Soccer can be played anywhere, anytime.

We have a HUGE soccer problem in Canada.  Most kids only play soccer when they are with their team and cannot picture a "soccer game" in another situation.  It's your job as a coach to help break that line of thinking.

This is part of both the Physical Literacy conversation and the Soccer Culture conversation.  For the growth of our game, development of the culture and contribution to the physical literacy solution, we have to get those kids playing soccer when they are away from our programs.

Over the last few years I've been hearing coaches worry more and more about collecting money for rental costs and the difficulty in finding decent turf times during the winter months.  We have some coaches at our clubs who do not train if they can't get turf during the winter or a traditional field during the summer.

So, in order to help the kids picture soccer in other settings, we need to get you to do the same. Remember, 2 players and a ball and the game is on!

Coaches need to remember that every training session does not always need to be on turf/grass or on
a formal "field".  There is a real teaching opportunity when you take soccer away from the traditional setting.

"Encourage them to lead their friends in setting up pick-up games at school.  It's YOUR JOB as a coach."

During our FIFA Grassroots Workshop in June 2013 we explored and delivered festivals to help kids expand their horizons and discover soccer.

Winter

Training on artificial turf is always nice, but scheduling, booking and budgets require you to investigate and maximize options.  And the options are not necessarily bad if you maximize your situation.

I have always had a preference for training in gyms with futsal balls. Play with boundaries, small teams and freedom and watch wonderful things happen.  Your only obstacle may be school principals who do not allow soccer in their gyms.

A good friend, Steve Payne,  wrote a book called Streetwise Soccer .  I suggest 

you check it out as it offers a lot of ideas that can be delivered anywhere.

Off season does not necessarily need to be 100% soccer.   There are a lot of activities you can deliver that promote physical literacy, strength, stamina, agility, etc.  It keeps the kids thinking and gives your program a more holistic approach.

Spring

My 1999 boys team training on a tennis court in April 2011.
That's my youngest son stepping in for a tackle.  I am going
to assume he's goal side of the ball :)  

In many parts of Canada, fields are wet during March/April/May.  You can continue to use gyms if possible and desired.

I have had a lot of success (and fun) running sessions on playgrounds.  The kids love it, it's different, it got us outside and it's easier to schedule (and cheap!).  I think it's important to get outside if possible.  Sooner or later, it's time to not see walls anymore.

Playing in a playground also promotes play during recess at school on the very same playgrounds.

March 2012 - Five teams training together at a track

Hit the track! Soccer involves running so running never hurt a soccer player.  We ran very successful group fitness and agility sessions with several teams at a time.

If money is a problem and options are limited, share turf with three other teams, using 1/4 each.   50x40yds should be more than enough to run an effective session. 

Summer

Grass fields are available and there are many.  A few times I've gone to public parks, ran a few activities, set up pop-up nets for small-sided-games then the team headed into the public pool for the rest of the night while parents socialized under the pavilion.  My peer who coached the other 1999 boys team in Welland used multiple settings to run training.  He was never without a place to play and made it fun.  The city called me once to ask who was running soccer practice between a floral display and the fire station.  I told them I didn't know.  I lied.  :)

A few times, after days of rain, we trained on a playground surface to avoid muddy fields.  As soon as we told the kids to show up in their flat indoor shoes they came ready for the playground type of soccer we had in the spring.
 
There are so many environments and situations you can expose your kids to other than the traditional green fields with white lines and proper goal posts.

Fields are not always available and affordable.  And in some situations, they're not suitable for what you may need to deliver.  But your objective is two-fold.  First, you have a program to deliver and this kind of flexibility makes it possible.  Second, show them that Law 1 is not the only possible setting for soccer.

Be brave.  Vary the setting/location.  Vary the activities.  Vary the numbers. Show the players that soccer exists in many forms.  Encourage them to lead their friends in setting up pick-up games at school and let them game be the teacher.  It's YOUR JOB as a coach.

P.S.  This same message applies to coaches in basketball, hockey, lacrosse, etc.