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.
46 drills
- 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 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 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 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 7 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 12 x 10 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
1v1 Defending Duels
Delay and deny the attacker
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 25 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Cover And Balance Triangle
Understand first, second and third defender roles
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 2-16
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 10 x 8 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Front Block Tackling
Time the front block tackle
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 20 x 8 yard channel
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Side-On Tackling Channel
Win the ball while running alongside
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 15 x 15 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Poke Tackle Pressing
Nick the ball with a poke tackle
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 30 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
Defend The Gate
Defend in a live game
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 28 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Overload Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 22 x 14 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Underload Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 24 x 16 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Two-Touch Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 26 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Tempo Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 30 x 22 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Transition Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 22 x 14 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressure Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 26 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Continuous Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 24 x 16 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Rotation Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 28 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Combination Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 30 x 22 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Wide Channel Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 30 x 22 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Counter Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 28 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Finishing Delay and Show
Coach the approach and set position of the defender
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 2-14
- Time
- 14 min
- Area
- 20 x 14 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Overload Front Block Tackle
Teach a safe, strong front block tackle
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 2-14
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 14 x 8 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Underload Front Block Tackle
Teach a safe, strong front block tackle
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.