"There are more coaches who break people than there are
coaches who make footballers play better football."3
Piet Keizer

The coach's job is simply to help the players play better soccer. He accomplishes this by accelerating the learning process. This requires him or her to coach the right thing and to do it in an efficient manner. With the small amount of time that children spend at practice both points are critical. Small sided games takes both into account.

 

                 Drills link 

Technique Tips

INSIDE OF THE FOOT PASS

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-The planted foot is next to the ball pointing toward target	-Shooting over short distances combined group play restarts	-Kicking foot is straight	-Leave kicking foot and leg bent. (Toe 'up', ankle locked)
-Kicking foot is raised, toe up strikes middle of ball	-Accurate combined group play over short distances	-The standing foot is too far from the ball	-Place standing foot next to the ball
-Ankle is locked		-The ball is not struck through the center
-Contact area is between ball of foot and the heel on the inside of the foot

OUTSIDE OF FOOT PASS

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Angle approach to direction of the pass	-Playing the ball with deception	-The ankle is not locked	-Knee is brought over the ball
-Toe down, ankle locked, foot angled slightly in	-Shooting around defenders	-Planted foot is too far from the ball	-Contact ball with the outside of the foot
-Contact surface is the outside of the laces	-Passing around defenders	-The ball is not contacted fully
-Upper body is leaning slightly over the planted foot

INSTEP DRIVE

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Slightly angled approach	-Shooting	-Approach to the ball is straight	-Slightly curved approach
-Standing foot is next to the ball at point of impact. Pointed at the target	-Crossing	-Upper body is leaning too far back
-Kicking foot is pointed, toe down, ankle locked. No "floppy" toe	-Long passing	-Ball is not struck with laces or straight through center of ball	-Lean slightly over the ball
-The contact surface is the instep (laces)		-The toe is not pointed	-Foot stays pointed after the kick, ankle locked, follow through straight at target
		-Hips are not square to target
		-Follow through is not straight

DRIBBLING

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Guide the ball with both feet, use all surfaces of the foot	-Gain ground	-Ball is played too far from foot	-Push the ball, do not kick it
-Upper body is bent slightly over the ball	-Go past an opponent -Set up a short or combination play	-Player looks only at ball	-Keep head up and and observe situation around you. -Raise toe when changing directions.
-Keep ball in close when in a crowd, using light touches	-Relieve pressure
-Push it further out in front when given more space

HEADING

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Strike ball with top of forehead; you strike it, do not let is strike you	-Shooting -Passing -Clearing from danger area	-Ball is struck with top of head	-Upper body is drawn back
-Keep eyes open		-Eyes closed	-Watch ball strike and leave the forehead
-Before making contact, draw upper body back, tuck chin, "whip" body through the ball		-Players "spear" the ball instead of "whipping" their body at it
-Set the ball up with your chest, come through with your head

RECEIVING

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Lightly receive the ball with inside or outside of foot and move off with it; keep toe pointed up	-Bringing all arriving balls under control	-Ball bounces too far away	-Move in an elastic way as if catching an egg on your body; the controlling part of the body withdraws in a smooth, controlled fashion
-Receive ball with thigh or chest, take the pace off of the ball by withdrawing the body part receiving the ball		-Pace of the ball is underestimated

DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Keep goal side of your opponent	-Regain possession	-Falling for feints	-Keep ball in view
-Be first to the ball	-Deny penetration	-Poor position relative to opponent	-Beat your opponent to the ball
-Do not dive in on an opponent	-Slow down or with the ball interrupt an attack	-Trying to tackle from too far away	-Tackle as opponent receives the ball
-Defend the ball, not the player	-Stop shots	-Tackle as the opponent is halfway turned	-Make opponent play the ball square or back -Make opponent look at the ball

GOALKEEPERS - CATCHING

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Low balls - scoop into body with both hands outstretched, fingers spread	-Safely catching the ball -Defending the goal	-Fingers were not spread	-Always observe the game situation
-Palms up		-Hands were not far enough behind the ball	-The position in the goal is determined by the player in possession
-Hands extended toward the ball guide the ball into the stomach		-Hands are not "soft"
-High balls - catch with hands behind the ball, slightly to the side, and slightly above

GOALKEEPERS - DIVING

EXECUTION	OBJECT	POSSIBLE ERRORS	OBSERVE
-Land on outside of thigh, hip and side of upper body	-Catching balls away from the body that cannot be reached by standing	-The ball is lost from view during the dive	-First practice diving without the ball from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions
-Do not bring arms under the body		-Landing on the front or back	-Catch the ball securely
		-Letting the ground knock the ball free