The Importance of Off-Season Soccer Training for Kids
- Team Tisell
- Dec 29, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 9
Off-season is the perfect time to focus on:
Individual skills
Confidence
Strength and conditioning
Reactions and decision-making
First touch
Creativity
Fun and free play
With no pressure, no coaches evaluating, and no game schedule, kids learn to enjoy the process again. Small improvements made now build huge confidence later.
Sibling 1v1 Sessions: A Fun Off Season Soccer Training for Kids Method
One of the most underrated ways to train at home? Siblings.
Coach Grandpa always says:
“If you have a sibling, you have a teammate — and a competitor.”
Our 7-year-old and 11-year-old do short 1v1 battles all the time:
First to score
Loose ball races
Small 1v1 defending
Dribbling around each other
Quick reaction games
Taking turns being goalkeeper
Nothing too structured — just fast, fun, and competitive.
These sessions build:
Speed
Pressure touches
Quick decisions
Effort
Mental toughness
And most importantly — JOY
Coach Grandpa’s Philosophy on Training
Coach Grandpa has coached professionally in Sweden and Norway for decades, and his training philosophy is simple:
1. Give 100% — or skip the session
Kids learn quickly when the effort is real.
2. Train for the unexpected
Games are messy. Cones won't always be perfect. Neither will defenders. So we train for chaos — random cones, sudden changes of direction, unpredictable touches.
3. Repetition is the REAL secret
Coach Grandpa always reminds his players:
“If you want to be great, you repeat the same drill for YEARS.”
Repetition builds muscle memory, confidence, and automatic reactions — the things that separate good players from great ones.
Look at any elite player, like the way Ronaldo prepares for a penalty:
the same number of steps
the same angle
the same distance
the same routine
Every. Single. Time.
Consistency creates mastery. Doing it “again and again” is how young players grow.
4. Make it fun
Because if kids aren’t enjoying it, they won’t keep playing — and passion is the fuel that lasts a lifetime.
Shooting + Reaction Drills: A Winter Favorite
One of our favorite winter drills combines shooting with reaction speed.
Here’s how it works:
Player dribbles in any pattern
Takes a shot
If they miss, they SPRINT to retrieve the ball
Why?
Because real games require:
Fast recovery
Chasing loose balls
Transition effort
Not giving up on plays
And kids LOVE it because:
It feels like a race
They can celebrate big wins
They burn a ton of energy
This is easily one of our most effective off-season soccer training for kids drills.
Conditioning for 11-Year-Olds: Building Strength and Endurance
Older kids who are heading toward competitive levels benefit from structured conditioning.
For our 11-year-old, we keep it simple:
2-mile run, 2–3 times per week
Speed bursts (5–15 yards)
Short sprints after missed shots
Agility using random cones
Fast dribble into acceleration
This builds:
Endurance
Strength
Speed
Recovery ability
Confidence
The key? Short sessions, high effort.
How to Create a Weekly Off-Season Plan
Here’s our weekly structure — simple and doable for any family.
Monday
1v1 sibling session or loose ball race
Tuesday
First-touch or wall-pass drills (repeat, repeat, repeat)
Wednesday
Shooting + sprint recovery drill
Thursday
Conditioning (run, agility, or acceleration)
Friday
Fun day: challenges, races, obstacle courses
Saturday
Light technical work or family play
Sunday
Rest — or a slow walk/stretch
Short sessions (10–20 minutes) are all kids need to improve meaningfully.
Want More Off-Season Ideas?
Subscribe to our newsletter for:
Weekly drills
Easy home sessions
Parent–child challenges
Skill-building games
Soccer Fuel recipes
Coaching tips from Coach Grandpa
By keeping training engaging and varied, kids can thrive during the off-season. They will not only improve their skills but also foster a love for the game that lasts a lifetime.
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