Soccer Dribbling and Juggling Warm-up

 This soccer drill is a great warm-up drill that allows players to work on touching the ball with all parts of the foot.

If you want to improve player’s footwork and dribbling skills, this is an excellent start to each practice.

Drill Setup

1. Either use the center circle of the field or build a circle with cones.

2. Each player needs to have a ball and start inside the circle.

Drill Instructions

1. Have players dribble anyway they want inside the circle as long as they are using both feet for 2 minutes.2

. Have the players juggle for 1 minute using feet only trying to alternate from right to left.

3. Have players dribble with inside and outside of each foot with the following pattern:

right foot - inside, outside, inside, outside then switch to left foot inside, outside, inside, outside and continue to switch feet. Do this for 2 minutes.

4. Have players juggle with their thighs and feet for 1 minute. Again instruct players to switch feet while juggling.

5. Have players work on cuts and turns. The players should be instructed to cut the ball quickly and have a short sprint after cutting or turning the ball. Make sure players are exploring with inside and outside of the foot cuts and staying with the ball when they cut. Do this for 2 minutes.

6. Now instruct the players to juggle again. This time juggle with the feet and pop the ball to the chest and back down to the feet. Do this for 1 minute.

7. Now have players turn the pace up a notch and play full speed working on cuts, turns, and avoiding collisions. Push players to work hard for 1 minute straight.

Drill Coaching Points

 Make sure the player is continuously lifting their head and checking their surroundings; this will help players find space and avoid other players.

 Make sure players keep the ball close to them while in congested areas; this will help them move the ball more quickly to avoid other players and obstructions.

 Encourage players to use all parts of their feet while dribbling (inside, outside, top, bottom).

Down and Back Dribbling Game

This drill is most effective with young players just learning to dribble.

This drill teaches players to dribble in high traffic, high-pressure situations while staying in control.

It's a great warm-up to focus on controlling the ball with all parts of the foot. 

Drill Setup

1. Create a grid approximately 20X20 yards.

2. Split the team into two groups.

3. Each player should have a ball.

4. Instruct each group of players to line up outside the grid facing inward on two adjacent sides of the area (half of the group on one side, the other half on the side next to the other group).

Drill Instructions

1. On the coach’s command, instruct the players to dribble to the other side of the group and back to the starting position (down and back).

2. The first player back in each group gets a point.

3. The first player to 5 wins that set.

4. Play 3-4 sets.

Drill Variations

 Restrict players to touches with a certain foot or part of the foot. (example: left foot only, or outside of the foot only).

 Have the player turn or cut when they reach the opposite side of the grid.

 Place even groups on all four sides of the grid and play the same game. - Make the grid a bit larger and have the players dribble with speed.

Drill Coaching Points

 Focus on the players getting their heads up while dribbling for awareness and to avoid collisions.

 Make sure players keep the ball at a close/safe distance.

 If the ball is too far in front of them they will most often hit another player or lose their ball.

Clean Your Room

This soccer game is a great drill for U5 through U8 players.

The clean your room soccer drill will focus on dribbling under pressure while also working on defensive pressure as an individual or a small group.

Drill Setup

1. Create a grid that is approximately 15 X 15 yards.

You should adjust the size of the area depending on the size, skill set, and the number of players.

2. Assign one player to "clean the room." This player will act as the defender to knock everyone's ball out of the grid.

3. Every player other than the room cleaner needs a ball.

Drill Instructions

1. Start by having the players dribble around free in the grid.

2. The coach should release the room cleaner into the grid.

3. The room cleaner's job is to steal the ball from the dribbling players and kick the ball out of the grid.

4. The dribblers must retrieve their balls and attempt to get back into the grid as quickly as possible.

5. The room is "clean" once all of the balls are out of the grid at one time.

6. The room cleaner should kick the ball out of the grid as far as they can to give them a chance to get all of the players.

7. If a player is struggling to clean their room, a 2nd room cleaner can be sent to assist.

Drill Variations

 Start with 2 room cleaners (defenders).

 Make the players do 10 jumping jacks before entering the grid.

This will give the defender a bit more time to clear other balls out of the grid.

Drill Coaching Points

 Instruct the room cleaner (defender) to pressure players with the ball quickly and kick the ball out of the grid as far as possible.

 Dribblers must be aware of the defender (pressure) and remain calm and protect the ball.

Sharks and Minnows

This drill focuses on the U6 and U8 player and their ability to dribble out of pressure.

This drill can be used to focus on the player using their body to protect the ball by placing their body in between the ball and the defender. 

Drill Setup

1. Build a grid approximately 20X25 yards. This field should be adjusted based on the skill level and number of players participating.

2. Two players are designated the SHARK start in the middle of the grid without a ball.

3. The remaining player starts with a ball on one of the end lines.

Drill Instructions

1. The minnows, the players with the ball, attempt to swim from one end line to the other while keeping their ball away from the sharks.

2. The sharks attempt to gain possession and knock the minnow’s ball out of the grid. Once this happens, the minnow becomes a shark.

3. The last minnow standing wins the competition.

Drill Variations

 Players only use left foot to dribble.

 Players use outside of feet to dribble.

 Players use sole of feet to dribble.

Drill Coaching Points

 Keep the dribblers under control and not panicked once the sharks get near them.

 Inform players to keep the ball close within playing distance.

Alien Tag Soccer Game (Star Wars)

This is a fun game for K-2 nd grade. This will focus on agility, vision, and awareness, but best of all, it's fun.

Drill Setup

1. Create an area about 20X20. Call this space Mars.

2. Two players will need balls. They will be the aliens.

3. The remaining players are inside the grid holding a cone (without a ball).They are the spaceships.

Drill Instructions

1. Have the spaceships hold cone to create the front of their spaceship. Their goal is to avoid the aliens who are kicking space rocks (soccer balls) at them. Balls should be kicked on the ground.

2. Aliens have a ball, and the coach should have a few spare balls if the "space rocks" are hurled into space.

3. If an alien hits the spaceship (any part of the player below the waist) with the ball, the spaceship must spin out of control and crash to the ground.

4. For the first iteration, let the spaceships get back into the game after some minor repairs (5 jumping jacks or something like that). 

Drill Variations

 When a spaceship goes down, make the space ship driver become an alien.

The last person left driving the spaceship is the Jedi.

Drill Coaching Points

 This game should be fun for the kids. The coach can improve their experience by making noises, crash sounds, or yelling "heeeeeelp" when a ship goes down.

 The spaceships should have their heads up and looking around to avoid the aliens.

 Make sure the players move by telling making them crash if they aren't moving.

 The aliens must dribble the ball and aim for the space ships so this will be a good start to controlling the ball and shots/passes.

 Make it fun for the kids.

The Flag Game - Dribbling in Tight Spaces

This soccer drill is designed to focus on young soccer players learning to dribble in tight spaces.

This dribbling drill will help young players keep their eyes up and to become aware of their surroundings.

This soccer drill also helps players keep close possession while dribbling.

Drill Setup

1. Create a grid that is approximately 10X25 yards.

2. Randomly scatter flags within the grid.

3. To begin the drill, add two fewer flags than the number of players you have.

4. Each player should begin inside the grid with a ball.

Drill Instructions

1. Instruct the players to dribble around freely inside the grid avoiding other players and flags.

2. The congestion of the players and flags will cause the player to look up to check their surroundings continually.

3. When the coach yells "STOP," (or make up your own fun word) each of the players must race without the ball to a free flag as quickly as possible.

4. The first player to reach the flag three consecutive times wins the game.

Drill Variations

 Reduce the number of flags.

 Restrict the players to only use a certain part of the foot or dribbling technique.

 Players must dribble to a free flag, and stand with one foot on the ball (control).

Drill Coaching Points

 Make sure the player is regularly lifting their head and checking their surroundings; this will help players find space and avoid other players.

 Make sure players keep the ball close to them while in congested areas; this will help them move the ball more quickly to avoid other players and obstructions.

 Encourage players to use all parts of their feet while dribbling (inside, outside, top, bottom).

Ouch!

A FUN soccer drill for younger players (U6, U7, and U8) to introduce dribbling, looking up and correctly striking the ball at a target.

And best of all, it's a fun soccer game for the players and coach!

Drill Setup

1. Build a grid 20X30 (may adjust if too large or small).

2. Every player begins in the grid with a ball.

3. The coach and assistant coach start in the grid without a ball.

Drill Instructions

1. The coaches jog around in the grid and players try to kick their balls and hit the coaches.

2. The players get a point each time they hit the coach.

3. The coach should yell OUCH each time they are hit to make the game FUN.

4. For younger players, the coach can walk around their knees.

Drill Variations

 If the players are struggling to hit the coach, the coach should stop for a couple of seconds to give the players a chance.

 Use different parts of the foot: Inside, Instep, Right and Left foot.

Drill Coaching Points

 Encourage players to get their head up and look for the coaches while dribbling.

 Make sure the players are striking the ball with the proper part of the foot.

Traffic Jam Dribbling Game

This game is just out right fun! The kids will have a blast playing this game.

This drill is ideal for kids who know how to dribble but just need to learn to get their heads up and dribble under the pressures of mere congestion. 22

Drill Setup

1. Create a grid approximately 30X30 yards.

2. Randomly place tall cones and training sticks (flags will work as well) in the middle of the grid.

3. Split the group into 2 teams.

4. Each team starts on opposite corners of the grid with one ball per group.

Drill Instructions

1. On the coach’s command, the first player from each line will race through the “Traffic Jam” (training sticks and cones) in attempt to not hit a stick, cone, or another player.

2. Once the player makes it through the traffic jam, instruct them to dribble with speed to the line they are facing and pass the ball to the first player in line.

3. That player should immediately head towards the traffic jam with speed in an attempt to get through the traffic jam first.

4. At first, don’t keep score, merely let the players enjoy the close calls before playing the game.

5. Next, have the players race through the traffic jam to the cone on the opposite side of the grid, around that cone and back through the traffic jam. 6. As each player finishes the race, they must sit down to signify to the group that they have completed the race.

7. The team that has all the players sitting down first wins the game.

Drill Variations

 For younger players it might be best to start with one or two players entering the traffic jam at a time.

Drill Coaching Points

 Since 2 players should be entering the center area at the same time make sure players are looking ahead of them with their head up.

 Remind players to keep the ball close when entering the traffic area.

Soccer Ball Smash

The Soccer Ball Smash soccer passing drill will focus on the player who is just learning to pass, as this drill will focus on passing accuracy.

Drill Setup

1. Create a large grid approximately 40X50 yards.

2. Pair up each of the players and make sure each player has a ball.

3. The two partners should stand near to each other inside the grid but spread away from other groups of players when starting this drill.

Drill Instructions

1. Instruct player 1 to pass his ball forward.

2. After Player 1's ball stops moving, player 2 then passes their ball at player 1's ball in an attempt to hit player 1's ball.

3. If player 2 misses, then player 1 tries to hit player 2's ball from where it landed previously.

4. Each time a player hits their opponent’s ball, they collect a point.

5. The first player to 5 wins that match.

Drill Variations

 Alternate the groups and repeat.

 Limit players to passing with certain parts of the foot: inside, outside, instep.

Drill Coaching Points

 Make sure the players are striking the ball with the right surface of the foot.

 Make sure the weight of the pass is good.

 Watch the plant foot to make sure it is pointing to its target.