Soccer drills and skills
This season, never hunt around for a fresh soccer drill again. Get proven and easy to use drills for all groups and abilities with Soccer Coach Weekly. As a coach, it is your job to give your team the skills and technique to be great players.
The soccer drills in this section will help you coach your players in the core skills of the game. We’ll tell you what to look out for, how to get the ideas over to your players, and we’ll give you games and exercises to really power-up their skills.
Drills by skill
Drills by age group
in Defending, Email newsletters
I don’t know about you but there are many games where the score is tight and standing on the touchline you can feel the pressure on the players who are desperate to hold on to a lead. MORE
in Passing, Small Sided Games
In this game there will be lots of touches of the ball and technique to get passes between players. Movement is also key to what happens in the session. Set up You need a ball and a 16×16-yard area. We’ve used nine players in the session. You will also need bibs and cones. How to... MORE
in Practice plans, Shooting
Players need to practise a variety of shots in pressure situations so they can improve their chances of scoring goals. This session could help you find your best goalscorer – it might not be your current centre forward. MORE
in Passing, Practice plans
A lofted pass enables players to send the ball over longer distances. This can elevate your team’s chances of moving the ball into more attacking positions or clear from danger. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Shooting
At youth level the keeper will often come out of goal to try to get the ball and the best way to beat him is with an accurate chip over him into the net. It is an extra tool to give your players at all levels of the game.
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in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters
Being creative can be the winning difference for your team and make match days just that bit more special. Here are four ways to be creative with basic soccer skills that can give your team a winning edge: MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Tips and advice
Scoring spectacular free kicks doesn't happen by chance it takes time on the practice field to develop the art especially in young players who want to follow in the footsteps of their idols. Find out how to practice. MORE
in Attacking, Set pieces
This shows how effective a flick on can be and helps players exploit the space in the box by moving to the area they know the ball will be delivered to. MORE
in Attacking, Defending, Email newsletters
Reacting to transitions is a vital ingredient in a successful team. The ideal you are aiming for is when a team regains possession it spreads out to create space, passing the ball quickly, then playing to a target player to score. MORE
in Attacking, Shooting
This session improves shooting technique and gives players confidence to shoot from long range. It also develops decision-making, as players make choices about when and where to shoot and which part of their foot to use. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
When an attacker is in the act of heading or shooting, the distance between himself and the goalkeeper can be so close the keeper doesn’t get any time to think about how to make a save. This means he has to develop reaction skills. MORE
in Midfield, Practice plans
The Barcelona midfield pairing of Xavi and Iniesta have taken football to a new high in terms of passing, creation and domination of the ball.
This session will elevate the skills of your players so they can pass and move like these Spanish masters. MORE
in Heading, Tactics
This game is all about winning the first header and directing it to your team-mate. If your players can get control of the ball in the air then it makes it easier to repel opponents and start an attack. MORE
in Defending, Tactics
This session is all about staying calm when under attack and reading the through ball. As this game progresses good tackling is needed as the danger changes. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters
Lightening quick passing moves can bamboozle the opposition - control, pass, move and fly past defenders. If you want your team to play the ball at speed with accurate one and two touch passing you need to use the right sessions. MORE
in Defending, Practice plans
Most goals are scored from right in front of the goal so shepherding play away from this area will reduce your opponent’s chances of scoring a goal. MORE
in Email newsletters, Passing
Scoring goals is much easier if teams make better use of possession in the final third, where attacking prowess comes into play. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Set pieces
David Beckham used to improve his free-kicks at Manchester United by firing the ball through a car tyre hanging from a goal. This fun activity will improve your players in the same way. MORE
in Attacking, Small Sided Games
The attacking team has an overload but can the defending team use their players to create their own overload and win the ball back so they can score? MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Practice plans
Being able to control the ball is one of the most fundamental techniques. Try this drill to get players familiarised with the basic principles. MORE
in Practice plans, Soccer dribbling drills
Can your players run quickly and keep close control of the ball when being chased by a defender? If not, this activity will help them run that little bit faster while keeping the ball that little bit closer. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Practice plans
Diving at full stretch to tip a shot around the post makes great TV but what the instant replay does not show is the hours of practice the keeper has put in to achieve that perfect “Hollywood” image. MORE
in Attacking, Ball Control and Footwork
Crossing is one of the harder skills that wingers need and it helps them to catch out defenders on the counterattack without stopping or slowing the attack down. Try these channels to help you coach it. MORE
in Attacking, Passing
If you want to see your players create more scoring opportunities in the penalty area, use this session to improve movement and creativity in the attacking third of the pitch MORE
