The following football drills for kids are more fun related games yet still allow kids to work on their basic soccer skills. They are excellent soccer games for kids, which bring fun and competition into the training session.
In a Spin!
Aim: A fun drill to finish training with!
Suitable for: At the coaches discretion!
Equipment: A ball, a goal, and a stopwatch
Organisation: Spin around for 30 seconds with your arms out and looking at the sky. Stop spinning and then try to take a penalty!
Crocodiles
Aim: To improve dribbling, running with the ball, shielding and defending techniques
Suitable for: U7’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, 1 ball for each player, 8 cones.
Organisation: To start one player is selected as the Crocodile and they stand in the central coned area (The River). All remaining players have a ball each and start on an end line. The aim of the game is to cross the river, protecting your ball and keeping possession without being tackled by the crocodile. When a player is tackled and their ball has been kicked out of the area, they stand outside of the area. The winner is the last player with a ball. Continuous practice, end to end.
The winner can become the crocodile in the next round.
Progressions:
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- When players dribble to end line they must do a sharp turn and come straight back across the river without hesitation
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/awareness of space
- Players encouraged to dribble and cross the river with a piece of skill or a trick
- Communication between crocodiles, work as a unit
Crossfire
Aim: To improve accuracy and weight of pass and control / 1st touch
Suitable for: U8’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, balls.
Organisation: Mark off an area of suitable size for the number and age of players. The group is split into 2 teams, each team lines up on opposite sides of the area. One target ball is placed in the middle of the area and each team has 2 or 3 balls as ammunition. The aim of the game is to knock the target ball over the opposition’s goal line. Both teams can fire at the same time.
Progressions:
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- Add more than one target ball
- Players on 2 touch, one to control, one to strike
- Players must pass before shooting at the target ball
Coaching Points
- Awareness of the position of the target ball
- Emphasis on controlling the ball and getting your shot at the target ball off as quickly as possible
- Awareness of oncoming balls that have missed the target ball
- Passing techniques, side foot or strike with laces
Chase
Aim: To improve dribbling, running with the ball, awareness, and turns.
Suitable for: U9’s and upwards.
Equipment: Marked area, balls, bibs.
Organisation: Mark off an area suitable for the age of the players. Mark out a central square using cones and place three balls in the centre. Split the team into four groups, with a group at each corner of the large area. Label each player within a group as number 1, 2, etc. The coach will shout a number; those numbered players run to the balls; turn and dribble back to their corner. The player who didn’t get a ball tries to steal one from the other teams.
Progressions:
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- Change numbers so players come up against different opponents
- The players with a ball get a bonus point if they can beat the player without a ball with a trick or piece of skill
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/awareness of space
- Players on their toes anticipating their number being shouted
- Encourage dribbling player to lose oncoming defender with a change of pace, a change of direction, zig-zagging, dropping the shoulder / feinting, cutbacks, etc.
Shadows
Aim: To improve control, dribbling, awareness, change pace, change of direction and turns
Suitable for: U7’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, balls.
Organisation: Mark off an area suitable for the number of players. Players are put in pairs. The aim of the game is to lose your shadow. If players can get more than 2m away from their shadow (partner) they receive a point. Continuous practice for 1 minute, then swap.
Progressions:
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- Give the lead player a ball
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/awareness of space
- Encourage lead player to lose his shadow with a change of pace, a change of direction, zig-zagging, dropping the shoulder / feinting, cutbacks, etc.
Tails
Aim: To improve agility, flexibility, awareness, and vision
Suitable for: U7’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, 1 bib for each player.
Organisation: Mark off an area suitable for the number of players. 2 players start as catchers. All other players tuck a bib into their shorts. Players run around the coned area trying to avoid the catches. When players get caught they stand on the outside of the area. The last player still with their bib is the winner.
The last 2 players to be caught can start as the catchers in the next game.
Progressions:
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- Pair players up to work as a team/unit
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/ awareness of space
Speed Cones
Aim: To improve soccer dribbling, running with the ball, control, and turning techniques
Suitable for: U7’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, 1 ball for each player. Different coloured cones
Organisation: Mark off a large area with at least one cone per player. Use four cones to mark off a smaller internal box.
All players dribble around the central area. Emphasis on close control, touching the ball with the inside, outside and sole of boot, encourage players to use both feet. On the coaches, command players must turn and dribble their ball around the nearest cone and back to the middle area. First one to get back is the winner.
Progressions:
- The cones around the area should be 2 – 4 colours, the coach can then shout a colour instead of just any cone
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- Change the rules so the last player back is out, that player must then dribble around the area until the game has finished.
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/awareness of space
- Keep the ball under control at all times
Cats and Dogs
Aim: To improve dribbling, running with the ball, shielding and defending techniques
Suitable for: U7’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, 1 ball for each player.
Organisation: Two or three players are selected as the Dogs, and they stand in the corner of the coned area. All remaining players have a ball each anywhere in the area. The aim of the game is to protect your ball and keep possession without being tackled by the Dogs. When a player is tackled and their ball has been kicked out of the area, they collect their ball and wait on the outside of the area. The winner is the last player to become a Dog. Continuous practice.
The last 3 people to be tackled can start as dogs in the next round.
Progressions:
- Encourage the dogs to work as a unit and close down one player at a time
- When there are even numbers of dogs they must work in pairs closing down
- Make the area smaller or larger
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/awareness of space
- Communication between dogs, work as a unit
Bulldog
Aim: To improve dribbling, running with the ball and defending techniques
Suitable for: U7’s and upwards
Equipment: Marked area, 1 ball for each player, 4 cones.
Organisation: Mark off an area suitable for the number and age of players. One or two players are selected as the Bulldogs, and they stand in the middle of the play area. All remaining players stand at one end of the area (home). The aim of the game is to run with the ball from one end of the field of play to the other, without being caught by the bulldogs. When a player is caught, they become a bulldog themselves. The winner is the last player to become a bulldog. Continuous practice.
Progressions:
- Encourage Bulldogs to work as a unit and close down one player at a time
- When there are even numbers of Bulldogs they must work in pairs closing down
- Make the areas smaller or larger
- When players dribble to end line they must do a sharp turn and come straight back across without hesitation
Coaching Points
- Head up/vision/awareness of space
- Players encouraged to dribble and beat the Bulldog with a piece of skill or a trick
- Communication between Bulldogs, work as a unit
