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Someone like me would most likely realize the significance of adding free soccer training drills to ensure that all the team players are taught the methods to throw the ball in. In performing youth soccer drills, nearly 70 per cent of throw-ins are foul throws and the other team gets the possession of the ball.

It is therefore imperative that every player in your team must be prepared to carry out a proper throw-in and get the ball into play almost instantly. Thus the player may easily go behind the defense and make a hit for the ball.

The requirements to teach the players to acquire the ball back in to play quickly are only certain moves and actions performed correctly at the U-10 level and below.

Some soccer coaches tend to count only on some selected players in free soccer training drills. These kind of players are named as designated throwers. Evidently the designated thrower is the most pressurized player on the field. This player needs to fight his way up and down the sidelines and also across the field in order to make a simple throw in.

Soccer Drills

Once more I would repeat the rule that each and every player in the game should be given a chance to throw the ball in. Often, when the ball goes out of the boundary, a quick step forward can help it come back in to play, but the coaches do not allow this to happen. Then when that player complains, he/she is told that he/she is not a mid-fielder and the mid fielders are the only ones who are allowed to make the throws.

During coaching drills, ensure that your players touch the ball as much as possible. This quick move, apart from giving a chance to score, also has long term impressions which are far beyond the win-lose theory. When we talk about young players, the game takes almost an hour before it’s over. Hence not too much of the time should go in placing the ball back into the play.

By giving importance to quick throws the soccer coaches build strategic awareness in the players as opposed to those who do not. During football dills the defendant team has about 20 to 30 seconds to get back behind the ball as the usual defending against the unexpected restarts cannot be applied for teams who defend against designated throwers.

To develop youth players for higher level of play the coaches should make time to groom their players. After every beginner has learnt the way to perform correct throw-ins, the ball could be moved back to the field so that the kids can play.

Be careful about this; skills, know-how of the game as well as stamina are related to age; during free soccer training drills, you should not set the impossible goals for players. You can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community for more such resources and articles, periodic newsletters, and videos to help coach young players.

Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Coaching.