Practice Planning

1) Make it Fun!
If it's not fun, fix it. Sometimes you will come up with what you think will be a dynamite practice, but when you get to the field and begin to work it, it falls on it's face. Relax, take a breath, and switch to something else (Theme related) that you are more comfortable with and that the kids like. Then, sit down afterward and try to determine what you could do differently next time.

2) Focus!
If you want to run a practice on dribbling. Make rules for the skill game that require a lot of dribbling. When you pause the players ("Freeze") don't make a point about defending - make a point about dribbling. Your players will retain much from your practice if you stay on the Theme.

3) Build from Small to Large, Simple to Complex
Start with your warm up where every player has a ball. Incorporate stretching with a ball. Move to some partner exercises and then review or introduce a skill (making it a game sometimes works best for younger teams) with a partner or small group. After a break, repeat: introduce a skill by playing a small-sided games of some sort. As the players get better at the game keep adding different elements and skills to the exercise/game.

4) Maximize Touches on the Ball
Make rules for the game that gets the players touching the ball as many times as possible. Try not to have players standing and waiting. If you are introducing a 'new' rule' into the game, demonstrate it clearly and briefly, then get all of the players involved with it.

5) No Laps! No Lines! No Lectures! No Standing Arround!
This could be a sub-category of number (1) but it is worth emphasizing. Running without a ball does a youth soccer player very little good. If you need to run to warm-up - do it with a ball.As player get older conditioning (ie running will come into play but not at the U5-U12 level), many scientific and medical studies have shown this. Have players motionless (i.e. standing in line) as little as possible. Don't talk or explain a point for more than 30 seconds at a time. Your players will tune off after that - keep them moving.

6) Evaluate
This step is important. Ask yourself after each practice what you thought went well, what you thought went poorly and why for both. Try to fix the problem for the next time you want to work on that Theme. If something went poorly and you don't know why, investigate -ask another coach or talk to your players. Someone will have the answer you need. You are not alone!

View sample practice outline.