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By the time you finish reading this, you would have understood the importance of Soccer practice games, especially the 4 v 4 small-sided soccer games. For players aged between 5 to 6 years, this works best. To play this game in its best form, find a field that is just about 50 yards long and 30 yards wide. This soccer training also requires you to design a goal post apt to it.

The rules are knowingly kept very straightforward for this game. It’s intended to keep the kids focused on enjoying the game to its fullest without thinking too hard about the rules. This facilitates development of skills and movement.

Begin the game by means of a kickoff. Then employ a kickoff only when a goal is scored by any of the teams. When a team kicks the ball outside the touchline, the opposition gets a throw-in. This game has the potential to alter the customary rules for goal kicks and corner kicks. Also, there are no goalkeepers.

What this does is allow the kids to score a lot of goals and become confident. At the same time it serves the purpose of developing shooting, dribbling, and passing skills. They also get to accurately hit the goal post. Since the players collide less, they suffer fewer injuries which is an additional benefit.

Another important rule in the game is that no one is allowed inside the safety zone unless the ball is present there. Safety zone falls right in front of the goal. If the ball is there, then any player can take control of it.

This rule makes sure that the defense defends the goal whereas the strikers attack it. But the defenders cannot stand in front of the goal. And off-side rules or penalty kicks are also not necessary. Only free kicks as and when someone commits a foul.

The best way to play these soccer practice games is making the 8 players stand in the field when the other 8 stand along the sidelines. The players in the field start playing among themselves and then after about 10 minutes, the ones on the sidelines take their places.

The kids are young and therefore, you must ensure that they do not play continuously in such soccer drills for more than 10 minutes. Otherwise, they will feel tired and therefore may get injured.

These 4v4 games present great opportunities for dribbling, passing, collection, and distribution along with continuous motion. Kids feel happy that they are able to score a lot of goals which is good for their morale and confidence.

Lastly, the game should end in 30 minutes. This is enough soccer exercises for one session where the kids get a great deal of workout and opportunities for skill building.

There are no two opinions about it; these soccer practice games are vital to develop a good soccer team. Register for our youth soccer coaching community if you would like more soccer resources, news, articles, and tips covering soccer coaching.

Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Practice.