Dads with kids in soccer - what’s working at home for practice?

[UltraUltras]

My son’s really into soccer and loves going to practice, but once we’re back home it’s a different story. Without the coach and the team structure, it’s tough to keep him motivated. He’ll juggle for a couple minutes or kick the ball around, then gets bored and moves on.

I’m not looking to push him too hard, but I do want to find that balance where he enjoys it and still builds some consistency. I’ve set up a small goal in the yard, a rebound net, tried a few dribbling drills - they work for a bit, but the novelty always seems to fade.

Any other dads run into the same thing? What’s worked for you to keep your kids practicing without it turning into a fight or killing their interest?

 

[Pablo]

My son’s really into soccer and loves going to practice, but once we’re back home it’s a different story. Without the coach and the team structure, it’s tough to keep him motivated. He’ll juggle for a couple minutes or kick the ball around, then gets bored and moves on.

I’m not looking to push him too hard, but I do want to find that balance where he enjoys it and still builds some consistency. I’ve set up a small goal in the yard, a rebound net, tried a few dribbling drills - they work for a bit, but the novelty always seems to fade.

Any other dads run into the same thing? What’s worked for you to keep your kids practicing without it turning into a fight or killing their interest?

How old?

I used to be a soccer coach. 2000-2005. I don't have any magical advice - firstly find a couple good books. Yeah I know.

He is going to need to run and run some more. He will need to do the drills when nearly gassed.

You will need to go to a park. NOT the yard. He might want a different place to seem more serious than home.

Also, one or two friends will help motivate, stir some competitiveness.

 

[UltraUltras]

How old?

I used to be a soccer coach. 2000-2005. I don't have any magical advice - firstly find a couple good books. Yeah I know.

He is going to need to run and run some more. He will need to do the drills when nearly gassed.

You will need to go to park. NOT the yard. He might want a different place to seem more serious than home.

Also, one or two friends will help motivate, stir some competitiveness.

he’s 9. makes sense about mixing it up and not just sticking to the yard - i can see how going to the park or having friends around would make it feel more like a real session. i’ll definitely try adding a bit more variety so it doesn’t feel repetitive for him. appreciate the advice

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Let him realize how he's improving in the games because of his practicing off the field.
Like a lot of things in life.

 

[edyvw]

So, I started playing tennis in 1985. In the 90s, I played in the European championship and came to the US in 2005 as a Tennis coach at a university.
I stopped playing tennis because of the parents of the kids I was coaching!
Before 1991 and the wars in ex-Yugoslavia, I was playing tennis 7 hours a day. The coach practice was 3X1hrs a week. Rest was playing with peers. Over there, it was easy to play any sport as the government subsidized sports, so anyone could play tennis. But the point is playing with peers and playing a lot!
So, what could you do? Your kid will never be good if you rely on practice only. You know that already. The key is playing soccer on the street with other kids who want to play soccer. Put two goals in a cul-de-sac, and hit it. Basketball players in the US are not good because they spend a lot of time in structured practice, but because they have a basketball on a street corner, and they play 5-6 hours a day.
Skiing is the same way. My 9-year-old had three ski lessons when he was 5. That is it. I know parents should never teach their own kids basic skills. They resent parents
Now he can give you a tour of all the unofficial slopes through the forest at this place where we ski. Why? Just skiing. He goes with me, goes first, I just let him be a kid. He is also very, VERY good on a bike. Why? He goes out on a bike and comes back after sunset, around 9pm. He and his buddies just go on bikes and monkey around.

So, to make a better soccer player, you need to organize a place where he and his buddies can just monkey around with a soccer ball. That is what makes Brazilian players so good. They play in dirt or on the beach as kids. And they become really good as they learn all the tricks monkeying around and having fun! When parents supervise "fun," that is over.

 

[IndyIan]

Edyvw beat me to it.
Deking out Dad is always fun, and at that age probably not too many kids will practice the boring stuff themselves.... I know mine didn't and don't too much at 13 and 15 now.
If he has some buddies in the neighborhood, playing some backyard nerf soccer is good fun and he will like playing. And if they want to do any other sport, let them at it, specializing in one sport to young limits their overall development.
My boys will fool around pitching blitz ball to each other for hours, and I guess that's better than nothing!

 

[duck__dodgers]

1. do you have room for a small indoor goal? and use a size 1 ball or a foam ball.

2. do you have a trampoline park nearby that also has an indoor soccer pitch? (the Sky Zone chain has them and they have monthly memberships);

3. watch soccer games and soccer youtube videos?

good luck.

 

[JTK]

Three of my 4 played soccer when they were younger. We had all kinds of nets and practice equipment. Nothing overly expensive. Some might have been second hand. Our yard is good sized and we live out in the country. They rarely used any of the equipment and soccer never stuck for any of them. They moved on to other things. Daughter did dance, boys did lacrosse, swim, Taekwondo, etc.

 

[ATex7239]

I dealt with the exact same thing with my son.

I was even a head coach or assistance coach on some of his teams and he also played on the high school team. I practiced with him and his teammates/friends any chance I could (I’m a halfway decent soccer player and athletic, so I could keep up with them) but if he didn’t want to practice or play it was a chore to get him motivated. Eventually, he decided to move on from soccer and try other activities which I supported as long as he was doing something outside of the house and productive.

My stance is, this is his journey, not yours, support him, but also let him figure it out on his own. It’s just game after all.

 

[GSCJR]

support him, but also let him figure it out on his own.

+1

 

[Oillover]

support him, but also let him figure it out on his own.

+1
Who knows, maybe he doesn't care much for soccer without the coach and team.
Only time will tell, as he'll naturally gravitate towards what really matters to him.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

FWIW, having coached hockey for the last ~15+ years, pushing kids too young burns them out. In other words, he will figure it out. Let him enjoy the game, don't force it on him. Let him come to the coach or you and ask what he can do to get better.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

+1
Who knows, maybe he doesn't care much for soccer without the coach and team.
Only time will tell, as he'll naturally gravitate towards what really matters to him.

Sure, .... girls.
But that's a whole different problem.

 

[Mazomopar]

I know it sounds like a lazy answer but let them watch the pros play on TV when they get a chance. Let them see what the game really looks like and what they are trying to achieve. It helps them navigate their way a little bit and gives them an idea of what its really all about. A lot of US kids have never even seen a complete soccer match before signing up for soccer and taking the field. Not their fault.