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To run a good soccer training session it takes a lot of pre-planning. You need to plan the session and have a goal of what you want to have achieved by the end of the session. Planning also means making sure you have all the equipment you need and that everything you have is in the proper condition like pumping up balls, washing bibs etc. As a coach you should set the example by being the first person to get to soccer training, if you are coaching out on the grass you can set up early but if you are on an Astroturf you need to get on there as quickly as possible so not to lose too much time setting up your equipment.

When planning always have short term and long term goals. Each soccer training session needs to be used to get ready for the next game but you also need to develop your players towards a long term goal of the level you want them to be at. Each soccer training exercise you do should be geared towards achieving those goals. You need to be prepared to adapt throughout the season when you notice things your team needs to work on then you need to build them in to your soccer drills. As well as looking at the team as a whole be sure to look at every player individually as each player will have different needs and different things they need to improve on. As well as havingsoccer drill for the whole team you need to also design individual soccer training exercises for different players or different sets of positions as there are things the goalkeeper needs to learn which the midfield don’t and so on.

Research your soccer drills fully. Make sure the soccer drillsfit with your short, medium and long term goals for your team. Soccer drills should be progressive to push players beyond their comfort zone and to keep them fresh and enjoyable. There are lots of online resources for soccer drills but beware – many online soccer drills websites only give you half of the soccer drill leaving you to figure out the rest. Look for football drills that include a technical phase where players learn the skill or football tactic you are trying to coach, a second phase that puts them under limited pressure using the skills they have learnt and finally finishing with a small sided training exercise that brings those skills in to a game environment.