Here are some of the resources that I have used:
http://www.decatursports.com/soccerdrills.htm
http://www.bettersoccermorefun.com/
http://www.oysan.org/coachingarticles.html
http://www.coacheshandsonsoccer.com/index.html
Your Public Library is also a great free place to go for help. One of my favorite tools are other coaches. I have watched many coaches from varying levels of play train their squads. It is very helpfull to see how the childern respond to a given exercise. Are they excited about what they are doing? Many “drills” just run the players through the “motions”, without requiring much thought on the players part. Drilling also can create alot of Downtime, with players waiting in lines for their next chance to touch the ball. If I find a drill that appeals to me on a fudamental level but involves Downtime, I will modify it to inject some energy.
Take a good look at your practice sessions. How many touches does each player get on the ball? Are you struggling with LOTS of chit-chat? If so then your players are not busy enough, maybe spending too much time waiting in line! We can only do so much as Parent/Coaches, we strive to find time for practice. We are constantly competing with video games, TV, gossip and all the other distractions bouncing around in our players minds. Todays youth soccer players also have to deal with sports conflicts, family life, school and the very serious “negative” pressures of the World.
Our training sessions should be a place for fun and focus, giving our children some escape. Youth soccer players would develop well in the neighborhood pick-up game (if such existed). These games have it all, recreation, escape, hard competition, moments to shine and time to get respect! But most of all, it is what the pick-up game lacks that is most important… ADULTS!
Kids Love to Play!
Steve