Soccer Warm-Up Drills
A good warm-up raises the heart rate and gets players touching the ball straight away. These soccer warm-up drills (football warm-up drills in the UK) use the ball from the first minute, so the warm-up is also technical practice for passing, receiving and dribbling.
Each drill is animated so you can see how it flows. Pick a warm-up that leads into the theme of your session, and finish with the cool-down to bring the intensity back down.
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.
Coaching tips
- Use the ball from the start, so the warm-up doubles as technical practice.
- Build the intensity gradually over eight to twelve minutes.
- Link the warm-up to the session theme, for example a passing pattern before a possession game.
- Keep groups small so nobody is standing in a queue.
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
How long should a soccer warm-up be?
Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for most teams. Younger players need less; older players and adults may want a few extra minutes of dynamic stretching and short sprints.
Should a soccer warm-up include the ball?
Yes. Ball-based warm-ups prepare players just as well physically, and every minute with the ball is extra technical practice.