If your kid is in a youth soccer club or just enjoys sports, you can encourage them at home with simple soccer training drills. The only equipment you need is a ball and a few cones or other small objects you can use to mark a goal. The following drills will improve your child’s basic skills and also make them more confident.

What Are Soccer Training Exercises You Can Do With Your Child?

1. Dribbling

Dribbling means kicking the ball in front of you as you run. Encourage your child to use the top of one foot—where the shoelaces are—to kick the ball ahead of them, or the inner side of their foot to move the ball sideways across their body. 

The most important part is to keep control of the ball; most of the time when dribbling, the ball should stay close to your child’s feet so they can kick it every few steps. Have them practice dribbling up and down a field to improve their speed and control, then set up cones for your child to weave through to practice changing direction.

2. Shooting

Shooting drills are similar to passing drills but with a goal to aim for. However, instead of kicking the ball back and forth between you, start by setting the ball on the ground and having your child run up to kick it. 

As their accuracy improves, have them dribble the ball a short distance and then shoot it, or receive a pass and kick the ball into the goal as soon as they have control of it. To give the shot more power and lift, have your child kick with the top of their foot.

3. Passing

Passing the ball to teammates can get it down the field more quickly than dribbling, and can put your child’s team in position for a goal. To pass, face the person you’re passing to, then kick the ball with the inside of your foot turned at a right angle. 

Start by passing the ball back and forth with your child over short distances, then move further apart. To improve aim, set up two cones for each of you to create a small goal a little wider than your arms; try to get the ball between the cones with every pass.

For kids’ soccer training that includes these skills and more, choose Beachside Soccer Club in Norwalk, CT. Serving Fairfield County youth ages five and up, their experienced coaches seek to strengthen both your child’s athletic skills and character. To enroll, call (203) 852-6969 or visit their website.