Drill Library

Football drills

Search 1,000+ free football drills by age group, topic, player numbers and the kit in your bag. Every drill has a set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and a progression.

Every drill in this library is written for grassroots reality: a shared pitch, a bag of cones and bibs, mixed abilities and an hour to work with. Use the search box for a topic such as passing, finishing or 1v1s, or open the filters to narrow by age group from U6 to U16, number of players, ability level, drill length and the equipment you actually have. Once you have found practices you like, the Session Builder will put a full timed session together for you.

Leave empty to see all drills. Selecting kit shows only drills you can run.

1001 drills

Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
6-20
Time
10 min
Area
20 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Warm Up
Warm Ups
FREE

Cone Clear-Out

Raise heart rate with a ball at every player's feet

Beginner / Intermediate
Warm UpsDribblingBall Mastery
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
4-24
Time
10 min
Area
20 x 15 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Warm Up
Ball Mastery
FREE

Traffic Lights Dribbling

Build close control at different speeds

Beginner / Intermediate
Ball MasteryDribblingWarm Ups
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
8-16
Time
15 min
Area
15 x 15 yards per diamond
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Passing
FREE

Passing Diamond

Sharp, accurate passing off both feet

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingReceivingFirst Touch
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
6-18
Time
15 min
Area
30 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Passing
FREE

Y-Shape Combination Passing

Combine in threes to break a line

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
PassingAttackingReceiving
Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
6-18
Time
15 min
Area
10 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Rondo

Keep the ball under pressure with quick decisions

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingPressing
Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
10-16
Time
20 min
Area
30 x 25 yards
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Skill Practice
Possession
FREE

Possession 4v4+3

Keep the ball with a numerical advantage

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingTeam Shape
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
6-16
Time
15 min
Area
12 x 15 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Skill Practice
Dribbling
FREE

1v1 Gate Attack

Encourage players to run at defenders

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DribblingAttackingDefending
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
4-20
Time
12 min
Area
25 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Poles
Focus
Technical Practice
Dribbling
FREE

Skill Move Circuit

Learn and repeat a core skill move

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DribblingBall MasterySpeed & Agility
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
4-18
Time
12 min
Area
20 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
First Touch
FREE

First Touch & Turn

Take the first touch away from pressure

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
First TouchReceivingBall Mastery
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
4-16
Time
12 min
Area
15 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Receiving
FREE

Aerial Control Practice

Control a bouncing or lofted ball cleanly

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
ReceivingFirst TouchHeading
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
6-18
Time
18 min
Area
Half pitch into one goal
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Skill Practice
Shooting
FREE

Shooting Stations

Strike the ball cleanly with the laces

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
ShootingFinishingAttacking
Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
8-18
Time
20 min
Area
Half pitch into one goal
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Skill Practice
Finishing
FREE

Finishing From Cut-Backs

Finish first time from low cut-backs

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
FinishingCrossingAttacking
Age band
Under 9 to Adults
Players
8-18
Time
20 min
Area
Attacking third
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Skill Practice
Crossing
FREE

Crossing & Finishing

Deliver quality crosses from wide areas

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
CrossingFinishingAttacking
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
4-16
Time
10 min
Area
12 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Heading Technique Practice

Head the ball safely with correct technique

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingFinishing
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
6-16
Time
15 min
Area
15 x 12 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
Focus
Skill Practice
Defending
FREE

1v1 Defending

Delay and control an attacker one against one

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTacklingTransition
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
8-16
Time
18 min
Area
25 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Skill Practice
Defending
FREE

2v2 Defending Units

Defend as a pair with pressure and cover

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
DefendingTeam ShapePressing
Age band
Under 10 to Adults
Players
10-18
Time
20 min
Area
40 x 30 yards
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Small-Sided Game
Pressing
FREE

Pressing Triggers

Press on the right trigger and at the right angle

Intermediate / Advanced
PressingDefendingTransition
Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
4-16
Time
12 min
Area
10 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Tackling
FREE

Tackling Technique

Perform a safe, strong block tackle

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
TacklingDefendingTechnical Practice
Age band
Under 10 to Adults
Players
8-16
Time
20 min
Area
35 x 25 yards
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Small-Sided Game
Transition
FREE

Transition End Zones

React within three seconds of winning or losing the ball

Intermediate / Advanced
TransitionAttackingDefending
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
8-16
Time
20 min
Area
30 x 25 yards
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Small-Sided Game
Small-Sided Games
FREE

Four Goal Game

Switch play to the free goal

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Small-Sided GamesAttackingTransition
Age band
Under 5 to Adults
Players
6-18
Time
20 min
Area
30 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Full Goals
Focus
Small-Sided Game
Small-Sided Games
FREE

World Cup Tournament

Competitive, high-repetition finishing

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Small-Sided GamesFinishingFun & Engagement
Age band
Under 11 to Adults
Players
8-20
Time
20 min
Area
Full or three quarter pitch
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Match
Team Shape
FREE

Team Shape Walkthrough

Understand individual roles in the team formation

Intermediate / Advanced
Team ShapeDefendingPossession
Age band
Under 10 to Adults
Players
8-18
Time
15 min
Area
Attacking third
Kit
Balls, Bibs, Cones
Focus
Match
Set Pieces
FREE

Attacking Corners Practice

Rehearse two clear corner routines

Intermediate / Advanced
Set PiecesHeadingFinishing

What is in every drill

Set-up and area size. Pitch dimensions in yards, how many cones you need and where players start, so you can lay it out before the first player arrives.

Coaching points. Three or four things to actually say during the practice, written in language you can use with players rather than coaching-course jargon.

Progressions and regressions. How to make it harder when they master it and how to simplify it when the group is struggling or short on numbers.

Step-by-step instructions. Numbered set-up steps, a numbered sequence for running the practice, what every player and group is doing, where they move afterwards and how they rotate.

Browse football drills by age group

Each age page collects age-appropriate practices with the right area sizes, session length and coaching focus for that group.

Browse football drills by squad size

Every drill on these pages genuinely runs with that number on the pitch — nothing has been squeezed or padded to fit.

Browse football drills by topic

Every category below has its own page listing all of its drills, so you can browse without filters.