Helping Your Child Get Better at Soccer: A Simple At-Home Plan
Hey there, soccer parents! If you’ve ever tried to help your child improve their skills at home, you know how tricky it can be to find the right approach. Sure, you can search for drills on YouTube, but let’s be honest—random videos don’t cut it. What your child really needs is structure.
As a dad of two soccer-loving boys, I totally get it. Between team practices, rest days, and life in general, finding the time (and energy) for extra training can feel overwhelming. But here’s the thing—those extra touches at home are what make the difference.
A Listener’s Question That Hits Home
A parent recently asked me, “How do I design a four-day training plan for my 13-year-old?” Their child already had two team practices and a rest day, but they wanted a quick, 30-minute routine to supplement those sessions. Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what I dive into in this podcast episode: how to create a practical, effective plan that helps your child improve while keeping it fun.
How Anytime Soccer Training Makes It Easy
The program I use, Anytime Soccer Training, organizes everything into clear skill areas like ball mastery, dribbling, passing, and 1v1 moves. Think of it like a school curriculum—each skill is broken down into lessons that build on each other, so your child can follow a step-by-step path to improvement.
For beginners, it’s best to follow the videos in order to nail the basics. More experienced players? They can mix it up, adding variety and longer sessions to push themselves further.
The Triple V Approach
Here’s the secret sauce: Volume, Variety, and Variation.
- For beginners, keep it simple—less volume, fewer drills, and a focus on mastering the basics. For example, just 10 minutes a week on ball mastery is a great start.
- For advanced players, ramp it up—longer sessions, a mix of skill areas, and a focus on pushing past comfort zones.
This flexible system grows with your child, so they’re always improving without feeling overwhelmed.
Pro Tip: Pin Folders to Stay Organized
One game-changer I’ve found is the “pin” feature. Before each session, I pin the folders we’re focusing on, so everything’s ready to go. It saves time and makes training super smooth. For my older son, who’s more independent, I pin the drills for him, and he gets to work on his own.
Start with These Key Skills
If you’re not sure where to begin, start with the essentials:
- Ball Mastery
- Juggling
- Dribbling & Turns
- Passing & Receiving
- 1v1 Moves
These will give your child the technical foundation they need to thrive on the field.
Wrapping It Up
Balancing team practices and at-home training doesn’t have to be stressful. With a structured plan, your child can develop their skills while still having fun. Plus, I’ve got you covered with free session plans tailored to your child’s needs—just click the link, and I’ll send them your way.
Thanks for tuning in, and I can’t wait to hear about your child’s progress!
