Motivating 14 Year Olds in Summer

Sometimes Teams need some extra encouragement to perfect their technique, especially in the off-season.  Here are three techniques we use at Athens Soccer Academy to motivate our adolescent players.


Ice Cream Accuracy Training

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The Object here is for the player to score three buckets in 90 seconds.  Make it easier on poor coach Tim by placing a single bucket with a cone on top.

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SoccerTennis



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Soccer Tennis is Tennis played with the feet.  Soccer Tennis teaches balltouch, timing and accuracy.

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Combined Trainings



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In Combined Under 12 Teams Training  we see Athens Soccer Academy--www.athenssocceracademy.com-- Under 12 Boys and Girls players working at defending with support. 

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Subscribe to Tad Albano's channel to view all the latest How To Soccer videos--http://t.co/5sRGABRE.

However you choose to play, make sure you find a team and change the game...

Coaching the Four Year Old Player

The four year old player is adept, and can learn the game as well as any of us.  Athens Soccer Academy uses a combination of techniques as well as careful attention to the appropriate stress level.  Here are a few ways you can work with young players.


Good luck and enjoy the Game.

Passive Defending is what many parents are doing already when we step in to play against a younger player, and we "play down to their level" assuring they will achieve their desired result.  In the video below the older player needs some encouragement--she has scored plenty of goals today already-- and she reluctantly allows the younger player to gain ground near the goal she is defending.


Passive Defending



Passive Defending should offer an appropriate stress level for the developing player.  You should offer a moving obstacle for them to dribble around.  Play at half-speed, or "zombie speed" and when you have possession keep your touches low and diagonal.   If you can offer a good match against the player, and you both have some success, you probably have the stress level about right.

Training with Obstacles and Targets
Basic obstacles and targets can be placed on a level surface, so the player has to maneuver through to get to "goal".  In the How To Soccer Videos below, we see cones used as the obstacles and a "tower" made out of buckets is the effective goal.









Playing in front of a Large Goal
Here we see the player acting as goalkeeper with the shooter using the appropriate stress level.  This would be an example of passive attacking.

Passive Attacking

Finally, we increase the stress level for the player in front of goal by serving in a ball so the adjustment needs to be made to shoot a moving ball.





These techniques should help the coach at home work with the players of tomorrow.
Good Luck,
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ASA--All the Way
ASA--All the Way
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Soccer!!!