Koaching Tip # 4 - Ball Skills

Soccer is a team game and unless players have the necessary skills to control the ball and pass to a team mate they cannot be effective in a team game. I recommend that all coaches

DEVOTE HALF OF EVERY TRAINING SESSION TO BALL SKILLS, BALL SKILLS AND MORE BALL SKILLS!!!

Test your players' skills by using the simple method of asking them to bounce the ball and kick it into their own hands. If they can do this then ask them to bounce, kick, bounce, kick, etc. Set them a target of (say) 10 consecutive bounces and kicks. From this they should progress to juggling (eliminating the bounce).

Whilst juggling is not a game skill, it does improve foot, eye co-ordination and ball feel. Persevere and you will see improvement but don't expect them to improve at the same rate as each other.

Happy coaching. Keith