Football Drills for 8 Players

Drill categories on this page

• football passing drills (6)
• football shooting drills (5)
• football dribbling drills (7)
• football defending drills (12)
• football possession drills (6)
• football small-sided games drills (3)
• football warm ups drills (1)
• football finishing drills (11)

A football warm up for 8 players

With 8 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 two 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 3v1 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 8 players

8 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 8 players

Filtered on the player range recorded for each drill, so every practice runs properly with 8 on the pitch.

More practices that fit

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

• Aerial Control Practice — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Angle And Go — pressing drill, 8 min, Under 6 to Under 16
• Angle Attack — shooting drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Under 16
• Angle Finish — finishing drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Adults
• Angle Finish Lane — shooting drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Under 12
• Angle of Attack — crossing drill, 11 min, Under 8 to Adults
• Angle Run Game — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Under 16
• Angle Shield — goalkeeping drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Under 16
• Around The Pole — ball mastery drill, 16 min, Under 7 to Under 16
• Attacking Corners Practice — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 10 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 Throw In Routines — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Back Door Block — defending drill, 14 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Back Four Shifting Shape — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Back Pedal Catch — goalkeeping drill, 10 min, Under 7 to Under 16
• Back Post Bounce — crossing drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Back Post Race — attacking drill, 14 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Back To Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Back-Post Bank — heading drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Back-to-Front Build — passing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Backspin Control — first touch drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Adults
• Ball Mastery Toolbox — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Move Circuit — possession drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Stop Relay — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Under 14
• Ball Tag & Fun Games — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Barrier Break — set pieces drill, 10 min, Under 8 to Adults
• Bibs And Borders — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Under 14
• Blind Side Break — pressing drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Blindside Pop — heading drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Block & Slide Tackle Technique — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Blue to Red — transition drill, 17 min, Under 7 to Adults
• Bounce and Break — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Under 16
• Bounce And Burst — small-sided games drill, 10 min, Under 7 to Under 16
• Bounce and Finish — heading drill, 13 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Bounce And Open — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 7 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
• U9 Shooting & Finishing Session Plan (60 Minutes, Free) — shooting & finishing, 12 players, 60 minutes
• U7 First Football Session Plan (45 Minutes, Free) — fun & ball mastery, 8 players, 45 minutes

Related Football Drills & Sessions

• 1v1 Defending — defending football drill
• 1v1 End Zone Duels — dribbling football drill
• 1v1 Gate Attack — dribbling football drill
• U10 Passing Session Plan (60 Minutes, Free)
• U8 Dribbling Session Plan (45 Minutes, Free)
• Explore all football drills by age, topic and squad size

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 10 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