Drill library
Football drills
70 free Football drills, each with the setup, how it runs, what to coach, and how to make it harder or easier. Pick a skill or filter by age, level and squad size.
70 drills
Dribbling & 1v1Defending1v1 to the end lineAn attacker tries to dribble over the end line past one defender.12 min · 4–12 players · U7+
Dribbling & 1v1Defending1v1 with a recovering defenderAn attacker races to goal with a defender chasing from behind, learning to protect the ball and shoot early.15 min · 5–13 players · U11+
FinishingDecision-making2v1 to goalTwo attackers take on one defender and a keeper - draw the defender in, then pass or go.15 min · 4–12 players · U8+
DefendingDecision-making2v2 cover and balanceTwo defenders learn to press, cover and balance as two attackers move the ball and try to score past a keeper.15 min · 5–12 players · U12+
Counter-attackingTransition3v2 counter-attack breakThree attackers break from halfway against two defenders and a keeper, and must score within 10 seconds.15 min · 6–14 players · U12+
GameScanning3v3 four-goal gameA 3v3 game with two small goals at each end - look up, find the open goal and switch the play to score.16 min · 6–12 players · U8+
GamePassing & receiving4v4 to small goalsA small-sided game where a goal only counts after three passes in a row.20 min · 8–10 players · U8+
TransitionPossession4v4+3 transition gameTwo teams of four play end to end through three floaters. The team that loses the ball presses to win it back within five seconds.16 min · 11–13 players · U12+
GamePositional play7v7 play through the thirdsA 7v7 game on a pitch split into thirds. A goal counts double if the team built it through all three thirds instead of going long.25 min · 12–16 players · U13+
Fitness & agilityDribbling & 1v1Agility ladder to ballQuick footwork through a ladder, then a pass to control and dribble through the gate the server calls, in short bursts with full rest.12 min · 3–8 players · U11+
Set piecesHeadingAttacking corner routinesTwo simple corner routines with clear jobs, a near-post flick-on and a short corner, practised live against defenders.15 min · 11–16 players · U13+
Set piecesShootingAttacking free-kick routinesRehearse three central free-kick routines against a real wall and keeper, from a direct strike to a dummy and square roll, with follow-in runs.20 min · 8–14 players · U16+
HeadingCrossingAttacking headers from crossesPlayers attack a served cross and head it down at goal, with low reps and a size-appropriate, lighter ball.10 min · 4–10 players · U13+
DefendingPositional playBack four: shift, cover and dropA back four and keeper defend against six attackers, shifting with the ball, covering the full-back and stepping up or dropping as a line.25 min · 11–14 players · U16+
Dribbling & 1v1Warm-upBall mastery: sole taps and rollsEvery player has a ball and copies the coach's sole taps, rolls and stops, then plays a quick freeze game.10 min · 4–16 players · U6+
Positional playPassing & receivingBreaking lines: playing between the unitsBuilders play through two pressing lines into midfielders between the units, then on to targets in the far zone, scoring for each line broken.20 min · 14 players · U16+
Build-up playPressingBuild-up against a high press 8v6A keeper, back four and three midfielders play out through gates on halfway against six pressers, who score in the big goal.25 min · 14–16 players · U16+
Dribbling & 1v1Fitness & agilityCone gate dribble raceA relay race - dribble through a line of cone gates, round the end cone and back for the next teammate.12 min · 4–16 players · U7+
Cool-downCool-down and huddleFive minutes of easy jogging and stretches, then a short huddle to finish the session.5 min · 1+ players · U6+
Counter-attackingTransitionCounter-attack from a low block 7v5Seven defend a low block against five, then counter at the far goal the moment they win it, with 12 seconds to get a shot away.25 min · 14–16 players · U16+
TransitionPressingCounter-press: win it back in five secondsA 6v6 game where the team that loses the ball has five seconds to win it back, and a goal straight after the regain counts three.24 min · 14–16 players · U16+
CrossingFinishingCrossing and finishing from wide channelsA winger gets down the wide channel and crosses early while two strikers attack the near and far post.18 min · 6–14 players · U12+
CrossingFinishingCrossing patterns and box movementWide players overlap and cross early while three runners attack the near post, far post and cut-back zone, building to 3v2 plus keeper.25 min · 9–16 players · U16+
Dribbling & 1v1First touchCruyff and drag-back turns under pressurePlayers dribble at a closing defender, then use a Cruyff or drag-back turn to escape through a side gate.12 min · 4–12 players · U10+