Animated Soccer Drills

This soccer drill focuses on quick, creative, offensive plays between 3 players.  Protecting the ball, quick passes, and using space are areas of focus for each player.  To set up the drill, place four cones in a 30 yard by 30 yard square.  One Forward and one defensive player start inside the cones.  Two more forwards and defense are waiting just outside the square.  On the whistle, the coach passes the ball to the forward in the box. The forward protects the ball from the defense until the next whistle.  On the second whistle, the second set of players join the play in the box.  F2 and F1 play a quick game of ball control against D1 and D2 until the third whistle.  On the third whistle F3 and D3 join the play.  The forwards now make a quick play to get a shot on net.

This is a soccer passing drill that will help players develop a feel for the wall pass.  Set up the drill with four cones placed in a square about 15 yards apart.  P1 starts in the middle of the box with the ball.  P1 begins the drill with a pass to P2 and follows the pass to apply passive pressure to P2.  P2 then passes to P3 and runs to the middle before receiving the ball back from P3.  P2 then passes to P4 and applies the passive pressure.  P4 makes a pass to P5, makes a move around P2, and receives a pass back from P5 in the middle of the box.  After several repetitions, the player who receives the ball in the middle should switch directions. Players should try to develop a rhythm and try to simulate game conditions by making quick passes and quick moves to the inside of the ox where they receive the return pass.

For some reason the intensity spikes when players are asked to compete against their team mates. This is a soccer agility drill in which team mates race through a quick agility course to get to the ball first.  On the whistle, the players run to each cone and touch the top of the cone.  The coach passes a ball down the middle of the field and player who gets to the ball first is rewarded with a shot.  Variations to this drill can be added to include longer agility courses.  Longer courses can turn this drill into a conditioning drill as well that is fun for the players.

To set up this soccer drill, set up four cones in a rectangle that is about 15 x 25 yards.  There will be 3 players on one team against 1 defensive player. One offensive player is inside the rectangle and is gaurded by the defensive player.  There are two offensive players at each end line.  To start the drill, give the ball to one of the players on the end line.  This player has the option to pass to their team mate inside the box, or pass to the team mate at the opposite end line.  The objective is to get these players to recognize the passing lanes and make the pass to the correct player.  If the player insidd the box is well covered by the defense, then the player on the opposite end line needs to find the lane and present themselves so that the player with the ball has an easy pass.  If the defender chooses to defend the long pass, then the short pass will be available.  For higher level players you can make a rule that passes between the end lines have to be in the air.

To set up this soccer drill, place the nets about 25-30 yards apart at mid field or in a place where the center of the field is marked by a line.  This game is played with 5 players on each team not including the goalies. Each team has three forwards on their offensive side of the center line and two defense on the defensive side.  Players are not allowed to cross the center line.  The coach puts a ball into play by passing to one of the forwards.  The forwards play against the two defense and try to score.  If they score or miss the net, the coach passes a new ball to the forwards on the other team.  If there is a turnover and the defense can control the ball, the defense pass to their forwards on the other side of the center line.

This soccer drill focuses on speed and footwork.  In this variation of the drill, the blue lines in the diagram represent a forward run and the red line represents a backwards run.  It is a good idea to time your players throughout the year to track their progress.  A variation for younger players is to eliminate the backwards run so the players are running forwards the entire course.  A variation for more advanced players is to have them pick up a soccer ball at the start of the forward weave, and drop it off where they begin the backwards weave.

This is a good warm up soccer drill where players are constantly moving and trying to get into a rhythm with their passing.  Divide players into groups of three with one ball per group.  Start the drill with two players close together and the third player about 20 to 30 yards away.  P1 start with the ball and makes a pass to P2.  P1 runs into space and receives the ball right back from P2.  P1 then makes the long pass to P3 and sprints towards P3.  P3 then starts the drill over with a short pass to P1, receives a short pass back from P1, and then makes the long pass to P2. The drill repeats for a set amount of time or until the players get into a rhythm and make a certain amount of passes in a row.

This soccer drill is intended for more advanced players but can be modified to suite younger players by eliminating the header.  The drill starts when P2 gives P3 a pass in the air intended for the head.  P3 heads the ball into space across the field where P1 runs into it and shoots.  P1 then runs to P2's position, P2 runs to P3's position, and P3 runs to the end of the line where P1 just came from.  This drill is to simulate an attack play.  P3's header should be put into space behind the would be defenders where P1 can run full speed into the pass.

This soccer drill requires quick and accurate passes. Players should also focus on receiving that pass and either shooting or passing within the first two touches.  The drill starts as S2 passes to P1 and receives the ball right back before passing to P3. P3 passes the ball back to S2 and then S2 gets off a quick shot just inside the box.  S2 then moves to P3's position, P3 moves to P1's position and P1 moves the end of the line in which S2 just came from.  The next rep then starts with S1 passing to P3 and the drill repeats from the other side.