Soccer is a sport played around the globe. The game involves two teams competing against each other using their feet to kick a ball into the opposing team’s goal. Soccer is also known as football, but this mainly depends on where you live.
Besides being one of the most popular sports across the globe, soccer has become a favorite game for kids because it’s fun, simple to play, and involves lots of running around.
Kids love kicking the ball around and having lots of fun, while also having the opportunity to enjoy playing soccer with friends.
If you’re a soccer coach planning on leading some youth soccer practice sessions, or you’re the parent of a soccer-mad child and you want to help them become a better player, soccer drills are one of the best ways to build confidence while developing skills.
The only question is, what are the best soccer drills and games for youth players? This is where we come in to lend a helping hand.
In this helpful guide, we are going to be providing you with a roundup of some of the best soccer exercises suitable for both solo practice and class! This means that this guide is suitable for both soccer coaches and parents.
Along the way, we’ll also be providing you with some additional tips and tricks to help your kids get the most out of each soccer drill session.
So, without further ado – whenever you’re ready, just read on!
How Should a 6-Year-Old Practice Soccer?
When it comes to youth soccer, the first thing you need to do when introducing soccer to a child is to make sure they have all the right equipment.
You want to ensure that your kid has proper footwear, shin guards, elbow pads, mouth guard, and anything else that they might need.
Next up, you want to make sure that your kid has the correct size soccer balls. You will find that there are different sizes available, so choose one that fits well.
Make sure that the ball isn’t too big or small, as this could both impact their performance and enjoyment.
In addition to all of the above, you will also want to consider purchasing a pair of good-quality cleats.
These are important because they provide traction while playing on grass, and will help to prepare youth players for competitive soccer as they get older.
To follow on, if you’re a parent, then you may also want to consider getting a soccer mat if you plan on practicing at home.
It’s important that the surface is soft enough to allow your kid to move freely without fear of getting hurt.
What Kind of Soccer Drills Should I Teach My 6-Year-Old?
When teaching your kid how to kick the ball, you will want to start by teaching them how to properly hold the ball.
Your kid needs to learn how to grip the ball firmly and correctly, and they shouldn’t be gripping it too tightly or loosely.
Next, you will want to teach your kid how to dribble the ball. To do this, he/she will need to use his/her foot to control the ball.
Once he/she has mastered the basics, you can progress on passing the ball.
Finally, you will want to work on shooting the ball. This is done by holding the ball between your legs and then firing it towards the goal.
How Long Should a 6-Year-Old Practice Soccer For?
We recommend that your child trains at least three times per week. However, this amount can vary depending on the age of your kid, as well as their enjoyment levels.
Younger kids may only want to do 15 minutes of practice a week, while older kids may require more time, especially if they are trying to build their stamina up for games, or working on some of their skills.
If you feel as though your 6-year-old needs more time than this (or they are asking to increase their training sessions per week), then feel free to increase the amount of time that they spend practicing and playing soccer each week.
However, just remember that you won’t want to overdo it.
It’s super important that you listen to your child as they exercise and perform the various soccer drills that we are going to be talking you through below.
If they want to stop, then you should allow them to take a break for as long as they need before they are ready to get started again.
To follow on, you should also keep in mind that younger children can have a tendency to get bored during soccer practice.
So, to make each session more fun and engaging, we recommend that you focus on one skill at a time.
For example, during one session you might work on kicking the ball, while another session would focus on passing the ball.
You could also consider incorporating a variety of games to help keep them engaged, which we will touch more on later.
So, there you go! Now that you know how often 6-year-olds should be practicing soccer, you might currently be wondering about what training equipment you might need to ensure that they are able to get the very most out of each session. This brings us to our next section:
Essential Soccer Training Equipment
Even though it’s important to make sure that you are keeping your soccer training sessions fun and engaging with various drills, it’s also just as important to make sure that you have all of the necessary training equipment, too!
To help ensure that you have everything you need as a coach, check out the following list so that you are able to create the best soccer training sessions possible:
Soccer Balls
If you want to teach 6-year-olds some soccer drills, you’re going to need to make sure that you have enough soccer balls!
There’s so much variety on the market for you to choose from. You could opt for an official size 5 soccer ball from Nike or Adidas, but if you’d prefer something a little softer for drills, you could opt for a foam soccer ball instead.
Either way, make sure that you have enough so that all the children attending your soccer class will have a ball to use.
Net and Goalposts
A net and a goalpost are essential if you want to play any kind of indoor or outdoor soccer game.
Not only does it keep the balls inside the playing area, but it also helps prevent injuries as everyone will know where the goal areas are.
In addition, it will make it easier for the kids that you are coaching to score goals!
A net will also allow you to try out some penalty and goal-kicking drills, too – so make sure that you have at least one in your soccer training collection! Ideally, we recommend that you make sure that you buy goalposts that are made from sturdy materials like metal, but if you’re on a budget, plastic can work just as well.
If you don’t currently have any goalposts and you would like to get yourself some for your soccer training, we recommend checking out this net and goal post set.
Goalkeeper Gloves
When it comes to soccer, having a goalkeeper mask is a must! The goalie gloves will help to keep the kids’ hands protected while they are playing.
In addition, it will also help to prevent their hands from getting hurt while they catch the ball, while also providing them with the confidence needed to help them reach their full potential – regardless of whether they are performing some drills during practice or playing competitively!
If you’re a coach, we recommend that you keep a goalkeeper mask in your training arsenal so that you’ll never be without one. If you’re in need of a recommendation, we think that you might like this one, as it is universally sized and made of super high quality.
Sports Vests
Sports vests are an absolute must if you’re planning on coaching a group of children.
Not only will it help them to stand out from the crowd, but sports vests are awesome for splitting groups into separate teams.
If you don’t have any, then we recommend checking out these vests.
Cones
Last but certainly not least, cones are great for marking out the area of the field that needs to be played on.
They’re also useful for keeping track of the progress of the team over the course of a match.
You can even use cones in a variety of different drills, which we’re going to be sharing with you a little later on!
The Best Soccer Drills and Games For Kids
Now that we have talked you through all of the essential training equipment that will allow your kids to have the best possible training sessions, we are now going to be providing you with a list of some of the best drills and games you can incorporate into your future soccer sessions.
To make things easier, underneath each description, we have provided a list of the items that you will need for each exercise.
So, whenever you’re ready, just read on to discover some of the best soccer drills and games for kids:
1. “Keep Away” Drill
The most popular soccer drill for children is called “keep away”. In this game, you will place a soccer ball into play and instruct your child to keep away from it.
As soon as your kid gets close to the ball, you will yell out “keep away” and tell him/her to run back to where they came from. This is a great way to develop agility and endurance.
What you will need:
Soccer ball
Playing Field
2. Pass The Ball Drill
Another fun soccer drill to help improve your child’s coordination is called “passing the ball.” Here, you will pass the ball around to different players.
Each player will try to catch the ball and return it to the person who passed it to them.
The person who catches the ball first wins. This is an excellent way to improve hand-eye coordination.
Alternatively, another way that you can do this drill is with two cones placed at least 10 meters apart.
One child stands near one cone and throws the ball towards the other cone. The second child runs towards the first cone and tries to catch the ball.
Once the second person catches the ball, he should throw it back to the first person standing near the cone. Repeat this process twice.
This particular drill will not only help your kids to learn how to pass the ball in different situations, but it will also help to improve their accuracy while passing, too.
What you will need:
Cones
Soccer Balls
Soccer pitch/field
3. Throw The Soccer Ball Over Your Head Game
Here’s another fun drill that’s sure to get your kids engaged in soccer practice! In order to perform this particular drill correctly, ask each child participating to throw their soccer ball above their head and then catch it again.
While the ball is rarely handled in the game of soccer, this will help to increase your children’s confidence with handling the ball, as well as allow them to develop their ability to keep their eyes focused on the ball!
As a side note, keep in mind that, to make sure that your kids don’t hurt themselves when performing this soccer drill – you should put some padding on the area where your children are going to be performing this drill.
What you will need:
Soccer balls
Foam Padding
Spacious area
Cones (optional – to ensure that all children have enough space)
4. Underarm Drill
During soccer, there will be some instances where players may need to throw the ball – so it’s a good idea to make sure that you are taking the time to help increase arm strength during soccer training.
With this being said, one simple yet fun way to safely improve your kids’ arm strength is by asking them to each perform this soccer drill.
To start off, simply grab a soccer ball and have your kids stand about 3 feet away from each other.
Next, have them each take a step forward and throw the ball underhand. After they’ve completed throwing the ball, they should then run backward and attempt to catch the ball.
If they’re able to successfully catch the ball, they’ll have improved their arm strength. However, if they fail to catch the ball, you can always encourage them to try again.
What you will need:
Soccer balls
Field/court
5. Soccer Goalie Drill
One of the best ways to ensure that your kids are developing proper soccer skills is by having them participate in goalkeeping drills.
During these drills, you will want to teach your kids how to properly hold the soccer ball. You’ll also want to show them how to kick the ball away from them.
Finally, you’ll want to instruct them how to stop the ball once it gets past them. By teaching your kids how to properly handle the soccer ball, you’ll be helping to ensure that they won’t accidentally injure themselves.
What you will need:
Goalposts
Net
Soccer Balls
6. Soccer Dodgeball Game
Dodgeball is always fun for kids – so we just had to include it in our list! If you are finding that your soccer classes are getting a little bit boring or repetitive, then why don’t you consider adding in a few different games that will also help to work on skills that will be used while playing soccer?
One great example that you could consider trying out is soccer-themed dodgeball! We recommend taking foam or softballs and lining them up in the middle of the soccer field.
Then, after you have done this, you should split your class into two teams, and have them stand on either side of the pitch.
Once you have done this and both teams are ready to go, you will need to blow your whistle to signal that the game has begun.
After this point, both teams will need to run towards the center (where the balls are located) in order to try and grab as many as they can for their team.
Once this has been done, each side will then need to throw the balls at the opposing team to try and “catch” players out.
The aim of the game is to be the last team standing by hitting every player on the opposing team with a ball!
While this might not necessarily be soccer-related, like we have already said above, we think that this sort of game is great to include in soccer practice, as it will help to keep younger children engaged and having fun.
On top of that, the game of dodgeball will help to improve a variety of different skills that can be applied to the game of soccer, including team working skills, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, stamina, and much, much more!
Of course, it should also go without saying that dodgeball is super fun, so your kids are bound to enjoy it during soccer practice.
What you will need:
Soft/Foam Soccer Style Balls
Pitch/court
Vests to differentiate the two teams
7. Simple Soccer Ball Passes
This is one of the easiest soccer drills for kids to do. It’s also very effective at improving coordination and hand-eye coordination.
To begin, have your child stand about 10 meters away from you. Then, pass the soccer ball back and forth between them. Make sure they don’t touch the ball during the exercise.
If you want to make things more challenging, increase the distance between you and your child. You may even consider having your child run after the ball instead of passing it back and forth.
What you will need:
Cones
Soccer Balls
Spacious area
8. Basic Soccer Kicks
This is another excellent soccer drill for kids. In order to perform this drill, you will need a soccer ball.
Have your child stand in front of you and then kick the ball towards him/her. Once he/she kicks the ball, have them repeat the same action again. Keep repeating this until they master the skill.
If you are going to be teaching a class, then you could consider splitting your kids into pairs or groups to make sure that everyone is able to enjoy a turn kicking the soccer ball.
What you will need:
Soccer balls
Cones (to divide each group/person)
9. Soccer Shoot-Out Game
This is another good soccer drill for kids. All you need to do is to create a goal using a soccer net.
Then, have your kid shoot the ball towards the goal. Once they’ve scored, have them repeat the process. The great thing about this game is that it allows your kids to practice shooting as well as scoring goals.
10. “Don’t Let The Ball Leave Your Side” Drill
When playing soccer, you must always remember to keep the ball close to your body. If you’re too far away from the ball, then you won’t be able to control it properly.
By keeping the ball close to their feet, you’ll be able to move around easily without worrying about losing possession of the ball.
This is a great drill that we highly recommend incorporating into all of your future training sessions, as it will teach your students early on how important it is to be able to dribble the ball and keep it close to the body.
As a side note, if you want to make things a little more challenging for them, then you could incorporate cones that they will need to dribble the ball around.
What you will need:
Soccer balls
Cones (optional)
Field/court
11) Soccer “Bowling” Game
Another great way to teach your kids how to improve their soccer skills is through bowling.
To begin, have a soccer ball placed in the middle of the room. Then, have your kids line up along the wall. Next, have them toss the ball from one end of the room to the other.
The aim of the game is to make sure that nobody misses their throws, all while working together as a team! We think that this is a great game to get little ones engaged and having fun while practicing their handling soccer abilities!
What you will need:
Vests
Cones
Soccer ball
12. Soccer Penalty Kick Game
Penalty kicks are an important part of soccer. Therefore, you should definitely include them in your kids’ training sessions.
To start, place a soccer ball in the center of the room. Then have your kids take turns kicking the ball. Each time they score, they should give themselves a penalty kick.
What you will need:
Vests (if you’re splitting into groups)
Goalposts
Net
Soccer Ball
Cone
13. Soccer Ball Catch Game
Last but not least, if you want your kids to learn how to control the ball during a match, then you should try playing soccer. This game is simple to play.
All you need to begin is to set up two cones in opposite corners of the room. Then simply have your kids stand between the two cones.
At the same time, have them throw the soccer ball towards the opposing cone. When they successfully hit the ball, they should jump over the other cone and catch the ball.
In addition to this game that we have shared above, if you want to test your kids’ ability to control the ball while running, then you should try throwing a soccer ball. The best thing about this game is that it’s very similar to passing a football.
So, once your kids get used to throwing the ball, they’ll quickly pick up the skill.
You can combine the two different soccer ball catch games together, or alternatively opt to switch between the two during various soccer training sessions. The choice is entirely yours!
What you will need:
Soccer balls
Cones
Additional Soccer Training Tips
There we have it! Now that you have taken the time to read through all the various drills and games that we have shared with you above, we’re hoping that you’re now feeling much more confident with the different ways that you can help to elevate soccer practice.
Still, keeping 6-year-olds engaged and having fun with each drill can be a little bit of a challenge – which is why we’re going to be sharing with you some additional tips that will help to elevate each soccer training session below:
Keep It Fun
We know that there are many parents out there who want nothing but the best for their kids.
However, sometimes, it can be hard to find activities that are both engaging and fun for your kids.
If you’re struggling to come up with new ideas, consider asking your friends or family members if they could suggest any other activities that would be fun for your kids.
Pick Activities That Are Appropriate For Their Age Group
We understand that not every kid has the same interests, skill sets, or abilities.
Therefore, it’s important that you pick activities that are appropriate for your kids’ age group. As an example, if your son wants to play football, he may not enjoy playing soccer.
Make Sure To Have A Plan Before You Start Each Session
When you’re trying to get your kids involved in sports, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead.
When planning, try to think about what type of activities you’d like to do and how long you’ll be able to spend doing those activities.
Also, try to avoid scheduling too many activities at once because it might become overwhelming for your kids.
Allow For Breaks If Needed
One thing that we’ve noticed is that most kids love to play sports, especially when they’re younger.
However, sometimes, our kids just need a break from being active. If you notice that your kids seem tired after completing one or two soccer drills, you can simply tell them that they can go outside and play for a while.
Don’t Forget About Your Kids’ Health and Wellbeing
As mentioned above, it’s very important to ensure that you give your kids enough rest between each soccer drill. This way, you’ll be helping to prevent injuries from occurring.
Try Not To Overdo It
If you notice that your kids are becoming overly exhausted after practicing one or two soccer drills for several days in a row, you should probably stop. Instead, you should focus on finding activities that your kids will enjoy more.
Be Patient With Yourself as a Coach
It takes time to teach your kids how to properly execute a certain soccer drill. Remember, you’re only teaching your kids these soccer drills so that they can learn how to perform them better in the future.
So, if they don’t get it right straight away or don’t seem to enjoy the drills that you are suggesting, then try your best to not feel discouraged.
By taking the time to be patient with yourself, you will be in a much better position to be the best coach that you can be for your kids.
Positively Reinforce With Rewards
In addition to giving positive feedback, it can also be helpful to reward your kids for performing well during soccer drills.
Doing this will make sure that they continue to improve over time.
Create New Soccer Drills
There’s no reason why you have to stick to the same old soccer drills year after year. In fact, you can create some new ones by combining different types of exercises together.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and create your own soccer drills! If you wanted, you could even ask your kids for their input, as this will help you to put together a drill program that you can be certain they’re going to enjoy.
Take Advantage Of The Resources Available Online
You can take advantage of the resources available online to help you develop new soccer drills for your kids.
There are plenty of websites out there that offer tips and tricks on how to teach your kids how to play soccer.
Keep Track Of All The Activities That You Do With Your Kids
The last tip that we want to share with you is to keep track of all the activities that you do with your kids.
This will allow you to see which activities they enjoy the most and which ones they dislike the most.
This will help you to refine and perfect your soccer training sessions as you go along.
Wrapping Up
There we have it! You’ve made it to the end of the article. Now that you have taken the time to read through all of the various soccer drills that we have shared with you above, we’re hoping that you’ve discovered a few that you would like to try out during your next soccer practice session.
We know that it can be difficult to find the perfect soccer drills for your kids, but hopefully, these tips will help you to find something that works for them.
Remember, as you’re coaching 6-year-olds, it’s important to make sure that you are keeping the soccer sessions fun and engaging – as kids can have a tendency to get bored easily!
For this reason, we highly recommend that you take our advice and consider adding in a game or two to help break up each drill and keep the training sessions fun and non-repetitive.
Before you go, why don’t you consider giving this page a bookmark? By doing so, you’ll always be able to come back if you forget a drill, or simply want some inspiration for future classes! Thanks for reading.
