Someone like me would most likely realize the significance of adding free soccer training drills to ensure that all the team players are taught the methods to throw the ball in. During the youth soccer drills, around 70 percent of throw-ins are foul throws which makes the ball go in other team’s control.
For this reason it is vital that each player inside your team should be prepared to perform the correct throw-ins and get the ball into play immediately. By catching the defense unexpectedly through a sudden restart the chances of keeping hold of the ball increases highly.
All that is required to teach the players to get the ball back into play quickly is some simple actions and moves, performed correctly at the U-10 level and below.
Some soccer coaches tend to count only on some selected players in free soccer training drills. ‘Designated throwers’ are the title given to these type of players. Obviously the designated thrower is the most exhausted player in the game. He is supposed to run up and down the sideline and also across the ground, to make a simple throw in.
Here again I would reiterate the fact that each and every player in the team should be allowed to throw the ball in. Most commonly the ball goes off the boundary and a quick move forward makes it come back in control, the coaches however stop this activity. The player is told to that he/she is not a mid-fielder and hence only the mid-fielder makes the throws.
Throughout coaching drills it should be monitored that all the team members are given the opportunity to touch the ball as much as possible. While a quick throw-in may result in an opportunity to score, the impact of this soccer approach goes far beyond the win-lose theory. The game usually lasts 50 to 60 minutes, with young players. So there’s no point wasting too much time in just putting the ball back into play.
Soccer coaches who stress upon quick throws also play a key role in teaching strategic awareness to their opponents. While football dills are performed, the teams that defend against the designated thrower usually have about half a minute move back behind the ball due to the fact that usual defending against unexpected restarts would not work.
Coaches who sincerely want to develop their players for higher level of play must give adequate time to teach their players. After every beginner has learnt the way to perform correct throw-ins, the ball could be moved back to the field so that the kids can play.
Make no mistake about it; since skills, knowledge of the game, and stamina are limited at the lower age groups, during free soccer training drills, a coach should never ask the young players to do the impossible. You can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community for more such resources and articles, periodic newsletters, and videos to help coach young players.
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Coaching.
