Designing a Youth Soccer Practice

Real estate executive Demetrios Panteleakis serves as the president of Macmillan Group, a commercial real estate, brokerage, and property management firm in Springfield, Massachusetts. Aside from his professional responsibilities, Demetrios Panteleakis coaches youth soccer.

When coaching youth soccer, it is essential to have a plan for each practice to keep kids on track and focused. Keeping in mind the age ranges, abilities, time constraints, and space available for practice, coaches should write out their goals for the season. Once the coach has an idea of the big picture, it is easier to design practices that will meet those goals.

Each practice should be fun and challenging, incorporating time for warmup, skills development, and small-sided games. Whenever possible, coaches should provide examples of what they want the kids to do. If the coach does not have the necessary experience to demonstrate core skills, he or she can bring in a talented high school player for assistance.

Core skills such as dribbling, turning, crossing, passing, shooting, and ball control should be covered at practices. Drills that cover these skills are abundant. Coaches can turn to other coaches, their league, or large soccer organizations for ideas. Small-sided games that set players against each other also provide kids with opportunities to learn how to make quick decisions, work together as a team, and apply what they are learning in a competitive pre-game environment.