However, you'll notice that over the course of a soccer season players may only learn one to four new skills. Whether the skill is basic like dribbling or advanced like performing a volley kick, each of these individual skills must be shown, taught and practiced repeatedly. These will include everything from learning the difference between an offensive header and defensive header to receiving a pass under pressure to proper first touch. Let's say that a young soccer player, over their development cycle, needs to learn and master 75 core skills. None of these parents were pro soccer players so how did they help that struggling child? I will explain.

Their parents were the reason they were able to achieve such success. Last year I worked with several former Division I college players and the same was true. These small little sessions play such a major role in a youth player's development, I can't stress them enough.

Sure enough, there is a parent and child on the field working on skills or just messing around together. Whether it was the level of support or the time spent in the back yard just messing around, parents are often the engine behind developing talent-not the coach.Įach night, I drive by our local public fields. The SoccerU series was developed specifically with this in mind. Parents Are the KeyĪsk any great soccer player who played a major role in their soccer growth and 90 percent of the time the answer will be mom or dad. The same applies for so many great soccer players of our time and we as parents can learn from this example.

There were hours and hours of performing repetitive skills in the form of games and challenges. Much of this time was right in their backyard 'messing around', having fun and exposing a child to new skills and thoughts. He was able to blend time spent together and building a passion for the game, with learning and improving. Was Earl Woods a professional golfer? Not at all, he was a career Army man that had a passion for the sport. For most of his developing life, who was his coach and trainer? Who was his only putting coach as he progressed into the pro years? The answer to both was his dad, Earl. Wait a minute, why a golf player? Because his name is known world wide and we can all relate to his story.

Soccer skills training middle school