Practice Structure

Remember Practice Makes Permanent

• Tips For Good Practices
• Things You Need For a Good Practice
• Outline For a Good Practice

Tips For Good Practices:

1. Kids love playing games & keeping score. In practice, try to use games & not drills.
2. Everyone should stay active & participate. Avoid lines.
3. Maximize "touches" on the ball. At least 100 touches per 60 minute practice for each player.
4. Teach proper technique and emphasize games that practice technique or simulate play or playing situations.
5. Run games by keeping time (e.g., so they last 1, 3, or 5 minutes) or by keeping score (e.g., first to 3, 12, etc.).
6. Praise hustle, effort & improvement and give "tips" at the end of the skill session.
7. A good game must be easy & quick to set up and should be simple to explain and manage. If you are spending too much time on set up or instruction, simplify it.
8. If it's not fun, it's not a good game.
9. Adopt this philosophy: "Keep it simple, keep them active, keep it fun & at least 100 touches per player per 60 minute practice".
   

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Things You Need For A Good Practice:

1. Small Soccer "Disk" Cones. Disk cones are ideal for marking areas for small sided games. You need 2 disk cones per player (e.g., 30 disk cones for 15 players). Disk cones look like an upside down bowl and come in fluorescent yellow and orange; orange is most visible on brown grass. Consider buying a strap to keep your disk cones on. It is only a few dollars and worth it. As an alternative, you can use strips of brightly colored cloth to mark the areas.
2. A Way To Identify "Teams". You can buy practice vests (also called "bibs") for about $6 each, or there are several cheaper ways to identify teams during practice games. One cheap way is to cut the sleeves & bottoms off old t-shirts & use the tops as practice vests; you can spray paint them in different colors to make enough for several teams. Another cheap way is to buy a roll of pink plastic "flagging" at Home Depot ($5.00 in the tool area near the surveying equipment), cut pieces & tie the ends to make a circle that will fit over players heads (around their necks). A third way is to buy a 3-pack of men's "Athletic T-shirts" (about $6.00) in the x-large size. Cut off the top about 3 inches below the bottom of the sleeve & then cut the bottom into 3 cloth circles (just cut it straight across to make the circles). You will get 12 pieces for $6.00. If you need different colors, spray some red or blue paint on them to give a "tie-dyed" look. The bottoms can also be used as field markers.
3. A Ball for Every Player. Ask each child to bring a ball to practice, but have some extras to bring because some kids will forget. A nylon mesh laundry bag makes a great ball bag. Also, have a ball pump to keep the balls inflated.
4. Shinguards & Water. Every player must wear shinguards & bring a plastic water bottle with their name on it.  Always take extra water because some always forget.
5. Assistants. The more the better. Ask parents to help, even if it is just to pick up balls or fetch balls - this will help keep thing flowing.
6. A Whistle. A cheap one will do. This will be hugely helpful in getting attention. Use the whistle to stop & start the practice games described herein.
7. An Equipment Bag. To keep your gear in. In it should be some Band-Aids or a small medical kit (about $5). One of the 99¢ instant ice packs is good. (You squeeze these & they get cold. They are at drugstores).
8. Do You Need a Goal or a Lined Field? No. . However, a goal or a net backstop is handy if you are practicing shooting.
9. A Watch With A Countdown Timer. You can get by without this, but it makes it a lot easier to run timed games. Timex and Casio make models that are available at Target and Wal-Mart for about $25.

Remember: Soccer-Like Games, not just soccer games - Age appropriate game drills that "Keep it simple, keep them active, keep it fun & at least 100 touches per player per 60 minute practice."

View sample practice outline.