Joining a youth soccer team is a great way for kids — both boys and girls — to get out, have fun, and exercise. The experienced coaches at Beachside Soccer Club in Norwalk, CT, focus on helping their young players develop the basic skills necessary to grow and progress with the sport. Whether your child is completely new to the game or has experience, there are a few basic abilities they can develop.

3 Important Skills for Youth Soccer Players

1. Passing

Successfully passing the ball from player to player is what soccer is all about. Young players are first taught the instep kick, which is usually the most accurate way of passing the ball. As they develop their skills, they can gradually start kicking with either the inside or outside of their foot.

2. Receiving

On the other end of the pass, your young soccer enthusiast needs to know how to receive the ball and keep it in control. They can use any part of the body as long as their hands never touch it. If the ball is on the ground, they learn to stop and redirect its momentum with their feet. When it’s in the air, more advanced players can receive the ball with their chests, thighs, and heads when appropriate.

3. Dribbling

In soccer, dribbling refers to moving and controlling the ball in different directions with your feet. Dribbling with their feet while running without tripping can be a challenging skill for young players to learn, but it’s also one of the most important. Dribbling can be done with the insides and outsides of the feet, and it’s best to focus on maintaining control before worrying about speed.

Developing new skills is always a work in progress, but your player will have a leg up on the competition once they master these basic abilities. Get them started with an experienced coach by calling Beachside Soccer Club at (203) 852-6969. You’ll also learn more about their youth soccer leagues on their website.