Players under 12 shouldn't have to deal with the pressure of winning games. Their focus should be on having fun, being creative, learning from the game, and using the simple skills they pick up in training. As they get older and winning matters more, the good habits and skills they repeated early will come out and win games.
Soccer Training for Kids:
Fun Drills, Rules and Tips from Coach Armin
Soccer Training for Kids at Home: Episode 5
What's in this video (21 drills)
- (00:00) Roll the ball forward and back with the RIGHT foot, 45 sec
- (00:16) Roll the ball forward and back with the LEFT foot, 45 sec
- (00:33) Gates with trapping, 90 sec
- (01:00) Gates and sole ball control, 90 sec
- (01:21) Freestyle with the soccer ball, 90 sec
- (01:51) RIGHT foot sole control around the cone, switch direction, 45 sec
- (02:19) LEFT foot sole control around the cone, switch direction, 45 sec
- (02:45) Cone square quick footwork without the ball, add direction change, 2-3 reps
- (03:01) Cone square forward touches and sideways rolls, 2-3 reps
- (03:11) Cone square gates with sideways rolls, 2-3 reps
- (03:40) Cone square gates forward and back with sideways rolls, 2-3 reps
- (04:11) Cone square toe touches forward and back with sideways rolls, 2-3 reps
- (04:26) Cone square right foot outside turns and left foot inside turns, 2-3 reps
- (04:37) Cone square right foot inside turns and left foot outside turns, 2-3 reps
- (04:57) Cone square right foot zig zag control, 2-3 reps
- (05:03) Cone square left foot zig zag control, 2-3 reps
- (05:13) Cone square zig zag quick footwork run, 2-3 reps
- (05:21) Cone square zig zag quick footwork run, opposite side, 2-3 reps
- (05:28) Cone square sideways, forward, backpedal, sideways quick footwork run, 2-3 reps
- (05:45) Playing with the dog
- (06:15) A question for my little soccer maniak
Soccer training for kids starts at home, with a ball, a little space and a lot of fun. I'm Coach Armin, a youth soccer coach for about 20 years and a dad of two little soccer maniacs, and SoccerManiak is where I share everything I know: drills you can do in the backyard, full training sessions, the rules in plain English, and my weekly soccer news. Pick where you want to start below.
Soccer Training for Kids: Where Do You Want to Start?
Train at HomeMy 8-week at-home program: two workouts a week of ball control, agility, speed and technique.
Coach a TeamFull training sessions from my camps, recorded and explained, with plans you can use at practice.
Ball Control DrillsDrills that pack in touches on the ball, the most important thing for young players.
Speed and AgilityGet faster and fitter with ladders, cones, hurdles and poles.
Learn the GameThe rules of soccer in plain English, from offside to referee signals.
Formations and TacticsHow coaches organize players on the field, explained simply.
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Our Basement Soccer Journey
What started as a simple experiment, kids playing soccer at home, has grown into a regular routine filled with laughter, energy and priceless bonding moments. My two boys, ages 5 and 7, have made soccer part of their everyday fun, and it's been an incredible way for us to connect, learn and grow together.
As a soccer-loving dad, I always dreamed of sharing the game with my kids. I've kicked the ball around with them since they were babies, but then I made a commitment to train with them for real. Now we train 3-4 times a week, mostly in our basement, with drills, skills and a lot of family time. You don't need a big field: a ball, a few cones and a little space is plenty.
Soccer Training for Kids at Home: Episode 6
What's in this video (15 drills)
- (00:05) Gates with stepovers
- (00:36) Inside / outside control, both feet
- (01:11) Outside foot turning, both feet
- (01:38) Pull back, opposite foot outside control
- (02:30) Freestyle with the soccer ball
- (03:41) Juggle the soccer ball
- (04:27) Moving gates forward / backward
- (04:54) Moving gates sideways right / left
- (05:24) Right foot pass off the wall, receive into space with inside or outside, pull the ball back with the sole
- (06:01) Left foot pass off the wall, receive into space with inside or outside, pull the ball back with the sole
- (06:36) 3 cones 1 foot apart, quick footwork sideways
- (07:34) 3 cones 1 foot apart, quick footwork sideways with hop/jump
- (08:22) 3 cones 1 foot apart, single-foot sideways hops
- (09:02) 3 cones 1 foot apart, quick footwork forward and backward
- (09:30) 3 cones 1 foot apart, quick footwork through cones
⚽️ TRAIN HARDER! ⚽️ TRAIN CONSISTENT! ⚽️ PLAY BETTER!
How I Think About Soccer Training for Kids
Millions of people follow professional soccer, where winning is everything. Pro players train two or three times a day, every day. That's their job. But kids aren't pros, and they shouldn't be treated like them.
The game itself is a great coach. Kids need to play more soccer: with friends, with teammates, against a rebounder or a wall. It takes years and thousands of hours of training and playing to become a great player. Talent alone only takes you so far. Time, passion and effort are what make the difference.
That's why I believe most kids need more than the typical two practices a week and a game on the weekend. A few minutes with the ball every day adds up fast.
The fundamentals every young player needs:
- Running properly, with and without the ball
- Simple dribbling moves to get out of tight spaces
- A good first touch, the most important skill in youth soccer
- Passing with pace and into a teammate's path
- Receiving the ball on the ground and in the air
- Shielding the ball from an opponent
- Shooting and passing with different parts of the foot
- Making good decisions
Kids who miss these in their early years won't reach their full potential later. The good news: every one of them can be practiced at home.
Meet Coach Armin
My story
From the streets of Sarajevo and FK Željezničar to coaching kids in Utah for about 20 years. Meet Coach Armin →
Private training
Sessions are on pause, but the waitlist is open. Join the waitlist →
Questions?
Drills, training cards or coaching questions. I reply within 1-2 days. Contact me →
Follow along
Drills, highlights and our basement training on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook at soccermaniak801.
Soccer training for kids doesn't have to be complicated. Grab a ball, pick a drill, and have fun with it. If I'm not playing the game, I'm watching it, and if I'm not watching it, I'm coaching it. This website is the diary of my soccer life, and I'm glad you're here :)