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Soccer is a stamina-based game. Being in great physical shape is important if you want to play the entire game. Working aerobic soccer training activities into your normal practices will add to the benefits that you get from conditioning sessions. Focus on aerobic workouts to raise your heart rate and improve your skills at the same time. Simple races can turn into fun cardiovascular workouts.
Dribbling Races
Whether you coach young children or are an adult player, it is likely that there are many competitive people on the team. Turn that competitiveness into an aerobic workout for everyone with races. Have groups of players race across the field while maintaining tight control of the ball. The fastest player may not be the one who can win the race while dribbling a soccer ball.
Add a Defender
That same race from one goal line to the other will become increasingly difficult if a defender is assigned to each player. The players need to shield, cut back and forth and dribble while trying to run. If the defender successfully steals the ball, have her continue the race while the original runner tries to reclaim it.
Create Obstacles
Once your players have basic ball control down, give them a less direct course to run while dribbling. Use cones or natural obstacles to create a curved course that will require more skill to navigate. Keeping the obstacle course as a race will provide more motivation to increase their speed as they work through it.
