Blog for soccer coaches

Developing finishing and crossing skills is an important aspect of soccer that can greatly contribute to your players' overall growth and enjoyment of the game. By working on these skills, your team can become more well-rounded and confident on the field.

Small-sided games create a fast-paced and intense environment where players are forced to think quickly and make split-second decisions. Whether working on improving their attacking strategies or defensive tactics, small-sided games provide a fun and engaging platform for soccer players to improve their skills and decision making.

One of the best ways to naturally bring out the competitive nature in your soccer players during practice is by adding in 1 v 1 activities, small-sided games, and races. The human spirit is instantly ignited when there is a goal to score, a race to win or an opponent to beat. Below we give you 5 simple, yet competitive soccer activities to ramp up your practices and help players work...

As 2019 comes to a close, SoccerDrive.com wanted to take time to reflect on our most popular pieces of content based on member interaction. In the recap below, we will list our most popular blog posts, soccer activities, small-sided games, and practice sessions. Based on the lists below, it is clear that coaches have been implementing more dynamic activities, small-sided games,...

Quick, off the top of your head, what do you feel are the main qualities that make a youth coach successful?

Is it a passion for the sport? Friendliness? Ability to teach techniques? Ability to communicate with players? Approachability? Your quality of practice plans? Your knowledge of good soccer drills? What do you feel are YOUR top three qualities as a coach? In this article,...

A Look at using Static vs. Dynamic Soccer Drills in Youth Soccer Practices.

To start, please watch this short 1 minute video from a recent United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘B’ license. For background, this is a Stage 2 activity (meaning, done after the warm up), and the topic is Crossing And Finishing In A 4-4-2 Formation. While watching, ask yourself what you like about the...

Recreational play is the most important foundation of youth soccer in this country because it is the place where everyone, regardless of ability, size, or income, can play.

Every single high-level player in this country started in recreational soccer and, if they had had negative experiences in it, most likely would have quit playing before they had the chance to become as talented as...

The soccer drills chosen to include in this list are ones the kids will love and be excited about. It is critical that coaches at this level make practices fun and exciting and therefore we put together a list of 7 soccer drills that U8 soccer coaches can include in their practice plans.

These drills are explained in detail and supported with diagrams and animations.  The drills...

Here are a few ways you, as a parent, can be a positve force on your child's team and therefore contribute to their success.  Parents have a much larger influence on youth teams than most people realize, both good and bad.  

It is not always easy but I promise if you commit to being a positive force it will be reflected in your child’s performance and ultimately your...

The Whole-Part-Whole practice philosophy (or Play-Practice-Play) is a method that is growing in popularity.  

The more traditional practice approach is an incremental method in which the players start with a basic skill or tactic and gradually increase the complexity throughout the practice.  The idea being that if you start simple and end more complex then everyone has made...