Soccer is a popular sport around the world, and many kids are drawn to the excitement and togetherness it offers.
Whether your child is just starting out in soccer or has been playing for a while, one question that often comes up is, “How often should kids practice soccer?”
Finding the right balance is essential to help them improve their skills, stay engaged, and enjoy the game.
Soccer, like many youth sports, requires striking a balance.
You need to encourage your child’s development without overwhelming them, pushing their boundaries without risking injuries.
The challenge lies in determining the right approach, the “sweet spot” for maximum progress.
US Youth Soccer provides valuable guidance on this matter through its Player Development Model.
Here’s what they recommend:
| Age Group | Frequency | Session Duration |
| U7 and below | 1 day per week | 45 minutes |
| U8 – U9 | 1 day per week | 45 – 60 minutes |
| U10 – U11 | 2 days per week | 60 – 75 minutes |
| U12 – U13 | 2 to 3 days per week | 75 minutes |
| U14 – U15 | 3 days per week | 75 – 90 minutes |
| U16 – U17 | 3 days per week | 90 minutes |
| U18 and above | 4 to 5 days per week | 90 – 120 minutes |
The table above is a good place to start and will likely be a minimum for a player on a competitive team, but for each individual kid, the specific answer is: a kid should practice as much as the kid is willing to practice! Every child is different and their desire or drive to play soccer is going to vary. The amount of practice needs to fit the player.
The table provided is an excellent starting point and generally represents the minimum practice expectations for players on competitive teams.
However, it’s important to recognize that the ideal practice frequency is highly individual.
In other words, a child should practice as much as they are genuinely eager to practice. Every child has unique motivations and levels of interest in playing soccer, and these can vary widely.
Therefore, the amount of practice should be tailored to each player’s personal preferences and desires.
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Ambitions Will Help Determine the Amount of Practice
To know if your child is practicing at an appropriate level, it’s all-important to consider their long-term soccer goals.
Normally, around the U10 level, kids start to grasp their aspirations in the sport. Do they aim to play in high school, possibly in college, or even professionally? Or is soccer primarily a fun activity with friends?
These ambitions will provide valuable insight into how much practice your child should engage in.
The more ambitious your child’s soccer goals, the more practice they’ll require.
The general guidelines discussed earlier are based on the assumption that your child is a competitive player who intends to continue playing soccer beyond high school.
While a recreational player might find that two 60-minute practice sessions per week are sufficient.
This level of practice should help maintain a decent level of soccer skill without overburdening the child.
It’s vital to align practice intensity with the player’s individual goals and commitment to the sport, whether they’re aiming for a competitive path or simply enjoying the game recreationally with friends.
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How Long Should Youth Soccer Practice Take?
Training volume in youth soccer hinges significantly on the duration of practice sessions.
Especially at younger ages, longer doesn’t always equate to better.
Simply put, just because 45 minutes of practice is effective doesn’t mean that extending it to 60 minutes is necessarily more productive. This is primarily because younger players naturally have shorter attention spans.
In fact, around 45 minutes marks the threshold for maintaining proper focus during practice. Pushing beyond this limit may not yield meaningful results and might even be counterproductive, as it can lead to distractions and a loss of interest.
However, as players grow older, their attention spans tend to extend, allowing for longer practice sessions.
Longer sessions provide the opportunity to delve into increasingly intricate techniques and tactical aspects of the game. This progression is natural as players mature and gain a deeper understanding of soccer.
It’s important to strike a balance between session duration and player age, ensuring that practices are both engaging and tailored to the players’ capacity to maintain focus and absorb the material effectively.
Here are some general guidelines for the ideal duration of youth soccer practices
Ages 3-5 (U4-U6): For very young children, soccer practices should be short and engaging. Sessions should last around 30 minutes to an hour. Keep the activities fun, and focus on developing basic motor skills.
Ages 6-8 (U8): Children in this age group can handle slightly longer practice sessions, usually ranging from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Ages 9-12 (U10-U12): Youth soccer practices for this age group can last between 1 to 1.5 hours. These players are capable of more focused training, including skill development and introduction to tactical aspects of the game.
Ages 13 and older (U13+): Older youth players can engage in longer and more intense practices, typically lasting 1.5 to 2 hours. These sessions can include more complex drills, tactical strategies, and physical conditioning.
In addition to the players’ age, several other factors can influence the duration of youth soccer practices:
Seasonal Variation: During the preseason, practices may be more focused on conditioning and strategy, while mid-season practices might emphasize refining skills and tactics. Adjust practice duration accordingly.
Goals of the Practice: Consider the specific objectives of each practice session. If the goal is to work on specific skills or tactics, the practice may be shorter and more focused. For well-rounded sessions, a slightly longer duration might be necessary.
Player Fatigue: Be mindful of players’ physical and mental fatigue. Longer practices might be counterproductive if players become tired and less attentive. Balance practice length with player well-being.
Weather Conditions: Extreme heat or cold can impact practice duration. Ensure that players are adequately hydrated and dressed for the weather to avoid health risks.
What Makes a Good Soccer Team Training Session?
Effective soccer training sessions rely on several key principles to ensure they are organized, engaging, and productive.
Preparation: Coaches and trainers should thoroughly plan each training session in advance. Wing rarely yields positive results and can lead to inefficiencies during practices.
2. Theme: Each practice session should revolve around a central theme or objective. For instance, the theme might be “switching the field,” and all training exercises should relate to this theme, covering aspects like recognizing the right moment to switch, executing short passes, or striking long balls effectively.
3. Organization: Coaches should have the training area set up and ready before the session begins. This means having cones and equipment in place, ensuring that every moment during practice is used effectively, and that time isn’t wasted moving equipment around.
4. Progression: Training sessions should progress logically, starting with individual skills related to the chosen theme and then advancing to small group exercises and ultimately culminating in a larger scrimmage or game-like context. Scrimmages are excellent for reinforcing the practice theme.
5. Intensity: The level of intensity during a practice session should vary depending on the circumstances. For example, a Monday practice following a Sunday match might be less intense compared to a mid-week practice leading up to an important tournament. It’s important to incorporate recovery days before and after matches or tournaments to manage players’ physical demands effectively.
6. Adjustment: Coaches should be flexible and ready to adjust the training plan as needed. What looks great on paper may not always translate well on the field, and coaches must adapt activities to suit the players and situations, like weather conditions or academic commitments.
7. Water Breaks: While hydration and short breaks are important, they should not devolve into casual conversations about unrelated topics. The focus and intensity of the practice should be maintained, with more relaxed discussions saved for the end of the session.
8. Feedback: Encourage players to share their thoughts and opinions about the practice. This fosters a sense of collaboration and engagement. Coaches may not always change the session based on player feedback, but it shows players that their input is valued, and it can lead to the development of valuable ideas and improvements.
Do Soccer Players Need Individual Training?
The guidelines provided earlier pertain to formal team training sessions, which form the foundation of a young soccer player’s development.
However, for highly competitive players looking to excel, extra individual practice is often necessary. The amount of individual practice required can vary widely depending on the player’s goals and level of commitment.
As a general guideline, starting around the U12 age group (under 12 years old), a reasonable rule of thumb is to engage in 30 minutes of individual training on five days per week.
This provides a good balance between consistent practice and avoiding overexertion.
Individual training should have several necessary components:
Mental Training: Mental preparation is equally important. This includes developing a strong soccer IQ, understanding game strategies, and enhancing decision-making skills on the field.
Visualization and mental exercises can also help players build confidence and focus.
Foot Skills: Practicing dribbling, soccer drills, ball control, and mastering various techniques with both feet is fundamental to improving a player’s overall skill set.
Mental Training For Soccer
The mental aspect of soccer often goes underappreciated, but it stands as one of the most BASIC elements for high-level players.
Being able to rapidly assess high-pressure situations and respond effectively is a key skill in the game.
Fortunately, there are two accessible and effective methods for honing the mental aspect of soccer.
Active Watching of High-Level Matches
A simple yet powerful way to train the mental side of soccer is by actively watching top-tier matches, such as those in the Premier League, which are regularly broadcast.
Encourage your child to watch these games with an analytical eye.
Ask them to focus on the organization of the teams, examining their offensive and defensive formations. A specific approach is to have your child choose a player who plays in their position and closely follow that player’s movements and positioning throughout the match.
This observational exercise can provide valuable insights into real-game tactics and positioning.
Playing the FIFA Video Game
Surprisingly, the FIFA video game serves as an effective tool for improving the mental aspects of soccer.
FIFA is a realistic simulation of a real soccer game, demanding quick thinking and rapid reactions. What sets it apart is that it also encourages players to apply genuine soccer tactics like spacing, quick passing, and strategic runs for success.
By engaging with FIFA, young players can develop their decision-making skills, tactical understanding, and situational awareness in a gaming context that mirrors real-life soccer scenarios.
How To Train Foot Skills
When it comes to improving soccer foot skills, there are several options available.
However, I’d like to highlight two of my favorite programs: Renegade Soccer Training and Techne.
These platforms offer valuable individual foot skills training sessions that can significantly benefit players. The beauty of these programs is that they require minimal equipment.
You should know that while both offer excellent resources, they do come at a cost.
If you’re looking for cost-effective alternatives and prefer not to subscribe to a paid service, you can still work on your foot skills effectively.
All you really need are a soccer ball, a set of cones (or improvised substitutes like household objects), and a touch of creativity.
With these basic tools, you can craft your own training sessions to improve your foot skills without incurring any subscription expenses. This flexibility allows you to choose the approach that best suits your budget and training preferences.
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