Here’s a really simple way to control the ball to pass or shoot and this skill can be mastered through performing various free soccer training drills. In this article, you will know about 2 of the well-known soccer drills, Shoulder To Shoulder and Shark in the Middle.
Shoulder To Shoulder drill works both for offensive and defensive players. The main goal of this exercise is to teach offensive player to practice fast shooting under pressure and let the defensive players practice clearing the ball.
This drill puts into play 3 players each drill group. The distance the works out between A and B is 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. At the whistle of the coach, A throws the ball behind the other 2 players. B and the defensive player start to try and take control of the ball. B’s aim is to shoot on the goal while the defensive player’s objective is to turn with the ball and dribble it above the center line.
By working on coaching drills like Shoulder to Shoulder, players get to learn as to how to win the ball despite being under immense pressure from an opposing player.
Shark in the Middle is an interesting game that can be played any time during the practice and its duration can be worked out as per the need. This is one of several free soccer training drills that aims to make the players more attentive and in control in high-pressure games.
Players stand in a large circle on the field. Then a player is made to act like a Shark and stand in the center of the circle. There is only one ball in it and given to a person who stands in the circle.
When you blow the whistle, the player with the ball passes it to the other player along the circle. Then the second player passes it to another he wishes and it goes on like this.
Then you blow the whistle for the second time which means that the game has started. The objective of the game is to make sure that shark does not get the ball. The player may pass the ball to anyone they like along the circle, be it a teammate right next to him or a teammate at some distance. The players attempt to make as many passes as they can.
This practice continues till the time the shark possesses 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 is one of those football drills that call for quick thinking and a sense of experience of the abilities of an attacking shark.
In conclusion, these free soccer training drills help players to build self-confidence to handle the ball while under pressure from an oncoming attacker. If you want more information and knowledge please subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community where a lot of learning resources are available.
Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Free soccer training drills.