Soccer Skills: The Core Skills and How to Train Them
Soccer skills are the techniques players use to control the ball and take part in the game. Soccer skills training develops first touch, striking the ball, running with the ball and one on one play. The sections below explain each skill and show parents how to organise practice around junior club sessions. Curl Master One, sold by The Giro X, provides repeated striking practice with a standard ball. Other soccer training equipment can help organise passing and dribbling activities.
What Are the Core Soccer Skills?
Football Australia's national curriculum identifies four core skills for its Skill Acquisition Phase, providing a framework for technical practice. First touch means receiving the ball and preparing it for the next action. Striking covers passing, shooting and crossing, with contact changing according to the intended delivery. Running with the ball includes carrying it through open space and dribbling through tighter areas. One on one play involves moves and changes of pace to get past an opponent. Team practice also develops defending and positioning, alongside decisions about when to use each technique.
What Are the Basic Soccer Skills a Beginner Should Learn First?
Basic soccer skills for a beginner start with receiving the ball and passing it along the ground, with dribbling and shooting introduced alongside. Practise receiving into space for the next action, then passing to a nearby partner. Choose a distance that lets the player concentrate on direction and contact. Encourage a look around before the pass arrives, so receiving becomes part of a decision. Dribbling with small touches gives a beginner the chance to use both feet.
Shooting can be introduced alongside passing, using the inside of the foot or the instep according to the intended direction and flight. Give the player a clear target and time to notice where each attempt goes. Beginners can explore these actions with both feet, without mastering one before trying another. The guide on how to kick a soccer ball explains striking technique step by step for a parent who never played.
Which Soccer Skills Suit Kids at Each Age?
Soccer skills for kids follow development phases in the Football Australia national curriculum. The Discovery Phase covers ages 5 to 9, with enjoyment and exploration through play central to the approach. The Skill Acquisition Phase covers ages 9 to 13, focusing technical practice on the core skills. From ages 13 to 17, the Game Training Phase applies technique to positions and team play. These phases give parents context for understanding activities, while the coach can explain the task suited to an individual player.
Junior playing formats also change with age. Football Victoria's 2024 MiniRoos Guidelines specify 4 players per side for under 6s and under 7s. Under 8s and under 9s play with 7, while under 10s and under 11s have 9. The guidelines emphasise participation and skill development, with limited attention to the scoreboard. Girls and boys can explore the same core techniques through these games. Ask the club which format applies to the player's team before setting up a similar activity at home.
How Should Soccer Skills Training Be Organised in a Week?
Organise weekly soccer skills training around club sessions, choosing a familiar home activity that follows the coach's guidance. In Victoria, the 2026 community calendar schedules junior soccer from April to September (Football Victoria, 2026 Community & Geelong Competitions Calendar; checked 11 November 2026). State federations publish competition calendars for girls and boys, so check the dates for the player's region. Arrange home practice around the dates and training times supplied by the player's club. Families should check their own fixtures rather than assume every junior programme follows the same timetable.
For home practice, choose an activity that connects with the player's current club sessions, such as receiving a partner's passes. Keep the task clear enough that the player knows what to notice, including where the first touch finishes. Let the player's interest guide the session length, and return to a familiar activity before adding another challenge. A wider plan for fitting activities between club sessions is covered on the soccer training page.
Why Does Striking the Ball Deserve Its Own Practice?
Striking deserves dedicated practice because passing and shooting require deliberate contact to produce the intended direction and ball flight. Give the player time to observe where the ball travels before changing the next attempt. A nearby passing target provides a clear starting point for exploring direction. Spin adds another feature to observe during striking practice. A shot's curve depends on where the boot meets the ball and how the foot travels through it.
The page on how to curve a soccer ball explains the technique in more detail, including the relationship between contact and spin. Practising soccer free kicks also brings placement and the positions of other players into the activity. Use the rules that apply in the player's competition when setting up these situations. Ask the coach which contact detail to practise, then keep attention on that instruction while observing the flight of each attempt.
How Does Curl Master One Fit Into Skills Training?
Curl Master One provides repeated striking practice focused on contact and spin control, alongside the activities introduced by a coach. It spins a standard ball at controlled speeds and has six speed settings. The device suits players from around age 8 through to adult. Younger players start at the top speed and turn it down as their technique grows. A parent who never played can help organise practice by setting the dial and following the player's coaching guidance.
The suggested Curl Master One routine is three sessions a week of twenty minutes each, arranged around the household's club commitments. Players aged 8 to 12 should have an adult nearby during practice. The device requires no app and no subscription, giving families a straightforward way to organise repeated work on striking. It comes with a 30 day money back guarantee and a 1 year warranty. Use it between sessions to revisit the contact and spin control being discussed with the coach.
Where Do Coaches and Clubs Fit In?
Coaches and clubs guide technique and organise practice with team mates, while home activities provide opportunities to repeat familiar work. Ask the coach for a specific task that can be continued between sessions, particularly when a player is learning a new contact. Football Australia's Coaching Journey includes introductory courses for MiniRoos and junior coaches, followed by the AFC C Diploma and further qualifications.
The relevant state federation can advise which course suits the age group being coached. Families across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia should use their club's guidance when arranging additional practice. Good soccer coaching gives girls and boys a clear activity to revisit at home. Parents helping with a junior team can find further guidance on the junior soccer coaching page. Choose a core skill to practise between club sessions, using the coach's guidance to shape the activity. Get Curl Master One from The Giro X to give striking practice a regular place in that routine, with repeated work on contact and spin control.
Facts
- Football Australia's national curriculum identifies 4 core skills for its Skill Acquisition Phase. Source: Football Australia, National Curriculum, Skill Acquisition Phase, checked 2026-11-11
- The Discovery Phase in Football Australia's national curriculum covers ages 5 to 9 years. Source: Football Australia, National Curriculum, Discovery Phase, checked 2026-11-11
- The Skill Acquisition Phase in Football Australia's national curriculum covers ages 9 to 13 years. Source: Football Australia, National Curriculum, Skill Acquisition Phase, checked 2026-11-11
- The Game Training Phase in Football Australia's national curriculum covers ages 13 to 17 years. Source: Football Australia, National Curriculum, Game Training Phase, checked 2026-11-11
- The MiniRoos format for under 6s and under 7s has 4 players per side. Source: Football Victoria, 2024 MiniRoos Guidelines, checked 2026-11-11
- The MiniRoos format for under 8s and under 9s has 7 players per side. Source: Football Victoria, 2024 MiniRoos Guidelines, checked 2026-11-11
- The MiniRoos format for under 10s and under 11s has 9 players per side. Source: Football Victoria, 2024 MiniRoos Guidelines, checked 2026-11-11
FAQs
What Are the Most Important Soccer Skills?
Football Australia's four core skills are first touch, striking the ball, running with the ball and one on one play.
What Are the Basic Soccer Skills for a Beginner?
Beginners can practise receiving and ground passes, introducing dribbling and shooting alongside them. Encourage practice with both feet.
At What Age Should Kids Start Learning Soccer Skills?
Football Australia's Discovery Phase covers ages 5 to 9, introducing skills through enjoyable play. Clubs can explain their introductory programmes.
How Often Should a Child Practise Soccer Skills at Home?
Arrange practice around club commitments and the player's interest. Curl Master One's suggested routine is three weekly sessions of twenty minutes.
What Age Is Curl Master One Suitable For?
Curl Master One suits players from around age 8 to adult. Players aged 8 to 12 should practise with an adult nearby.
Does a Parent Need to Know Soccer to Help With Skills Practice?
No. Parents can organise time and follow the coach's suggested activity. With Curl Master One, a parent can set the dial.
