How to Set Up a Soccer Training Area With Old Tyres

If you've got old tyres laying around, don't despair about taking them to a landfill. Instead, turn those old tyres into a backyard soccer training area. Whether you like to keep fit or you want your kids to improve their soccer skills, consider using tyres in the following ways.

1. Dribbling

If you want to keep control of the ball, you need stellar dribbling skills. To work on them, place two tyres on the ground — space them relatively so the ball can easily roll through them but you can't run through them. Then, dribble toward the tyres, take a quick cut, and push the ball through the tyres. You should jump over the tyres, and without losing your stride pick up the ball on the other side. This mimics the dribbling skills you need to take the ball past opponents and nutmeg defenders. You can set tyres permanently on the ground for this exercise or keep them in a shed and roll them out when you want to practice.

2. Dexterity Training

To keep up your dexterity whilst running, consider making a dense area of tyres on the ground. Set up two lines of tyres. Nest the tyres tightly next to each other, but put one side slightly in front of the other side so that the rows mirror the staggered pitter-patter of running.  Then, without the soccer ball, run through the tyres, placing your foot in the centre of each tyre as you run forward. This helps improve your dexterity while running down the pitch, and it's a great way to add an extra challenge to high knees or bum kicks.

3. Leg Strengthening

Soccer requires a lot of running, and to help strengthen your legs, you may want to turn a few tyres into leg strengthening tools. In particular, bury tyres vertically so that half of the tyre is protruding from the ground in a semi circle. Once the tyre is stabilised, you can jump from the ground onto the tyre. Use both legs at once, and then, do a few reps where you hit the tyre repeatedly with the right foot and then the left.

4. Bending the Ball

To practise control over the ball whilst kicking, hang a tyre from a tree. This can work as a swing for kids, and it adds a cute touch to your garden. However, while doing soccer training, stand several meters away from the tyre, and try to kick it through. Practise this from various angles so that you can work on perfecting your kick anywhere. You may want to use a pulley system that allows you to easily adjust the height of the tyre as desired.