3v3 Soccer Shadow Scrimmage

This is the fastest way to teach younger kids how to play, i.e. where to go and set up. Basically, every player has one coach or an older player on the field, running with the player, directing exactly how and what the player should be doing.

This is a small post; but shadow scrimmages are really good for improving your team quickly.

Cool Passing Drill

This is somewhat of a complicated drill but really cool once your players get it. It teaches quick passing and movement with quick thinking.

Required: Five players and one ball (four cones are optional)

Setup: Set four players (or cones so players can remember where to go) in a square shape. [HINT: First-timers should make the square large as it will make this drill easier. The better your players get, the smaller you can make the square.]

Drill: To start, the fifth player runs to the corner, the one with the ball. The corner player passes back to the running player, then turns and runs to the next spot (or cone). While on the run, he or she will receive a pass and pass it to the player opposite of the cone he or she just ran from. Continue this progression. [HINT: going counterclockwise is easier for righties and going clockwise is easier for lefties, so be sure to change directions.]

I’ve attached a graphic with numbers (when things should happen) to help you visualize this drill.

Freestyle Backstop

[I usually set this drill up for early arriving players.]

Required: A backstop, three goals and a ball.

Setup: A player stands with a ball in front of the backstop. The goals are positioned on either side and behind the player.

Drill: The player kicks the ball into the backstop. When the ball returns, the player can one- or two-touch the ball into any of the three goals. I encourage fancy touches.

Here’s my son showing a fancy through the legs redirect... (I didn’t setup goals for the clip, but I think you get the point.)