Here’s a really simple way to control the ball to pass or shoot and this skill can be mastered through performing various free soccer training drills. In this article, you will know about 2 of the well-known soccer drills, Shoulder To Shoulder and Shark in the Middle.

Shoulder To Shoulder drill is meant for offensive and defensive players. The main purpose of this exercise is to teach offensive player to practice fast shooting under pressure and let the defensive players practice clearing the ball.

This drill puts into play 3 players each drill group. The distance the works out between A and B is 10-15 yards.

B and the defensive player line up shoulder to shoulder. B and the defensive player, who stand adjacent to each other, face away from the goal on the left side of the field. As soon as the coach whistles, A throws the ball in the rear of the remaining 2 players. B and the defensive player start to try and take control of the ball. B’s goal is to take shot on the goal while the defensive player’s objective is to turn with the ball and dribble it above the center line.

Soccer Drills

By working on coaching drills like Shoulder to Shoulder, players get to learn as to how to win the ball despite being under immense pressure from an opposing player.

Shark in the Middle is an interesting game that can be played any time during the practice and its duration can be worked out as per the need. It is one of many free soccer training drills that helps players achieve attentiveness and self-control in high-pressure situations.

Players make a large circle in the field. A player is chosen to be the Shark and stands in the center of the circle. There is only one ball here which is given to the player who stands inside the circle.

When you blow the whistle, the player who has the ball passes it to the player just along the circle. Then the second player passes it to another he wishes and it goes on like this.

Then you blow the whistle for the second time which means that the game has started. The purpose of the game is to keep the ball away from the shark. Player may pass the ball to anyone along the circle, be it a teammate right next to him or a teammate at a distance. The players try to go for as many passes as they can.

This process goes on until the shark gets the ball.

When the ball is caught, the player that caused the ball to be intercepted becomes the new shark and the first shark joins others along the circle.

Shark in the Middle finds a place among those football drills that require a sharp thinking and an idea of the experience of the shark.

To conclude, these free soccer training drills help players to build self-confidence to handle the ball while under pressure from an imminent attack. Subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community to for more such youth coaching tips and tactics.

Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Free soccer training drills.