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.

31 drills

Heading
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 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
Penalty area
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Defensive Heading & Clearances

Head the ball high, far and wide safely

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingTechnical Practice
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
5-16
Time
15 min
Area
Penalty area
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Skill Practice
Heading
FREE

Attacking Headers From Corners

Attack a corner with timed runs

Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingSet PiecesFinishing
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
2-16
Time
10 min
Area
10 x 8 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Heading Technique Pairs

Learn safe heading technique

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingReceiving
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
Penalty area
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Defensive Heading Clearance

Clear the ball high, far and wide

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
4-16
Time
14 min
Area
Penalty area plus flanks
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Skill Practice
Heading
FREE

Attacking Header Finishing

Score with the head from a cross

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingFinishingCrossing
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
4-16
Time
12 min
Area
15 x 12 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Skill Practice
Heading
FREE

Aerial Duel Practice

Compete safely for aerial balls

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingAttacking
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
30 x 24 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Overload Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
24 x 18 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Underload Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
26 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Two-Touch Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
28 x 22 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Tempo Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
32 x 26 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Transition Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
24 x 18 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Pressure Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
28 x 22 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Continuous Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
26 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Rotation Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
30 x 24 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Combination Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
32 x 26 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Wide Channel Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
32 x 26 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Counter Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
30 x 24 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Finishing Defensive Heading Clear

Clear the ball with height, distance and width

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingDefendingSet Pieces
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
32 x 26 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Overload Attacking Header Target

Direct headers downwards towards goal

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingFinishingCrossing
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
26 x 20 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Underload Attacking Header Target

Direct headers downwards towards goal

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingFinishingCrossing
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
28 x 22 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Two-Touch Attacking Header Target

Direct headers downwards towards goal

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingFinishingCrossing
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
10 min
Area
30 x 24 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Tempo Attacking Header Target

Direct headers downwards towards goal

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingFinishingCrossing
Age band
Under 12 to Adults
Players
3-14
Time
12 min
Area
34 x 28 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Full Goals
Focus
Technical Practice
Heading
FREE

Transition Attacking Header Target

Direct headers downwards towards goal

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
HeadingFinishingCrossing

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.