Let me show you how to control the ball in a manner so as to shoot or pass effectively and this skill can be perfected through the various free soccer training drills. This article talks in detail about two of the best known soccer drills, Shoulder To Shoulder and Shark in the Middle.
Shoulder To Shoulder is a drill that is suitable for both offensive as well as defensive players. The objective of this drill is to teach the offensive player to master fast shooting under pressure and the defensive players to clean the ball.
This drill puts into play 3 players each drill group. The distance between A and B is about 10-15 yards.
B and the defensive player make a line shoulder to shoulder. B and the defensive player, standing along with each other, face away from the goal on the left side of the field. As soon as the coach whistles, A throws the ball in the rear of the remaining 2 players. B and the defensive player initiate and attempt to take control of the ball. B's objective is to make a shot on goal while the defensive player's aim is to turn with the ball and dribble it above the center line.
By practicing coaching drills like Shoulder to Shoulder, players learn to win the ball despite being under immense pressure from an opposing player.
Shark in the Middle is a fun game that can be played at any time during a practice and its duration can be adjusted as per the need. This is one of those free soccer training drills that is aimed at developing attentiveness and self-control in players under high pressure situations.
Players stand in a large circle on the field. A player is chosen to be the Shark and stands in the center of the circle. One ball is used here and it is given to a random player standing inside the circle.
On your whistle the player with the ball passes the ball to any other player alongside the circle. Then the second player passes it to another that he likes and this goes on like this.
Then you blow the whistle again and it means that the game should start. The objective of the game is to make sure that shark does not get the ball. The player may choose to pass the ball to anyone he wishes to, be it a teammate right next to him or a teammate far away. The players attempt to make as many passes as they can.
This process goes on until the shark gets the ball.
When the ball is possessed, the player that caused the ball to be intercepted goes on to become the new shark and the first shark goes along the circle.
Shark in the Middle finds a place among those football drills that require a sharp thinking and an idea of the experience of the shark.
To conclude, these free soccer training drills help players to build self-confidence to handle the ball while under pressure from an imminent attack. Subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community to for more such youth coaching tips and tactics.