Soccer Fun Drills
- Body part dribbles: All players dribble the ball and make sure ball stay close to body. Coach call a body part (e.g. right knee) players should stop the ball and then touch the ball with the called body part. Trains dribbling, knowledge of body parts.
- Yellow light green light red light: Coach calls out yellow light, all players start dribbling slowly. When coach calls out green light, players dribble fast. Red light all players stop the ball. Purple light changes directions. Blue light crazy moves. Trains dribbling, stopping ball, changing direction, shielding ball.
- Hospital Tag: All players are it and attempt to tag the others while dribbling. First time a player is tagged he must hold that spot with a hand, the second time the other hand. If the player is tagged the third time, he must to the hospital and see the doctor (coach). Coach has player do an exercise e.g. tab the ball a few times then the player is back in the game. Trains dribbling, ball control.
- Tunnel Tag: All players with a ball except one who is it and tries to tag the other players. Tagged player is frozen and holds ball on his head with feet apart. Other players may unfreeze them by playing the ball between the frozen player’s legs. Trains dribbling, ball control, passing.
- Math Dribble: All players with a ball dribbling anywhere in the field. Coach calls out a math problem (1+1), players solve it and form the appropriate sized group (2). Trains grouping.
- Sharks and Minnows: Two players without ball are sharks and stand in the middle of the field. All other players are minnows and line up on one side of the field. When coach calls out swim, minnows dribble the ball across the field while sharks try to steal the ball away. Minnow become shark if his/her ball is taken away. Continue until all minnows become sharks. Trains dribbling, avoiding pressure.
- Steal the bacon: Setup two small goals. Coach stand on the middle of side line and divide players into two single files by his side. Coach kicks ball into the middle of the field and calls out one (or two) players, then one (or two) player(s) from each file goes into the field and play one (or two) on one (or two). When scored or ball out of bound, coach calls “get out of there” and start over. Trains one on one or two on two playing.
- 4v4 Games: 4v4 dribble across end lines. 4v4 score on small goals.
- Bee stings: Coach tell players to dribble within an area like bees. Coach or parents walk through the field and having the bees to shoot or pass (ie sting) ball to coach or parents. Trains for passings.
- BANG!
Set up a scrimmage in what we affectionately call the “pressure cooker”. This is a small field (really little more than 2 penalty areas) with full-sized goals at each end. Play a “game” called Bang. This “game” is just like a regular scrimmage, but with some important and drastic restrictions.
First, when a player receives a ball, they cannot carry it. They have to shield the ball until they can pass it to a teammate. The only way to advance the ball is to pass it.
Only 1 defender can challenge for the ball, and the only way the ball can be won is to push the ball holder off the ball with a shoulder charge. This really becomes a physical game. Training points: ball shielding, passing - Circle Pinball
Players form a circle. Tell players to treat the ball like a pin ball and they are pins, i.e. they need to stand stationary and pass the ball as soon as they receive the ball. Each successful passing counts as one point. To increase intensity, coach or one player can try to intercept the ball. Training points: passing.