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U8 Soccer Drills and Games

What to Expect at U8

At U8, players are developing confidence on the ball and learning basic skills like passing, shooting and dribbling.

But the priority is still simple: Keep sessions fun, active and easy to follow.

How to Coach U8 Players:

Keep instructions short
Use games over drills
Give lots of touches
Focus on enjoyment

Recommended drills to try at your next session

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Dribble or pass?

This foundation-phase game allows players to develop both passing and dribbling skills.

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Four-goal game

A chaotic and fun arrival game, emphasising teamwork, awareness and speed of thought.

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Small-sided game: Passing with purpose

Encourage players to be adventurous and create angles in this three-part session plan.

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Warm-up: Staying on the ball

Allow your players to develop confidence and technique in this three-part session.

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Secure the box

Helps defenders understand the importance of marking tightly in the penalty area.

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Repeated receiving

Make your players’ first touch more effective and teach them to be a realistic passing option.

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Receiving to progress

Brush up on your first touch and evade defenders, who can tune up their closing down

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Improving receiving

Develops players’ ability to support the player on the ball and to take an effective touch.

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Passing with speed

A simple exercise to encourage young players to work on their possession so they can dictate the play at pace.

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Connect four-in-a-row

Get players talking, connecting, and starting to think tactically.

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Practice 2: Opening up space

Three-part session where players look to create gaps and exploit it to retain possession.

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Practice 1: Opening up space

Three-part session where players look to create gaps and exploit it to retain possession.

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Warm-up: Opening up space

Three-part session where players look to create gaps and exploit it to retain possession. By STEPH FAIRBAIRN

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Warm-up: Get on the front foot

This three-part session develops players’ ability on the ball to enable them to play forward.

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Practice: Get on the front foot

This three-part session develops players’ ability on the ball to enable them to play forward.

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Practice 2: Defending 1v1

A session which focuses on the basics of 1v1 defending – protecting space, closing down and tackling. Use this session as a standalone ...

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Small-sided game: Defending 1v1

A session which focuses on the basics of 1v1 defending – protecting space, closing down and tackling. Use this session as a standalone ...

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Practice 1: Defending 1v1

A three-part session which focuses on the basics of 1v1 defending – protecting space, closing down and tackling.

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Practice 4: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s ability to take on a defender in a creative way, with turns added to the mix.

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Practice 3: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s decision-making and identifying the right times to take risks in 1v1s.

Trusted by thousands of coaches

Volunteer coach

You volunteered to coach but have no coaching experience or qualifications. You’re short of time and could benefit from being told what to ...

more

Travel / ODP coach

You’ve been coaching a while but are looking for ideas and inspiration to help you take your team to the next level.

more

High School coach

You’re looking for an extra edge in the pursuit of excellence and will do whatever you can to help the players in your care be successful ...

more

Director of Coaching

You manage a team of coaches who rely on you for coaching plans and advice. You could benefit from finding a reliable resource to help them ...

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Practice 2: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s ability to take on a defender who is approaching them from the side.

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Practice 1: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s ability to take on a defender who is directly in front of them and then shoot.

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Warm-up: Through the thirds

Develop your players’ ability to play through a crowded midfield with this session.

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Small-sided game: Through the thirds

Develop your players’ ability to play through a crowded midfield with this three-part session.

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Passing and receiving

A possession-based practice to develop players’ passing, receiving and movement skills.

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Warm-Up: Defending in our half

A three-part session focusing on defensive principles and developing defensive techniques.

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Flexible practices - an example

Tweaking a core idea can open up many possibilities when it comes to session planning. Here’s an example...

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Goals, goals, goals

Give players the chance to score from varying distances and using different kinds of shot. By MIKE VINCENT

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U8 Soccer Drills and Games

What to Expect at U8

How to Coach U8 Players:

Recommended drills to try at your next session

Search or browse our library of drills

Trusted by thousands of coaches

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Trusted by thousands of coaches

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Coaches' Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

Discover the simple way to become a more effective, more successful soccer coach

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