There must be thousands of soccer coaching drills in existence, however a large percentage of the [tag-tec]soccer drills[/tag-tec] used by coaches tend to be purely technical repetition.  What is one of the most important skills a large percentage of youth soccer coaches fail to practice in a soccer training drill?

Decision-making! 

Repetition of a particular skill is important as a starting point in the learning process, however there must be a stage of the soccer drill where the player is required to make a choice (decision making).  For example, in an attacking  [tag-tec]soccer coaching drill[/tag-tec], a defender may be introduced.  His role may be passive or active for the drill, however the attacking player now has a choice to be made depending on the reaction of the defender.

The next step is to introduce multi choice into the [tag-tec]soccer drills[/tag-tec] to reinforce the decision-making.  Using the example above, these soccer drills may simply involve increasing the number of players into a particular drill and therefore increasing the decision-making choices.

The final step is to take this into a game situation at soccer training.  Players need to see the relevance of the soccer coaching drill and how the drill is applied to a game.  This is where the knowledge and skill of the coach is important because in a lot of cases, the players will be entirely dependant on the coach instructing them as to the best option.  The coach will need to stop the game and replay the situation and then instruct the player of the best option available.  Soccer drills unrelated to game situations (decision making) will not lead to the player acquiring and developing soccer skill.