Are you in Canada? Click here to proceed to the HK Canada website.

For all other locations, click here to continue to the HK US website.

Human Kinetics Logo

Purchase Courses or Access Digital Products

If you are looking to purchase online videos, online courses or to access previously purchased digital products please press continue.

Mare Nostrum Logo

Purchase Print Products or eBooks

Human Kinetics print books and eBooks are now distributed by Mare Nostrum, throughout the UK, Europe, Africa and Middle East, delivered to you from their warehouse. Please visit our new UK website to purchase Human Kinetics printed or eBooks.

Feedback Icon Feedback Get $15 Off

Improve young athletes' soccer speed

This is an excerpt from Athletic Fitness for Kids eBook by Scott Lancaster & Radu Teodorescu.

Soccer Speed Drill

Age Range

8 to 14

Purpose

To improve an athlete's soccer speed with and without a soccer ball

Benefits

This drill simulates gamelike situations in soccer in which speed is essential.

Equipment

Eight cones, one soccer ball, two benches, six 12-inch minihurdles, a stopwatch

Setup

On a soccer field, place two cones about 10 feet apart at the midfield sideline (point A). Place two more cones 10 feet apart 20 yards downfield on the same sideline (point B). Place two benches on the ground with the ends of the seats facing the athlete as he or she runs down the field, one placed 10 yards off the sideline (point C) about 20 yards downfield from point B, and the second placed on the sideline another 5 yards downfield (point D). Place two cones 10 feet apart 50 yards from the starting area (point E). Set up six 12-inch minihurdles in a row in the opposite direction of the course about 3 yards apart (between points F and G). Place two cones at point H to designate the finish line of the course. One soccer ball is placed on the field at point B (see diagram).

Execution

An athlete sprints from point A to a soccer ball placed at point B. The athlete then dribbles the ball to point C, where he or she passes the ball against the bench, retrieves the ball (simulating a give-and-go), and dribbles toward point D, where once again the ball is passed against a bench, simulating another give-and-go. The athlete then continues to dribble downfield 5 yards to point E. This is followed by dribbling the ball to the next station on the same end line (point F) and then dribbling back in the opposite direction back upfield, jumping over six consecutive hurdles placed 3 yards apart and dribbling the ball under each hurdle. After clearing the sixth hurdle and successfully dribbling the ball straight through all hurdles, the athlete continues dribbling 10 yards to the finish at point H.

Competition

Record how long it takes each athlete to finish the 80-yard course. If a pass misses a bench, or the ball doesn't travel through all hurdles, apply a three-second penalty that is added to the athlete's time. Athletes measure their progress and attempt to beat their best time.

This is an excerpt from Athletic Fitness for Kids.

More Excerpts From Athletic Fitness for Kids eBook