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.
123 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
- 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 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
- 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 5 to Adults
- Players
- 8-16
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 30 x 25 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
Four Goal Game
Switch play to the free goal
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Attacking Overloads 3v2
Exploit a numerical advantage quickly
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 9-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Counter Attack Waves
Break at speed after regaining possession
- 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 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Full Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
3v2 Attack To Goal
Exploit an overload quickly
- 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
- 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
- 8-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 35 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
Counter Press Five Seconds
Win the ball back within five seconds of losing it
- 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 9 to Adults
- Players
- 4-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
2v2 Recovery Defending
Recover goal-side at speed
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Half pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Pressing Trigger Practice
Recognise pressing triggers
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-16
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 25 x 25 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Counter-Press Box
Win the ball back immediately after losing it
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 9-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- Two 12 yard squares
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Transition Rondo Squares
Move the ball between two possession squares
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 8-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 35 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
4v4 Transition Game
React instantly to turnovers
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-16
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Turnover To Two Goals
Exploit the moment after the turnover
- Age band
- Under 11 to Adults
- Players
- 10-20
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Three-quarter pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Defence To Attack Breakout
Break out of the defensive third at speed
- 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 13 to Adults
- Players
- 10-20
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- Full pitch
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Formation Switch Practice
Change shape in and out of possession
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 9-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 35 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
Three Team Rotation Games
Keep intensity high with short games
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.