Soccer Drills Library
A free library of animated soccer drills (football drills, if you coach in the UK), each with its setup, coaching points, progressions and how to adapt it for different ages. Every drill plays as an animation, so you can see exactly how it runs before you put the cones out.
Pick drills by theme below, add them straight to a free session plan, or open them in DrawTactics to change the numbers and animate your own version.
Soccer Passing Drills
Passing Square Drill
Pass and follow round a square of cones.
Y Passing Drill
Pass in, lay-off, pass wide, alternating sides, then everyone moves on one spot.
Pass and Move Drill
Two teams share the area, each passing among themselves and moving after every pass.
Receiving on the Half-Turn Drill
A middle player receives side-on and plays forward in one movement.
Possession Drill with Neutrals (4v4+3)
Keep the ball with the help of neutrals who play for whoever has it.
Gates Passing Game for Soccer
Score by passing through a gate to a teammate on the other side.
Soccer Cool Down Drill: Passing in Pairs
Easy passing in pairs to bring the heart rate down.
Soccer Dribbling Drills
Dribbling Gates Drill
Everyone with a ball, dribbling through as many gates as they can.
Ladder and Pass Drill
Quick feet through a ladder, then a one-two with a partner.
1v1 Soccer Drill: Beat the Defender and Score
A defender serves in and closes down; the attacker tries to beat them and score.
2v1 Soccer Drill: Attack to Goal
Two attackers commit one defender and finish.
Soccer Shooting Drills
Set and Finish: Soccer Shooting Drill
Pass into a target player, take the lay-off and shoot.
Crossing and Finishing Drill
A wide player crosses for two attackers making near- and far-post runs.
1v1 Soccer Drill: Beat the Defender and Score
A defender serves in and closes down; the attacker tries to beat them and score.
2v1 Soccer Drill: Attack to Goal
Two attackers commit one defender and finish.
Small Sided Game with Goalkeepers (5v5)
A game with keepers and full-size goals, to finish the session.
Soccer Rondo Drills
3v1 Rondo
Three keep the ball from one in a small box.
4v2 Rondo
Keep the ball round the outside against defenders in the middle.
Transition Rondo
A rondo in one half; win it and play into the other half, where your team is waiting.
Receiving on the Half-Turn Drill
A middle player receives side-on and plays forward in one movement.
Soccer Possession Drills
Possession Drill with Neutrals (4v4+3)
Keep the ball with the help of neutrals who play for whoever has it.
Playing Through the Thirds Soccer Drill
Build from one end to the other, zone by zone, with an overload in each third.
End Zone Game for Soccer
Score by receiving a pass in the end zone you attack.
Switching Play Drill: Four-Goal Game
Two mini goals at each end: draw the defence to one, then switch to the other.
4v2 Rondo
Keep the ball round the outside against defenders in the middle.
Transition Rondo
A rondo in one half; win it and play into the other half, where your team is waiting.
Small-Sided Games for Soccer
Small Sided Games: 4v4 to Mini Goals
A small-sided game to a mini goal at each end.
Small Sided Game with Goalkeepers (5v5)
A game with keepers and full-size goals, to finish the session.
Gates Passing Game for Soccer
Score by passing through a gate to a teammate on the other side.
Wide Channels Game: Soccer Wide Play Drill
Wide neutrals in their own channels help the team in possession get round the defence.
End Zone Game for Soccer
Score by receiving a pass in the end zone you attack.
Switching Play Drill: Four-Goal Game
Two mini goals at each end: draw the defence to one, then switch to the other.
Soccer Defending Drills
1v1 Defending Drill in a Channel
Close down, show the attacker one way and win the ball.
Counter Pressing Drill: Win It Back in Five Seconds
Lose it and win it back in five seconds.
Pressing Trigger Drill
Three forwards wait for a pass to the full-back, then press together.
1v1 Soccer Drill: Beat the Defender and Score
A defender serves in and closes down; the attacker tries to beat them and score.
3v1 Rondo
Three keep the ball from one in a small box.
Soccer Transition Drills
Counter Pressing Drill: Win It Back in Five Seconds
Lose it and win it back in five seconds.
Pressing Trigger Drill
Three forwards wait for a pass to the full-back, then press together.
3v2 Counter Attack Drill
Win it and attack fast: three attackers against two defenders and a recovering runner.
Transition Rondo
A rondo in one half; win it and play into the other half, where your team is waiting.
Playing Out From the Back Drill
Keeper and back four build out against three pressers and dribble through a gate.
Soccer Warm-Up Drills
Passing Square Drill
Pass and follow round a square of cones.
Y Passing Drill
Pass in, lay-off, pass wide, alternating sides, then everyone moves on one spot.
Dribbling Gates Drill
Everyone with a ball, dribbling through as many gates as they can.
Pass and Move Drill
Two teams share the area, each passing among themselves and moving after every pass.
Ladder and Pass Drill
Quick feet through a ladder, then a one-two with a partner.
Soccer Cool Down Drill: Passing in Pairs
Easy passing in pairs to bring the heart rate down.
Turn these drills into a session
Add any drill to the free session planner with one click: it arrives with its diagram, setup and coaching points, ready to print as a PDF. To change the numbers or animate your own version, open it in DrawTactics.
Open the free session plannerFAQ
Are these soccer drills free?
Yes. Every drill in the library, its animation and its coaching points are free to use. You can also add any drill to the free session planner and download your plan as a PDF.
What age groups are these drills for?
Most drills work from around U8 to adult. Each drill page explains how to change the numbers, space and rules for younger and older players.
Can I edit or animate these drills myself?
Yes. Open any drill in DrawTactics to change the number of players, the size of the area and the movements, then export your own animation or diagram.