There are a variety of different soccer skills that players can learn and use to beat defenders. These four soccer skills for kids can be used as an introduction to more complex skills. Teaching kids soccer skills is a great way to increase their confidence in the ball in 1v1 situations against defenders.
In my experience, these are the 4 easiest skills to teach kids.
I would encourage the players to practice the skills while stationary but as they begin to master the skills start to challenge them by getting them to perform the skill while moving.
Soccer Skills for kids: Fake and take
The first soccer skill we are going to look at is the fake and take.
This is a great introductory skill to teach a player and can be picked up fairly quickly.
The player fakes to go one way and goes the other way.
Step one
Position the soccer ball in front of the player with feet shoulder-width apart.
Move the right foot to the right of the ball to fake to go in that direction.
Make sure the player drops their shoulder and bends their knee to convince the defender they are going in that direction.
Step two
Bring the player’s left foot next to the right foot, this is important as this is the foot the player will use to change direction to the left-hand side and beat the defender.
Step three
Use the outside of your left foot take a touch to the left of the defender, and make sure the player accelerates away from the defender.
Soccer Skills for kids: Scissor
This is a similar soccer skill to the fake and take but instead of bringing your foot under the ball, you’re going to ask your player to bring their foot up and round the ball instead.
Step one
Get your player to stand slightly to the left or right of the soccer ball depending on which direction you want to go.
For this example, we are going to the left so your player should stand on the left of the ball.
With their right foot, you want them to bring it up and around the ball.
To help them understand I describe it as the outside of your foot having to go around the outside of the ball.
Make sure the player drops their shoulder and bends their knee to convince the defender they are going to the right.
Step two
Bring the left foot under the ball so it is next to the right foot, make sure the body position is set so they can then take their next touch away from the defender.
Step three
Using the outside of the left foot takes the next touch away from the defender and to the left. Make sure the player accelerates away from the defender.
Soccer Skills for kids: Step over
Like the scissor in some respect however instead of taking the outside of your foot up and around the outside of the ball, with this soccer skill the player is going to bring the inside of their foot over the outside of the ball.
Step one
Get the player to stand with the ball in front of them.
For this example, we are going to use the left foot to beat the defender taking our touch to the left.
The inside of their left foot should be brought up and over the outside of the soccer ball.
This will make it look like you are going to the right.
Step two
The left foot should be crossed over the right foot with most of the weight being bared on the right foot.
This is so that the player can set themselves and quickly change direction.
Step three
Using the outside of the left foot takes a touch to the left and accelerates away from the defender.
Soccer Skills for kids: Foot roll
Through experience, this is the skill that I find players have the most difficulty learning, so a bit more patience may be required. This is great a skill to use in a tight area.
Step one
Start with the left foot on top of the ball and roll it across until it crosses the right foot.
Step two
Once the left foot crosses the right foot the player must take their left foot off the ball.
Once the left foot is taken off the soccer ball it becomes the standing foot.
This enables the player to bring their right foot back round and to take the touch past the player.
The balance is part that players struggle with the most.
Step three
Using the inside of the right foot take a big touch out of their feet so that they can accelerate away from the players.
Comment and Share our soccer skills for kids
If you found these soccer skills for kids useful please leave a comment and share the page using our social media icons.
Here are some other useful posts:
My Soccer Coaching Equipment
If you opened my coaching bag this is the soccer equipment you’d find!
