AVID Soccer Training
 

Coaching Tips

AVID Soccer has compiled quick start guides for new coaches along with the tips below for designing your practice sessions.  Also see adaptations for cold weather.

Coaches guide:

Warm-ups

  • Warm-ups should always consist of a combination of light work and stretching
  • The warm-up drills/work out should relate to the practice topic and be restricted to a small area
  • Stretching can be a combination of dynamic and static, based on the needs of the players
  • Stretching can either be after the warm-up or integrated
  • Stretching should follow a consistent pattern to ensure all muscles are covered - either start from the head and work down or from the feet and work up

Drills

  • Avoid the three "L's" - Lines, Laps, Lectures
  • Don't talk for long; demonstration is far more effective than oration
  • Drills should be progressively starting unopposed
  • Add light competition and objectives; progress to game simulation
  • Games are often more efficient than repetitive drills; game-like drills can be an economic alternative

Games

  • Games should reinforce the skill or tactics demonstrated earlier
  • The Practice should be progressive with increasing difficulty and evolve into a game situation
  • Always try to finish with a fun cool-down, but require proper execution; if you can do it correctly at the end of practice, you will be able to execute at the end of a game
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Last updated: 5/01/07.