Football Drills for 18 Players

Drill categories on this page

• football passing drills (10)
• football dribbling drills (6)
• football defending drills (8)
• football possession drills (6)
• football small-sided games drills (4)
• football warm ups drills (17)
• football finishing drills (6)

A football warm up for 18 players

Large groups need a warm up that runs itself. With 18 players, split into two areas from the start so nobody spends the first ten minutes standing in a line.

1. 1

   Ball each in two areas

   4 min

   Two 20 x 20 squares side by side, half the group in each. Dribbling with turn calls and a shark game to finish.

2. 2

   Movement prep

   4 min

   Both groups run the same channel work: jog, side shuffle, open the gate, two build-up runs. One instruction covers everyone.

3. 3

   Rondos in fours

   5 min

   3 rondo squares of 4v2 running at once. Rotate the pressers on a whistle so it stays competitive.

One instruction, two identical areas — that is how you keep a big squad warm and busy when you are coaching alone.

More football warm up drills

Setting up football training drills for 18 players

18 players is a full squad night. Two areas beat one big game almost every time: the ball reaches more players, and you can set a different constraint on each pitch.

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 areas, same practice in each, swap the groups at halfway.
• 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 18 players

Filtered on the player range recorded for each drill, so every practice runs properly with 18 on the pitch.

More practices that fit

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

• Activation Circuit — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Agility Diamond — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 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 Overloads 3v2 — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Attacking Shape & Width — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 12 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
• 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
• Ball Mastery Toolbox — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Tag & Fun Games — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Tag Conditioning Game — football fitness drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Under 12
• Beat The Press Game — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
• Build Up From Goal Kicks — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Building From The Keeper — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Challenge Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Challenge Pass and Move Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Challenge Rondo Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 8 to Adults
• Challenge Stretch Circle Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Challenge Walk and Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Challenge Youth Movement Games — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 11
• Change Of Direction Mirror — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Circuit Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Circuit Pass and Move Warm Up — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Circuit Rondo Warm Up — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• Circuit Stretch Circle Cool Down — cool downs drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Circuit Walk and Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Circuit Youth Movement Games — football fitness drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Under 11
• Colour Call Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Colour Call Pass and Move Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Colour Call Rondo Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 8 to Adults

Session plans for a squad this size

• U12 Defending Session Plan (75 Minutes, Free) — defending & pressing, 14 players, 75 minutes
• U14 Possession Session Plan (90 Minutes, Free) — possession & playing out, 16 players, 90 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 10 players
• Football drills for 12 players
• Football drills for 14 players
• Football drills for 16 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