⚽ The best exercises for indoor football training

Here are five practical tips to make indoor football training fun and educational for children:

1. The right training equipment:

   1. Balls:
      What's the most important thing for indoor football training? The right balls. Foam balls are difficult to control. This makes teamwork in indoor football a product of chance. Futsal balls are better. These indoor football balls have a reduced bounce and are usually slightly smaller than the “normal” balls used outdoors. The result: better ball control, less bouncing, better teamwork. But the balls you use outdoors are also better than its yellow felt-covered brother.

   2. Goals:
      Smaller goals have a positive effect on the development of children and young people.  Shots must be taken closer to the goal. Therefore, the players combine closer to the goal or have to break free through a good 1-on-1 shooting window. Handball goals are therefore perfect for the development of the kids and, together with futsal, are also fun if the goalkeeper is not the only one in goal.

   3. Mini-goals:
      Training with mini goals is also fun in indoor facilities. If you're worried about scratching the floor, you can help yourself with painter's fleece or something similar.

   4. Other training resources:
      Use the resources you have in an indoor arena. Softballs, mats, basketball hoops or whatever you have available. For example, you can try out popular mini-games or other sports during the warm-up. Basketball, kickball, dodgeball, mat slides - there's only one limit to your creativity: it has to be fun!

2. Use the walls:
   The walls are not a boundary, but your friend in indoor training! You can separate training groups, balls don't fly around everywhere and the noise level is reduced.
   You can also use walls or benches as part of an exercise. There are examples and exercises for this further down on this page!
   The kids should also be allowed to use the walls: Teach the kids to use the wall for one-two passes. This will help them practice keeping the ball under control, even if it bounces back quickly. It's also a great way to incorporate a few cool tricks!
   So you don't always have to play with sideline passes, but feel free to diversify here.

   
   

3. Speed is key:
   Speed of play is everything. Let your players compete against each other in small teams during indoor training, for example in a 4v4, use switching drills and train 1v1. There is a lot of ball touches and everyone has to act quickly. This trains quick decisions - and is great fun!

   
   

4. Mini tournaments for lots of fun:
   Organize mini-tournaments during indoor training. The children can apply the skills they have learned directly in the game. Small competitions with fun prizes provide additional motivation and lots of fun.

   
   

5. Use creative indoor exercises:
   Incorporate creative exercises! Versatile training can be implemented particularly well in an indoor environment. Diversification in sport has scientifically proven benefits: Versatile training not only promotes general movement skills, but also prevents overuse and injuries, as the muscles are used in different ways. It also helps children to develop versatile skills, which increases their problem-solving abilities and creativity on the pitch. Not only do they discover new ways of playing, but they also learn to adapt flexibly to different game situations. So even if you don't play soccer, it can have a positive impact on their skills.
   Adolescents should move a lot during indoor training and have fun doing so. Especially in winter, this is an important way for children and young people to balance out their everyday lives.

By diversifying the indoor soccer training and taking into account the unique possibilities of the indoor facility in your exercises, you ensure that the children enjoy learning and improving.

5 exercises for your indoor football training