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.
206 drills
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 12 x 15 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
1v1 Gate Attack
Encourage players to run at defenders
- Age band
- Under 12 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 10 min
- Area
- 12 x 10 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Heading Technique Practice
Head the ball safely with correct technique
- 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
1v1 Defending
Delay and control an attacker one against one
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 8-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 25 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
2v2 Defending Units
Defend as a pair with pressure and cover
- 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 Triggers
Press on the right trigger and at the right angle
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 10 x 10 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Tackling Technique
Perform a safe, strong block tackle
- 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 End Zones
React within three seconds of winning or losing the ball
- 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 Walkthrough
Understand individual roles in the team formation
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 9-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 25 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
3v3 Continuous Games
Maximise touches and decisions per player
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Rebound Board Clearance & Recovery
Deal with awkward second balls
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 1-2
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 15 x 10 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
1-to-1 Defending Technique
Individual defending shape and footwork
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 20 x 12 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
1v1 End Zone Duels
Beat a defender and dribble into the end zone
- Age band
- Under 12 to Adults
- Players
- 3-14
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- Penalty area
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Defensive Heading & Clearances
Head the ball high, far and wide safely
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defensive Recovery Runs
Recover goal-side at speed
- Age band
- Under 12 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Match
Back Four Shifting Shape
Shift as a unit with the ball
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 2-14
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 15 x 10 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Block & Slide Tackle Technique
Perform a safe, firm block tackle
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 40 x 25 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
3v2 Transition Breaks
Break at speed in an overload
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 8-20
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Penalty area
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Match
Defending Corners As A Unit
Organise a defensive corner set-up
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 4-20
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 20 x 15 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
2v2 Rapid Tournament
Maximise touches and duels per player
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 2-10
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 30 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Full Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Goalkeeper 1v1 Breakaways
Close space quickly then set to make the save
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 3-10
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Penalty area
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Full Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Goalkeeper Saves Through Traffic
See the ball late through bodies and react
- Age band
- Under 6 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 12 x 8 yard channel
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
1v1 Channel Duels
Beat an opponent in a 1v1
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 10 x 10 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Shield And Escape
Protect the ball with the body
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Penalty area plus flanks
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Attack v Defend The Box
Contest crosses in a realistic box
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.