Last Updated on: 11th January 2024, 05:41 pm
Pre-Season Football Training For Young Players
Football Training For Kids
Obviously, pre-season football training is an important time for all players It should be used to set them up for the upcoming season, which includes physical fitness, mental preparation, and outlining tactics. Pre-season training requires different approaches for senior and youth teams even if the basics will still be the same. When planning pre-season football training for kids, you’ll want to focus on fun, engaging, and age-appropriate activities that develop their skills, fitness, and tactical understanding. Here are some of our tips to help junior managers and coaches plan pre-season football training for kids.
Things to Remember
Make Your Warm-Ups Fun
Warms-ups are important so make sure everyone is properly engaged. Start each session with fun games and activities that use a wide range of movements. You can include running, chasing, dodging, jumping, twisting and turning. You might also want to make the warm-up slightly longer for the first session back just to make sure everyone is ready.
Focus on the Ball
Players really just want to play football so give them plenty of touches. You’ll find that players tend to be more motivated by sessions with the ball so use it as much as possible. Plan some fun football games to keep them engaged and enjoying themselves.
Train as One Big Group
In the first few weeks, it’s good to get your players together in one large group or a couple of smaller ones. This lower-intensity approach will ease them back in gently and help with the team dynamic.
Gradually Increase the Difficulty
As you get further into your pre-season training, divide the team into smaller groups and organise small-sided games. You can change the difficulty by increasing the time given to each task. Start increasing their endurance so your players are ready for full matches.
Focus on Individuals
Remember that every child is different and will need to focus on different things. Adapt sessions or tasks for each child so they can all get the most from them. It’s important that every child is encouraged and looking forward to the season ahead.
Keep Changing It Up
Don’t keep doing the same thing over and over again. Vary the activities in every session because this will help keep the kids engaged. Set a different theme each time so players aren’t always repeating the same actions.
Potentially avoid heading drills
As mentioned in our previous blog, you may want to avoid excessive heading drills, especially for younger children. Our previous blog ‘Should they ban children from heading footballs‘ outlines some of the potential risks of carrying out too many heading drills.
Work on Basic Skills
Set up skill stations and have players rotate through the activities. This means everyone gets the chance to work on multiple skills like passing, shooting, and dribbling in an organised manner.
Think About Communication
No matter what you plan, make sure that you’re communicating concisely. Give brief and easy-to-follow instructions followed by plenty of time to practice. Offer simple advice as the task is going on and remember to encourage everyone.
Cool Down
After a few weeks off, you’ll want to emphasise the importance of cooling down to prevent injury and aid recovery. You can include light jogging, stretching and relaxation exercises.
Keep Them Coming Back
You want every player to keep coming to pre-season training so make sure they enjoy themselves. Make sessions as fun and engaging as possible. Your youth players mainly want to play football, so give them as many chances as possible.
10 Football Training Drills For Kids
When setting training drills, it’s important to remember to adapt them to suit the age and skills of your players. You want them to be challenged by each activity but not too much. Your sessions need to create a positive and supportive environment that helps your players learn, strengthens teamwork and increases enjoyment of the sport. Here are some easy drills and challenges you can incorporate.
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Dribbling Relay:
Set up a relay race where players dribble the ball through a course of cones or markers. After completing the course, the ball is passed to the next player in line.
Focus areas: dribbling skills, control, and coordination.
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Passing Pairs:
Divide players into pair and have them pass the ball to each other. They should use a variety of techniques like inside foot, outside foot and one-touch passing.
Focus areas: accuracy, timing and communication.
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Shooting Gallery:
Set up multiple mini-goals or target areas and have players take turns shooting from various positions.
Focus areas: proper technique, aiming, and shooting.
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Triangle Keep-Away:
Three players form a triangle shape and one defender stands in the centre. Players on the outside must pass to each other and stop the defender from intercepting.
Focus areas: quick passing, movement off the ball, and teamwork.
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1v1 Attack and Defend:
Set up small grids and have players take turns attacking and defending against each other in a 1v1 situation.
Focus areas: dribbling, change of direction, position and timing.
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Small-Sided Game:
Divide the players into teams and play a small-sided game with modified rules based on the age group. This helps players apply their skills in a game-like setting.
Focus areas: quick thinking and teamwork.
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Cone Dribbling:
Set up a grid with cones and have players dribble through the cones using different techniques like inside and outside foot, sole of the foot, and various changes of direction.
Focus areas: close control, agility, and quick decision-making.
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Crossbar Challenge:
Place the ball at a certain distance from the goal and have the kids take turns trying to hit the crossbar with their shots.
Focus areas: accuracy and technique.
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Blindfolded Passing:
Divide everyone into pairs and have one player wear a blindfold while the other player guides them verbally to pass the ball to a specific target.
Focus areas: communication, trust, and spatial awareness.
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Juggling Challenge:
Set a time limit and see who can juggle the ball the greatest number of times without it touching the ground.
Focus areas: encourage the kids to use different body parts.
Football Training Equipment
You want your pre-season football training for kids to be fun and effective. This is your chance to prepare young players for the season ahead, work on their general fitness and strengthen key skills. To do this, you’ll want to include a range of fun drills, games and activities.
That requires a wide variety of training equipment. Head over to our full range to make sure you have everything you need for pre-season. We’ve got amazing deals on all footballs and equipment. You might also want to update your training kit ahead of the new season. We have plenty of options for you.
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Tags: Football advice, Football training, junior football, junior football training, Pre-Season Football Training, pre-season training