered in field

In small-town USA, sports are a huge part of how communities come together. In fact, sports are embedded into the vast majority of American cultures. Whether you’re from the north or south, midwest or east coast, teamwork and friendly competition seem to be deep-seeded topics that impact many childhoods and daydreams. And with so many …

Person reaching down to pick up soccer ball on grassy field

Improve your footwork, check off “hat trick” from the bucket list, or just stay up-to-date with your favorite teams from around the globe. With these soccer-focused applications, you won’t miss a beat in scores or in play. Check out 10 of the best soccer apps for iOS & Android below. Our Top 10 Best Soccer …

What Every Soccer Parent Needs To Know About Running Shoes

Choosing the best shoes for your young athlete is one of the most important decisions you will make when prepping for sports season – and in today’s case, soccer season. From the shin guards to the training sneakers to cleats, there are some necessities and details to take notice of when deciding on the best …

Sports Team-Mom Duty Checklist

Taking on the role of “Team Mom” can be a time-consuming job if you are not organized right from the start! Check out our Team Mom Duty Checklist (and accompanying printables below). You may need to make some slight modifications for your particular sport and league/program offering, but it should provide some helpful tips no …

Quick Finish Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) Number of Players: 8+ Difficulty: Easy Time: 10-15 min. Emphasis: Finishing, Passing, Dribbling Field Preparation: each player with a ball 2 mini goals cones Description: players dribble around cone and attempt to shoot the ball into their goal first 2 points to score …

Possession Game # 4 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 10+ Difficulty: Medium Time: 15-20 min. Emphasis: Passing, Possession, Defending Field Preparation: grid (20yds x 30yds) cones to mark off area pinnies Description: red team plays keep-away (5v2) red team has to complete three passes before passing …

4v4 Shooting Game Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 8+ Difficulty: Medium-Hard Time: 15-25 min. Emphasis: finishing, attacking, defending Field Preparation: 2 teams grid (30yds x 40yds) 2 goals with goalies good supply of cones to mark off area good supply of balls for continuous play pinnies Description: …

Dynamic Passing # 3 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 4+ Difficulty: Easy Time: 5-10 min. Emphasis: Passing Field Preparation: groups of 4 1xball per group Description: players make a square players start off passing to each other while standing next step: players pass to each other while …

Dynamic Passing # 2 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 8+ Difficulty: Easy-Medium Time: 10-15 min. Emphasis: Passing Field Preparation: 1x ball per group grid (10 x 10yds) cones to mark off area repeat setup to accommodate the entire team Description: players pass to each other in …

Essential Pieces of Equipment for Soccer Players - Featured

Soccer is increasingly popular with young athletes around the country, perhaps because it is such a great team sport. There’s room for young athletes to shine in lots of different ways. For example, a child need not be tall if she is quick. He may not be quick, but he can become an expert in …

With 20 Member Clubs, the Premier League is England’s primary football association as well as the most-watched sports league in the world. Broadcasting in 190 countries, in 900 million homes, and with a potential audience of nearly 5 billion, you’d be hard-pressed to find a sports lover that hasn’t dipped their toes into the fandom. …

Finishing Game # 3 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 6+ Difficulty: Medium-Hard Time: 20-25 min. Emphasis: Finishing, Passing, Attacking, Defending Field Preparation: 2 teams 1 goal with goalie cones to mark off area pinnies Description: play 5v4 the attacking team with 5 players attacks the goal with …

Dribbling Warm Up # 9 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) Number of Players: 5+ Difficulty: Easy Time: 5-10 min. Emphasis: Dribbling, Ball Control Field Preparation: each player with a ball grid (20yds x 30yds) cones to mark off area Description: 20 toe touches (alternate between right and left foot) 20 toe …

Communication Passing # 2 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 6+ Difficulty: Easy Time: 5 min. Emphasis: Passing Field Preparation: half the group with a ball grid (20yds x 30yds) cones to mark off area Description: players without a ball call for a lead pass into space …

Attacking Principles Print/Download This Drill Penetration look to go forward past opposing players by shooting, dribbling, running, passing always try to score (if you can’t score look to make a pass – if a pass isn’t possible look to advance the ball by dribbling or running) Depth/Support support teammates by providing communication, creating passing options …

Defending Principles Print/Download This Drill Pressure/Delay immediate chase and pressure on the ball to slow down the attack until defense is regrouped and can win the ball back (pressure may be to drop off and stay deep) deny and delay forward progress by closing gaps for passing and scoring chances – keep play in front …

Changing Numbers Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players 6+ Difficulty Easy Time 10-25 min. Emphasis: Dribbling, Attacking, Defending Field Preparation: 2 teams grid (40yds x 50yds) cones to mark off area 2 cone goals pinnies Description: start playing 1v1 coach serves a ball in each time a goal …

Coaching Philosophy Print/Download This Drill In general, putting together a soccer coaching philosophy may turn out to be relatively easy. However, living up to it tends to be the hard part. Starting to coach a team without having a soccer coaching philosophy is comparable to traveling across the country without a map. For this reason, …

Coaching Styles Print/Download This Drill What is a coaching style? A soccer coaching style consists of how you do things, how you communicate and what kind of character you reveal during all the aforementioned. A coaching style shows…. How to coach youth soccer is how a coach conducts a session and manages a game, talks …

Lose Your Shadow Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 8+ Difficulty: Easy Time: 5-10 min. Emphasis: Dribbling Field Preparation: in pairs each pair with a ball grid (20yds x 30yds) cones to mark off area Description: each pair determines a leader and a shadow the leader dribbles …

SSG Shooting # 1 Intermediate level finishing drill for players who have mastered the technique of finishing/shooting and scoring with various parts of their body. Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 8+ Difficulty: Easy-Medium Time: 10-15 min. Emphasis: Finishing Field Preparation: 2 groups 2 goals with goalies good …

Being a good team player is one thing, but being a great soccer team captain is another. Very few players will have this golden opportunity in taking up such an important leadership role. However, if you are fortunate to take up the role of a team captain, then you will need to be a good …

Dribbling Warm Up # 8 Print/Download This Drill Basic Information Age Group: (5-7yrs) (8-11yrs) (12-15yrs) (16-Adult) Number of Players: 5+ Difficulty: Easy Time: 5-10 min. Emphasis: Dribbling Field Preparation: each player with a ball grid (20yds x 30yds) cones to mark off area Description: different types of dribbling speed dribbling (slow, medium, fast etc.) take …

summer sport camps

Summer is quickly approaching which means it is almost time to send your kids off to summer camp. Have you signed your kids up for any fun activities this year?  If your kiddos love playing sports then have you considered sending them to a camp designed specifically to fine tune their skills? If you haven’t already …

In youth soccer the players need to be able to demonstrate certain skills in order to secure themselves not only a spot on the team but also a particular position. Those positions require specific skills and these skills can be evaluated in a competitive way. The youth soccer players are usually taught these skills during …