U8 Soccer Drills For Learning And Development | Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill

When athletes are young it is important they spend less time focusing on strength training and more time learning proper body movements and soccer basics like passing and dribbling. Finding different ways to work coordination and different planes of motion into training drills will help athletes develop proper body mechanics and movements. The learning and development of soccer basics is essential for children to develop a larger set of soccer skills as they age and advance in their sport.

Setting Up U8 Soccer Drills

When setting up learning and development drills for soccer basics soccer players and coaches need to keep the age and development of the athletes performing the soccer basics drill in mind. More advanced athletes can use higher levels of Kbands Leg Resistance Bands and larger drill parameters as less advanced and younger athletes should use a lower level of leg resistance bands and smaller dimensions during the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill.

To perform the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill athletes will need 7 Speed and Agility Cones, one set of Kbands Leg Resistance Bands, a soccer ball, and a coach or assisting partner. Athletes will place the Speed and Agility Cones in two rows 5-7 yards apart. One row will have 4 Speed and Agility Cones, placed 5-7 yards apart, and the opposite row will contain 3 Speed and Agility Cones running parallel to the opposite four cone line of Speed and Agility Cones. Speed and Agility Cones placed on the three cone side of the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill should be aligned directly between the Speed and Agility Cones in the opposite four cone line of the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Drill.

Athletes will begin the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill by attaching the proper level of Kbands Leg Resistance Bands just above their knees and lining up 5 yards across from one of the end Speed and Agility Cones on the four cone side. Coaches will line up behind and on the opposite side from the athlete, at the end Speed and Agility Cone and place the soccer ball at this Speed and Agility Cone. Athletes will sprint forward, tap the soccer ball to their coach or partner, quickly shuffle backward and laterally to the Speed and Agility Cone diagonal to them. Athletes will continue this sequence all the way to the end of the soccer basics drill as the coach or partner catches the pass from the athlete and quickly places the soccer ball at the next Speed and Agility Cone.

Soccer players will perform 3 sets down and back being sure to work both sides of the body evenly. After 3 down and back resisted sets have been completed athletes will remove the Kbands Leg Resistance Bands and perform 1-2 unresisted sets of the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill from each side of the Speed and Agility Cone set up.

U8 Soccer Drills Learning And Development With Good Form And Technique

Young athletes hold a great advantage over older athletes in the fact that younger athletes are still learning soccer basics and have not developed any bad habits in regard to running motion and body technique. Younger athletes should take advantage of learning and development soccer drills like the Soccer Basics Zig Zag And Pass Drill to develop proper body position and movements when changing direction, or starting and then quickly restarting an athletes running motion. Adding sport specific movements to a soccer basics drill will just enhance and reinforce the soccer specific skills young athletes are learning.

While performing the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill soccer players need to move quickly and practice using good footwork and body positioning to help this soccer basics drill translate into game situations. When athletes are sprinting forward it is important they have great arm drive, keep their chest low, work off the balls of their feet, and work through the resistance provided by the Kbands Leg Resistance Bands. As athletes approach a Speed and Agility Cone and get ready to kick the soccer ball, it is important the athlete use small, choppy steps to slow down their body and put the athlete in a better position to pass the ball to their coach, and quickly redirect their body to the next Speed and Agility Cone. As soccer players move into the backward diagonal run they need to be sure they open up their hips and keep their chest low as they shuffle to the back row of Speed and Agility Cones.

Along with improving footwork, the Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill is great for development of the hip flexors which will lead to faster and more powerful lateral movements, linear sprinting, foot speed, and balance.

Advanced U8 Soccer Drills

Athletes who have mastered the Kbands Soccer Basics Zig Zag Pass Drill can use a variety of other soccer learning and development drills which can be found in the Soccer Training Section. Athletes can go to the Recovery Section to learn about recovery techniques such as the Rejuvenating Stretching Sequence which will help keep athletes muscles, joints, and limbs from sustaining costly injuries.

Learning and development drills like the Soccer Lateral Shuffle or Soccer Offensive Speed are great soccer basics drills that will continue to help young soccer players develop great linear and lateral speed. Soccer basics like passing and dribbling can be improved by utilizing the Soccer Transitional Shooting Drill or the Directional Footwork Drill during training sessions.

No matter how young or advanced a soccer player gets it is always important to make sure they are utilizing a wide variety of drills, and sports equipment, to continually challenge and improve their athletic skills and sports specific skills. Using a wide variety of drills found in the Training Section will allow for continual development by athletes of all skill sets and ages.