Football Drills for 10 Players

Drill categories on this page

• football passing drills (4)
• football dribbling drills (9)
• football defending drills (17)
• football possession drills (5)
• football small-sided games drills (6)
• football warm ups drills (3)
• football finishing drills (10)

A football warm up for 10 players

With 10 players you can warm up as one group and roll straight into the first practice without re-organising the pitch.

1. 1

   Arrival activity

   4 min

   A 20 x 20 square, ball each. Free dribbling with turn calls so late arrivals can join without stopping anything.

2. 2

   Passing grid

   5 min

   Split into three groups in a shared area with one ball each group. Pass, move, receive on the back foot, gradually raise the tempo.

3. 3

   Rondos

   4 min

   Two 4v2 squares side by side. Defender who wins it swaps with the player who gave it away.

Keep the same groups for the first practice so you only give one set of instructions.

More football warm up drills

Setting up football training drills for 10 players

10 players gives you real games without losing the ability to coach individuals. Pick your teams in the warm up and keep them all evening — re-picking teams between practices is the biggest time-waster in grassroots football.

Every drill listed on this page stores its own minimum and maximum player numbers in the library, so nothing here has been stretched to fit.

• Two or three fixed teams, winner stays on, rotate every four minutes.
• Set the pitch out before players arrive so the first ball is kicked on time.
• Have one spare practice in your pocket for when numbers change on the night.

When numbers change on the night

Grassroots attendance in the UK swings with school, illness and the weather. The quickest fixes are a neutral player who always plays for the team in possession, or turning a defender into a target player. Both keep the practice intact rather than forcing you to rebuild it.

Football training drills that work with 10 players

Filtered on the player range recorded for each drill, so every practice runs properly with 10 on the pitch.

More practices that fit

Every drill page has the full set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and progressions.

• 3v2 Attack To Goal — finishing drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
• 3v2 Attacking Overload — attacking drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 3v2 Transition Breaks — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• 3v3 Continuous Games — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 4v2 Rondo Circle — possession drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 4v4 To Mini Goals — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 6 to Adults
• 4v4 Transition Game — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
• 500 Touches Mastery Circuit — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 5v2 Rondo Ladder — possession drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 5v5 With Keepers — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 6v6 Thirds Conditioned Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Acceleration Ladders — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Acceleration Starts — football fitness drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Activation Circuit — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Aerial Control Practice — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Aerial Control Station — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• Aerial Duel Practice — heading drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Agility Diamond — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Agility Gate Weave — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 12
• Animal Movement Circuit — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 10
• Attack v Defend The Box — crossing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Corner Routines — set pieces drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Corners Practice — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Crossing Game — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Header Finishing — heading drill, 14 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Attacking Headers From Corners — heading drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Attacking Overloads 3v2 — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Attacking Shape & Width — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Attacking Throw In Routines — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Back Four Shifting Shape — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Back Four Shifting Unit — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
• Back Pass Support Work — goalkeeping drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Back To Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Ball And Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Mastery Figure Eight — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Mastery Maze — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults

Session plans for a squad this size

• U10 Passing Session Plan (60 Minutes, Free) — passing & receiving, 12 players, 60 minutes
• U8 Dribbling Session Plan (45 Minutes, Free) — dribbling & 1v1, 10 players, 45 minutes
• U12 Defending Session Plan (75 Minutes, Free) — defending & pressing, 14 players, 75 minutes
• U9 Shooting & Finishing Session Plan (60 Minutes, Free) — shooting & finishing, 12 players, 60 minutes

Coaching articles that help here

• How To Give Better Feedback — Five ways to make your feedback land, stick and actually change what a player does next.
• The Art Of Asking Better Questions — Questions turn players into problem solvers. Here is how to ask ones that get real answers.
• How To Plan A Better Training Session — One theme, four phases and a game at the end — the plan that works for almost every grassroots night.
• Coaching Confidence — Practical ways to feel calmer and more assured on the pitch, even when you're new to it.

Common questions

Other squad sizes

• Football drills for 4 players
• Football drills for 5 players
• Football drills for 6 players
• Football drills for 8 players
• Football drills for 12 players
• Football drills for 14 players
• Football drills for 16 players
• Football drills for 18 players
• Football drills for 20 players

Drills by age group

• Football drills for U6s
• Football drills for U7s
• Football drills for U8s
• Football drills for U9s
• Football drills for U10s
• Football drills for U11s
• Football drills for U12s
• Football drills for U13s
• Football drills for U14s
• Football drills for U15s
• Football drills for U16s

Browse by session length

• 45 Minute Football Training Session
• 60 Minute Football Training Session
• 75 Minute Football Training Session
• 90 Minute Football Training Session

Kit and space

• Football Drills With No Equipment
• Football Drills With Cones
• Football Drills With Mini Goals
• Football Drills With One Ball
• Football Drills for Limited Space
• Football Drills for Small Groups
• Football Drills for Large Groups