Scoring goals in soccer puts points on the board, but good defense wins games.   Your strikers can be the best in the world, but without a strong defense supporting your goalie your team will not win the game. The fundamental object of playing defense in the game of soccer is to prevent the other team from scoring.   There are several ways to do this and all are important skills that when com...

When you think of offense on the soccer field you think of scoring goals.   Players in the forward position are the highest goal producing position on the field.  In order to get into scoring position, any player must work with his or her teammates to create space and opportunities for the ball to be played forward into the opposing team’s goal area.   Playing the ball forward can be d...

As I get older my admiration and respect for goal keepers increases.  One thing that is a given, as your child grows up the players will get stronger and more aggressive so it is very important to learn the basic fundamentals early to prevent injuries later on.  I have commented on this blog before about how I play in a men’s league with other soccer coaching friends,  during these games...

Any good soccer player or coach knows that drills are a crucial aspect of maintaining a talented and well-prepared team. But some aren’t as keen and take the approach of learning through playing. This isn’t the right approach to soccer, and we’ll explain why. First of all, soccer drills teach players the proper way to do anything from take a penalty to throw in. You wouldn’...

Soccer drills that focus on dribbling the ball may not always excite your kids.  But these skills are vital to improving ball control skills that can make a difference between scoring a goal and getting stripped. This video shows simple back and forth drills to dribble the soccer ball.    Each pass shows you how to use a different part of the foot.  You can dribble with the inside of the foo...

Penalty kicks in soccer are an easy goal, right?  Much like the free throw in a basketball game it seems like there is no reason why any player should miss a chance to place the ball in the back of the net from a position that can be practiced over and over again.  You know the distance, the goal size, and you can practice the placement repeatedly.   But ahh the pressure of the game.  All ey...

Being an effective keeper when playing soccer is a process, but it is one that is well worth pursuing. Those players that make a conscious effort to improve at the position should find that they are able to function more effectively within the team dynamic. Being a good keeper requires the person to know their place on the field, and the importance of their role whether playing street soccer or o...