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.
112 drills
- 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 4v4+3
Keep the ball with a numerical advantage
- 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 10 to Adults
- Players
- 10-18
- Time
- 25 min
- Area
- Two thirds of a pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Match
Playing Out From The Back
Build calmly from the keeper under pressure
- 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 8 to Adults
- Players
- 10-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards with wide channels
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Switch The Play Practice
Recognise when the far side is free
- 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 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 12 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 35 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
Front Three Pressing Traps
Press as a unit with a clear trigger
- Age band
- Under 12 to Adults
- Players
- 10-22
- Time
- 22 min
- Area
- Two thirds pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Match
Attacking Shape & Width
Hold width and depth in possession
- 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 10 to Adults
- Players
- 10-16
- Time
- 22 min
- Area
- 50 x 40 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
6v6 Thirds Conditioned Game
Apply the session topic in a game
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Long And Short Switching
Mix short passes with a longer switch
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Back Four Shifting Unit
Shift as a connected back line
- Age band
- Under 12 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defending A Low Block
Stay compact in and around the box
- 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 12 to Adults
- Players
- 10-20
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 50 x 40 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Mid Block Pressing Shape
Hold a mid block then spring the press
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 35 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Positional Possession Grid
Hold positions in a structured possession game
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 8-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 30 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Four Corner Possession
Use the whole area to keep the ball
- Age band
- Under 12 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Half-Space Attacking Patterns
Attack through the half-spaces
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 6-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Split And Drive Out
Carry the ball out of defence
- Age band
- Under 13 to Adults
- Players
- 10-20
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Two thirds of a pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Rest Defence Organisation
Organise behind the ball while attacking
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 8-20
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Full or three-quarter pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Shadow Play Shape Work
Rehearse the team's attacking shape
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 8-20
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Compact Defensive Shape
Hold a compact defensive block
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.