Whether you play(ed) soccer yourself, are completely new to it, or fall somewhere in between, there are many ways you can help your player have a great experience through the sport.
The Techne App is a useful guide for your player to spend time regularly practicing the skills necessary to play soccer well and develop enjoyment and a love of the game. There are also important ways that you as a parent can support that.
Soccer with a team is great. But at Techne, we believe that it’s paramount for players to also develop an individual relationship with the ball and the game. This habit of independence contributes to commitment, a sense of discipline, and confidence. In addition to spending time with the ball, players can also benefit from watching soccer.
Here’s a basic guide to help get you going along the path of support.
Dribbling the Soccer Ball
The first skill that all players should learn is to move comfortably with the ball at their feet, keeping it as close to their body as possible. Being able to use both feet and change direction quickly while dribbling is key. Dribbling can be very creative and a lot of fun, as you’ll discover with our tips. If your player is more advanced, here are some great dribbling drills you can do at home.
Here’s how you can support your players as they learn to dribble:
Kicking and Receiving
If you can kick back and forth with your player, that’s great! But players don’t always have a consistent training partner, and working against a wall is a valuable exercise. Here are some tips on helping your player find a wall to use for training. And when they do use the wall, you can still accompany them for support.
Check out how you can make finding a wall, and spending time training repetition of kicking and receiving a fun experience:
Juggling the Soccer Ball
One of the most difficult skills your player needs to learn is to juggle the soccer ball. It can be frustrating and takes a lot of time and practice to master. But once it’s learned, it’s one of the most fun skills to have. You can embark on this journey with your player by helping to keep them engaged and committed to stick with it. Your role in helping your player through this process sets the stage for the patience they need to learn and improve many different skills--in soccer and in life!
Want more like this? Take a look at our blog with 6 tips on how to support your youth soccer player.
