The round ball and early childhood development are inseparable. Anywhere there is a baby, there is at least a ball nearby. There is no wonder soccer is the most popular sport in the world. You will find these 10 straightforward soccer drills for toddlers very useful if you are serious about getting your kid to play soccer in the next 3 years.
Age Group: Under 3-Years-Old
The drills are not only helpful for soccer but also for developing your child’s gross and fine motor skills, balance, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination.
There are a lot of benefits of playing soccer for kids, as well as allowing you and your child to spend quality time together.
Coaching Tips
Tips for coaching:
- Make sure your baby knows what to do
- Patience is key
- You should cheer your baby on
- Have fun
Here is the list of ideal toddler soccer drills I’ve found online after spending many hours searching for them.
You can also check out my sources at the end of this post; they are all excellent baby development websites.
1. First Kick
With your help, you should allow your baby to “kick” the ball. After a few tries and cheers from you, your baby will get the hang of it.
Put a ball on the ground.
Your baby stands facing the ball as you sit or kneel on the floor. Make your baby kick the ball slowly as you move him toward it.
You move him back to the ball when your baby makes his first touch. When your baby kicks the ball, cheer him on. Repeat.
The ball should not hurt your baby’s foot if it is large enough not to miss when kicking.
2. Bucketball
You only need a laundry basket and a few balls for this training. Fill the laundry basket with the balls while your baby sits next to it. When all the balls have been placed in the basket, your baby can start picking them out. Keep repeating.
Show your baby how to do it by sitting down with them.
Variation
In the 19th month, your baby will be able to stand and walk. The training needs to be upgraded and made more challenging.
Make your baby stand and throw the balls into the basket about 2 feet away.Rather than allowing your baby to drop the ball, allow him to throw it slightly.
The ball should be light and large enough to be held with two hands for this training.
You can use:
- Tennis balls are great
- Laundry basket or cardboard box
3. Bowling
Eye-hand coordination and ball control are more important in this drill. To get your toddler to knock down objects, you line them up and ask him to roll the ball. It should be enough for your toddler to sit or stand from a distance of one meter. Slowly increase the distance over time so that it becomes a challenge.
You should show your baby how to do it before asking them to do it independently.
4. Roll The Ball In the Sitting Position
Another exciting drill that doesn’t require you to move around much with your baby is this one.You and your baby will sit on the floor about 1 meter apart.If your baby rolls backward, you may want to place a pillow behind them.
The training can begin by rolling the ball to your baby and encouraging them to return it to you.To prevent stray balls from going too far, place a barrier to prevent them from forming a corridor.
Variation
- You can widen the distance between you and your baby as the training becomes more accessible.
Tips:
- More than one ball can be used
- Catching and rolling back a slightly more giant ball will be easier.
5. Throw The Ball
By the time your baby is 19 months old, their hand should be strong enough to throw a ball around the house. Give your baby a ball and let her play with it. Let them play as much as possible, as long as they don’t break anything. Hand muscles and motor skills can be trained with this drill.
6. Roll The Ball In Standing Position.
Drill number 3 is the same, but you and our baby are standing facing each other. Your baby will pick up the ball with both hands if you stoop and roll it to him. He will roll the ball back to you when he is ready.
Variation
As your baby masters the drill, you can bounce the ball 1-2-3 times before it reaches him.
7. Throw And Catch
Drill number 5 is an advanced version of this drill, and catching can be challenging at the beginning. You throw the ball, and your baby catches it, walks, and gives it to you. It will take a while for the baby to throw back to you. Stand close to your baby and hand him the ball with both hands.
You will gently drop the ball into your baby’s hands as he reaches out with both hands. When your baby is ready, the ball will be dropped back into your hands. Your baby will need to walk over to you as you move further.
8. Kick The Ball
Your toddler can now kick the ball without much effort after 24 months. It doesn’t mean your work is done just because they kick the ball. The actual training has already begun. You can start by giving the ball to your toddler and letting them kick it around. Don’t let them break anything. Allow him to become familiar with the ball without any drills. Introduce drill number 9 to your toddler as he gets better at kicking.
9. Kick Bowling
It is time to sharpen your toddler’s passing accuracy now that they can stand and run around. Position your kid at least a meter away from toy bowling pins (or empty bottles or stuffed toys).
Make sure your kids know how to aim and kick the ball to knock the pins down. When your child gets better, you can widen the space between the pins or the distance between your toddler and the nails. Kicking accuracy and strength can be improved with this drill.
10. Soccer!
The time has come to play authentic soccer. You can set up a pop-up goal in your living room, garage, or backyard and instruct your toddler to kick the ball into it. If you would like to assist your child in having as much contact with the ball as possible, you can join in the drill. Encourage them and cheer them on.
Equipment Needed:
- A popup goal
- Soft soccer ball
Check all your baby’s toys to ensure they don’t pose a choking hazard.
When purchasing toys, always read the warnings on the package.
Benefits Of playing soccer
The benefits of your baby playing with a ball are:
- The balancing act
- Ability to move
- Coordination of the hands and eyes.
Conclusion
Soccer training for toddlers in Sydney is designed for the kid to get a “feel” for the ball while having fun with the whole. It may not look like soccer training yet, but you are helping your child build a foundation, not for soccer but basketball and other sports. Make sure to include fun so your kid can stay engaged in the activities.
