How to Know Important Skills in an Intermediate Youth Soccer Player
- 1). Emphasize touch. A player should be developing a refined sense of controlling the ball.
- 2). Realize that fitness is key. A strong cardiovascular system is crucial for a game that has lots of action, much of it running.
- 3). Look for dribbling with intent. For example, players should be able to dribble the ball away from a defender.
- 4). Encourage trapping (i.e. bringing a moving ball under control). Help children learn this skill by playing (tossing) the ball to them at various heights.
- 5). Practice shooting. Focus on using both feet, and any part of the foot. Often players must shoot in a high state of fatigue (after running up the field), so they need to have developed skills.
- 6). Remember heading, juggling and tackling. Players will learn to head the ball in various ways; continue to juggle, and learn to gain the ball by tackling opponents.
- 7). Talk tactics. At this level, players are taught to combine skills with deliberate actions to outsmart and outmaneuver the opposition.