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101 Youth . Soccer Drills

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Malcolm Cook

101 Youth Soccer Drills

Also available from ReedswJin Inc.

101 Youth Soccer Drills Age 12 to 16

Malcolm Cook ISBN" Hl90946-23-O

Soccer Training Drills - 6th tlitio1'l Games, Drills and Fitness Practices

Malcolm Cook and Nick Whitehead ISBN # Hl90946-2o.Q

101 Youth Soccer Drills

Malcolm Cook

Reedswain Inc . Spring City, PA

This cdition publishcd in 1999 in the lJnited States by Rct:tiswain Inc., 612 Pughtown Road, Spring City,I'A 19475

Published by special arrangement with A & C Dlack (Publishers) Ltd 3':; Bedford Row, London weiR 4)11

Copyright 1999 by Malcolm Cook

Int~rnational Standard Book Number: 1-89094lumbcr: 99-{)70331

All rights I't;."Servcd. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a rctrieval syst~m , or transmitted in any form or by any mt:ans, electronic, mechanical, photocopying:, recording or otherwise, "-ithom the prior permission of Reedswain Inc.

Acknowledgements Cover and textual photogf:lphs courtL'SY of AUsport {JK Ltd. lIIustrations on pages 11 - 13 by JeanAshley. All other illustf:ltions by Sue Dods.

Prinkd in Great Britain

RF:EOSWAJN VIDEOS AND nOOKS, INC. 612 l>ughtown Road' Spring City, I'ennsylv.lnia 19475

1-800-331 -S 191 www.reet.bwain.com

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements 6 Foreword 7

Introduction 9

Chapter I Practice Organisation 11

Chapter 2 Warming Up 17

Chapter 3 Dribbling and Running with the Ball 28

Chapter 4 Passing the Ball 40

Chapter 5 Shooting at Goal 57

Chapter 6 Heading the Ball 73

Chapter 7 Crossing and Finishing 95

Chapter 8 Goalkeeping 106

Chapter 9 Warming Down 122

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are several people who I would like to thank for their help in the production of this book. First, my valued friend Christine Holmes for her kindness and sheer professionalism in proofreading and typing the script, and within the deadline - I could not have done it without her. Second, thanks also to Cheryl Rose at A & C Rlack for her continual support, and last, but not least, to Lcs Kershaw (Youth Academy Director, ~\1anchester United Football Club), who was instmmental in the develop-ment oCthe club's excellent youth scheme, for honouring this book with his foreword. Finally, best wishes to all the coaches who work with young players, wherever you arc - your work makes a difference and is vitally important to the future of our great game - good coaching!

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FOREWORD

Les Kershaw bas been involved with England soccer clubs since the 1970s, working as a scoul/or coaches and managers such as Malcolm Allison, Terry Venables, George Graham and jim Smith. In 1988 he was invited by Alex Ferguson to become Chief Scout at Manchester United Football Club, and was involved in the signing of young players such as David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, John Curtis and Terry Cooke. Most recently, he has been involved with the development of the Football Association Academies Reserve Leagues.

Malcolm Cook's third book for the soccer market is timely with the advent of the Football Association Academies for the coaching and devel-opment of young soccer players. Very little literature on soccer has been dedicated to primary school children, who have tremendous enthusiasm and a capacity to learn new skills.

Anyone involved in developing young soccer players, from primary schools, junior dubs, Centres of Excellence through to Academies, will find this book useful. It gives a logical series of practices in all the basic techniques, without the need for specialised or expensive equipment. The pr.t

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INTRODUCTION

This book is designed to support the coach, teacher or parent, and aid them to obtain the best results from their practice sessions with young foot bailers. There are a number of hooks available on coaching methods and technical skill acquisition. However, the main aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive programme: of varied, realistic and education-ally sound drills for young players which will help them to improve progressively.

There is little attempt to tdl the coach how to coach, for each one will employ his or her own unique style and charJ.cteristics that will, naturally, affect the learning of young players. I have noticed that some books containing drills afC impractical and not designed for the parti-cular age groups that are supposed to be lIsing them. In this book I have attempted to provide the coach with a supply of practical and functional drills in a simple format which takes into account the growing needs of youngsters between the ages of 7 and 11 yeats. Young players at this stage arc curiolls, enthusiastic and constantly on the go. They learn to become more co-ordinated over time, and lhe wise coach will allow them to experiment and play down the competitive element - they need plenty of variety as they learn new skills.

The players will learn to improve their skills, have fun and develop good social habits through the constant use of the drills. The role of the coach, teacher or parent is to provide the support, guidance and en-couragement for young players to maximise their potential. I hope thb book achieves what it s.:ts out to do, and becomes a tried-and-tested tool-kit of practical resource material for the coach in the years ahead.

It should be emphasised at the begulling that although we use the word 'he' throughout the book, this is only for convenience. It does, of course, also refer to female players, who also give so much to the sport and are developing all the time in their own right.

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101 soccer drills 7-11 front cover.pdf101 Youth Soccer Drills Age 7-11- Malcolme Cook101 soccer drills 7-11 back cover