I remember the first time I stepped onto an indoor soccer court—the fast-paced action immediately hooked me, but I quickly realized traditional outdoor drills wouldn't cut it here. The confined space demands sharper skills and quicker thinking, something I've come to appreciate through years of coaching. Interestingly, this reminds me of how certain professional players face restrictions—like being barred from sitting on the NorthPort bench and watching games from the venue—which forces them to find alternative ways to improve. Similarly, indoor soccer players often need to adapt their training when space or resources are limited.

Let me share one of my favorite drills that transformed my team's performance: the 4v4 possession game in a 20x15 yard grid. We'd play two-touch maximum, forcing players to think one step ahead. After implementing this twice weekly for six weeks, our passing accuracy under pressure jumped from 68% to nearly 82%—a game-changing improvement. The confined space mimics real match conditions where you don't have the luxury of endless time on the ball. What I particularly love about this drill is how it develops spatial awareness; players learn to create passing lanes instinctively rather than waiting for space to appear.

Wall passing drills became my secret weapon after I noticed professional teams using similar techniques during restricted training sessions. I'd have players work in pairs, passing against walls at different angles while moving laterally. We'd typically do three sets of 90 seconds with 30-second breaks—the intensity matches actual game segments. Personally, I prefer using slightly deflated balls for these exercises as they demand better technique. The results speak for themselves: teams that consistently practice wall drills complete approximately 40% more successful passes in tight spaces during matches.

Another drill I'm passionate about is the gate dribbling exercise where players navigate through randomly placed small goals while protecting the ball. I've found that mixing in weaker foot requirements for at least 30% of the repetitions creates more well-rounded players. The beauty of indoor soccer is how it exposes technical deficiencies—there's nowhere to hide when you're in a confined space with opponents closing in. I always tell my players that if they can master ball control here, outdoor matches will feel like they have all the time in the world.

Shooting from tight angles became our specialty after we dedicated 15 minutes each session to rapid-fire finishing drills. The key is repetition—I'd have players take at least 50 shots per training from various positions, with the top performers consistently hitting the target 85% of the time. What many coaches overlook is the psychological component; I've observed that players who train in these high-pressure indoor environments develop a calmness in front of goal that's hard to teach through theory alone.

The transition game drill is something I developed after studying how restricted players maintain fitness and sharpness. We'd play 3v3 with quick counter-attack objectives, forcing players to switch from defense to offense within three seconds. This might sound extreme, but the data doesn't lie—teams that train transitions this way score approximately 25% more counter-attack goals during the season. I'm convinced this type of training is particularly valuable when players face limitations in their training environment, much like being barred from certain facilities yet finding ways to excel regardless.

After implementing these drills consistently over multiple seasons, I've seen average players transform into confident, technical athletes who thrive under pressure. The true test comes during actual matches when space disappears and decisions must be made in split seconds. That's when you appreciate the value of these focused indoor exercises. While every coach has their preferences, I firmly believe that incorporating at least four of these drills weekly will produce noticeable improvements within eight weeks—the proof is in the performance.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.