Around a quarter of children in the UK are obese, so finding fun ways to keep youngsters active on a regular basis is more important than ever. The good news is that parents don’t need expensive gym memberships or the help of formal sporting organisations to make a difference. In some cases, just a standard ball, some basic football training equipment and a love for the game is sufficient.
Here are 5 simple football training drills children can enjoy at home. Make them part of your child’s weekly routine, your child’s fitness levels and footballing skills should begin improving within a week or two.
- Triangles
Football should be fun. The moment it isn’t, a child becomes bored and frustrated. And when this attitude persists, the child may begin to associate exercise with negative emotions.
A simple and fun football training drill involves moving a ball in small triangles using both feet. Get your child to place the ball slightly in front of their feet; then have them use the side of their right foot to tap the ball gently towards their left foot.
When the ball reaches your child’s left foot, get them to tap the ball forward gently. Your child should then move forward and tap the ball with their right foot again so it returns to its original position – completing the ‘triangle’.
Over time, your child should be able to speed up this very simple drill. Perfect for warming up, the triangles drill improves touch and encourages youngsters to use both feet.
- Cone Dribbling
It’s one of the simplest football training drills there is, but that doesn’t stop just about every professional team in the world from adopting it. Cone dribbling develops touch, control, coordination, balance, and lower-body strength. It’s also a fun way to get your child moving regularly.
While there are several variations of this football drill, start by keeping it simple. If your garden or yard isn’t big enough, head to your local park to enjoy this simple activity with your child.
Start by placing cones in a straight line – leaving enough room to dribble in and out. The more space you leave, the easier the technical aspect of the drill will be. However, if your priority is speed and fitness, opt for longer gaps between the football cones.
The objective here is simple: to dribble the ball around each cone – alternating between the inside and outside. This requires a great deal of physical effort, which is great for gradually improving fitness levels. It also helps the child to develop their touch, control, agility and the ability to handle the ball under pressure.
- Passing Against A Wall
Yes, it’s that simple. And you don’t need an actual wall to reap the potential benefits. You simply stand four to five metres away from the wall, and pass the ball with enough force to ensure it comes back.
Of course, you can always mix it up a little by switching feet and using different areas of your feet to make contact. Over time, this is a great way to improve passing accuracy and control.
If you don’t have a wall, buy a football rebounder. Consisting of a metal frame and an elasticated net, this portable item of football training equipment can send the ball back in a more unpredictable way. Your child will need to demonstrate closer control, increased agility and a lot more movement.
- First-Touch Control
This is a more advanced version of ‘passing against a wall’. When it’s made as challenging as possible, it involves more movement, more control and more unpredictability – an important part of creating match-like conditions.
Choose a large wall that provides at least four square metres of playing space. Alternatively, increase the difficulty level even further by using a portable football rebounder.
Get your child to pass the ball against the wall or rebounder with varying levels of force. No two consecutive passes should ever be the same.
The primary objective here is to get the ball under control with a single touch. Over time, your child will learn when to use a specific part of their foot or body for the best results. The options include the inside or outside of the foot, the toe, the sole, the thigh and the chest.
Ideally, the ball should end up within a foot of your child – making their next move relatively easy.
- Ladder Drills
This home football drill offers just about everything: improved fitness, increased agility, enhanced balance and the basic skills required to play football at a reasonable level.
An agility ladder is a portable ladder that uses rope instead of metal or wooden rails. Lay the agility ladder on the ground while ensuring the rungs are evenly spaced. Your child can then run over the ladder using various footwork patterns – all the while trying not to make contact with the ladder.
There’s no football involved here, so this one may not be as much fun. However, add some music and a lot of encouragement from the sidelines, and it can be a very enjoyable experience in small doses.
Performed regularly, agility ladder drills can improve foot speed, coordination, balance and fitness – everything children need to enjoy their footballing experiences.
One Final Thought
Children are far more likely to fall in love with exercise if it’s fun and free from pressure – particularly when they’re very young. Don’t introduce them to competitive football too early, and don’t place any pressure on them in terms of accuracy. Simply let them have fun with these football training drills, and the rest will come naturally.
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