KC Soccer Blog

KC Kicks Practice Plan – Tuesday April 7 ⚽

Swarner Park
5:15 PM – 6:45 PM

We’re staying on the same path this week—passing, awareness, and confidence on the ball. The big focus again will be checking your shoulder and turning out of pressure, but we’ll push it a little faster and more game-like.


Weekly Discussion: Reset Quickly

The Lesson: Mistakes happen constantly in soccer. The important part is how quickly we regroup and get back to work. The game is most exciting when the lead goes back and forth. Get comfortable with coming back from a mistake.


Arrival Activity – Partner Passing

As players arrive, jump right into partner passing.

  • Two-touch
  • One-touch
  • Move your feet after every pass
  • compete to see which group can get the most touches

Focus: clean passes, good first touch, stay active.


Foot Skills Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Quick, sharp touches in a grid:

  • Toe taps
  • In & out
  • 180 turn (from last week)
  • Fake shot (new move)
  • Change of speed

Keep it tight and focused.


1v1 Fields (10–12 minutes)

Two small fields, grouped by level.

Defending:

  • Close space fast
  • Stay balanced
  • Don’t dive in

Attacking:

  • Be patient
  • Small controlled touches
  • Head up
  • Explode when the defender commits

2v1 Gauntlet (10–12 minutes)

Same structure as last week.

  • Attackers go 2v1
  • Player that loses ball goes to being defender

Focus:

  • Use the pass to break pressure
  • Timing your run
  • Make quick decisions
  • Stay in position where you can receive a pass

Shoulder Check + Turn to Finish (10 minutes) 🔄

We’ll build on this again.

Setup:

  • Cone gate
  • Coach serves the ball
  • Defender chases from behind

Action:

  • Check shoulder early
  • Receive through the gate
  • Defender applies pressure
  • Use a turn (fake pass or 180)
  • Finish on goal

Coaching Points:

  • Check before the ball gets to you
  • Use your arm to feel the defender
  • Go opposite direction
  • Turn and go right away

3v3 + Finishing Rotation (15–20 minutes)

Split into two groups.

Group 1 – 3v3 (small goals):

  • One field (more space)

Ways to score:

  • 5 passes = 1 point
  • One-touch finish
  • Goal

Focus:

  • Movement off the ball
  • Quick passing
  • Spacing

Group 2 – Touch post and go

  • 1v1, when the defender touches post the attacker goes
  • Emphasize small touches and shoulder checks

Groups rotate.


Final Scrimmage (20 minutes) ⚽

Let them play.

Encourage:

  • Spacing
  • Movement
  • Confidence on the ball
  • Trying the turn under pressure

Focus for the Day

  • Check your shoulder early
  • Play faster after your first touch
  • Turn out of pressure
  • Be patient… then explode