We've spent the last 3-4 weeks on putting the lads in positions where they cannot avoid the need to use their weaker side and become aware of the benefits of improving it. This next coaching block will help them make the most of their new abilities and exploit any deficiencies in their opponents. 

Over the last few weeks we've been warming the lads up with a gauntlet style activity whereby players dribble through a channel and attempt to get past defenders. There's loads of running, deception, tackling and fun. 

The lads love this activity but they've both disappointed and delighted with their performance. 

On attack the lads have surprised with their ability to perform challenging combination passes to get past a defender while on defence we've found the lads very static and erratic in their strategy for tackling.

This next coaching block will be aimed increasing the likelihood attackers will use their team mates and defenders will decrease their likelihood of getting skinned. 

One activity will be aimed at teaching the lads how to use their team mates to beat any defender or goal keeper with an effective draw and pass. 

By committing the defender, passing to a team mate and sprinting ahead two players can effectively utilise their numbers to beat defenders and goal keepers on a regular basis. 

The other activity will teach defenders to shepherd attackers towards the touch lines so they have less passing and shooting options then taking the ball only when the attacker makes a bad touch on the ball. 

Many of our best defenders are diving in and gifting 1 v goal keeper opportunities to the opposition. Our aim with this block is to have defenders prevent this situation and the likelihood they'll miss a tackle or foul the opposition. 

We have some exceptionally talented footballers in our squad but even the most "able" are running around the ball so they can kick it with their stronger foot.

This is not uncommon among young players (or older) but I personally feel that ignoring the obvious is irresponsible. 

Learning to kick with your weaker side is not easy but the longer we delay, the harder it becomes to learn.

Many of these lads have only just learned how to kick a ball properly with their strong side so learning to use the weak side is going to be much easier if we do it now than if we wait till they’ve developed a dependency on their stronger leg. 

A Long Timeline

We have four months before our next FA tournament and I suggest we use this time to (among other things) encourage the lads to improve their weaker side in practice and play. 

Our next few practices will be aimed at showing them just how much it’s costing them to be a one sided footballer. We’ll then teach them how to use their weaker side in the hope they’ll experience enough success to realise that they can improve the leg they thought was simply there to stand on. 

Is This Necessary?

You may be thinking…”I never put time into improving my weaker side and I turned out a pretty good footballer”. 

Yep you, like me, probably got very good at shifting the ball from weak to strong before putting a shot on goal, a cross into the box or a long pass up the line but imagine if your opposite number had actually paid attention.

As part of our next month’s practice we’ll ask the lads to learn which leg each team mate is strongest on and how they can improve their defensive efforts with the knowledge that most under 8’s cannot shoot, pass or even dribble with their weaker foot.

How We’ll Do it at practice

Our next proper tournament is not until March (dates tbc) so after the mini tournament (8th of December) we'll get the boys back into groups which suit their ability rather than their tournament teams. 

We’ll then use a series of games and activities which make it easy to see the improvements which are being made with the weaker side. 

Asking the lads to attack situations which should utilise both legs will not only help them understand the importance of using both feet but reward them for taking the risk of using a leg which they’ve previously not trusted to do the job they want.

Reality Check

Fact is that Me, Frank, Andy, Jin and most lads who do not make it into top top teams have spent our time improving our ability to work around a perceived inability to pass and shoot with our weaker side.

It doesn’t matter how well you rate your child’s ability to use either foot right now. They can drastically improve their experience of football, simply by using their weaker side more often in an environment which will never reprimand them for having a go. 

How You Can Help

I’m sure you’ll agree that just because they practice it on Saturday, doesn’t mean they’ll remember it for the following week. If you’d like to help your son improve their confidence over the next few months then please remind them how hard it is to pass a ball fast and long to the left with their left foot or to the right with their right foot (if your child is left footed). 

We’ll make it obvious that if the boys want to be able to pass left and right, without the opposition guessing their stronger leg, then they need to be strong at passing with both feet.

Activities

Passing with the weaker side

Take the time to pass with them. After congratulating them on their ability with the stronger side, tell them that you’re going to pass to their weaker side so they can improve their ability. 

Practically every will rebel against this suggestion and tell you that they cannot use their weaker side. This is absolutely normal but if you can encourage them to have a go then they’ll notice the improvement every single practice.

Do they Have a wall?

One of the easiest ways (especially if you’re too busy) to improve their passing ability is have them kick a ball against a wall or rebounder. I personally don’t think a rebounder (at this age) will be useful but happy to be corrected, considering I haven’t bought one.

Have them count the number of passes they can get with one touch per pass. This sounds easy but when a ball bounces to their weaker side they will want to take a touch to control it, then pass with their strong side.

Keep it light hearted and ask them how it’s going. If they say it’s too hard to use their weak side don’t push it. If they’re attending practice regularly then each time they come home they should be more willing to give it a go.

Make a big deal of any improvement in effort, number of kicks or ability.

Summary

The next few months could either be used to improve our ability to continue using one leg or both. The easy option is to tell the lads they don’t need their weaker side. 

The longer term (not as long as you think) and better option is to make them aware of every opponent’s weaker side, the ability of their own weaker side and their teammates’ weaker side. This way they’ll not only improve but make better decisions about how they move the ball and how they defend.