Football drills for kids

1. Traffic lights dribbling

Close control and listening

Set up

A 20x20 yard box, a ball each. Green means dribble, amber means slow dribble with the sole of the foot, red means stop the ball dead and stand still.

Coaching points

Small touches, head up to avoid others, stop the ball with the sole not the toe.

Make it harder

Add colours that mean a turn, a skill move or a change of direction.

2. Sharks and minnows

Dribbling under light pressure

Set up

All players dribble from one side of a 25x20 yard area to the other. One or two sharks without a ball try to kick balls out. Survivors go again.

Coaching points

Look for the space, shield the ball with your body, accelerate once you are past.

Make it harder

Every player knocked out becomes a shark, so the game builds pressure each round.

3. Cone knockdown

Passing accuracy and fun competition

Set up

Stand cones in a line across the middle of a 20x20 yard area. Two teams pass from behind their own line and score a point for every cone they knock over.

Coaching points

Side of the foot, ankle locked, look at the target before you strike.

Make it harder

Move the cones further away, or allow only one-touch passes from a rolling ball.

4. Animal races

Movement, coordination and energy

Set up

Two lines of cones 12 yards apart. Players move across as different animals: crab walks, bear crawls, frog jumps, cheetah sprints, then a lap dribbling a ball.

Coaching points

Keep it playful, praise effort, make each rep short so everybody stays fresh.

Make it harder

Race in pairs, then repeat the last two rounds with a ball at their feet.

5. Score in the gates

First touch and finding space

Set up

Four cone gates spread around a 25x25 yard area. Two teams keep the ball and score a point by passing through any gate to a teammate.

Coaching points

Spread out, take your first touch away from the defender, look for the next gate.

Make it harder

Add a fifth gate in the middle worth two points to encourage forward passes.

6. Rockets and shooting stars

Striking the ball at goal

Set up

Players queue 12 yards from goal, take a touch out of their feet and shoot. Everybody has three lives and keeps score of their own goals.

Coaching points

Plant the standing foot, strike with the laces, follow the ball in for a rebound.

Make it harder

Pass in from the side so players finish a moving ball, then add a keeper.

7. Numbers game 2v2

Small-sided decision making

Set up

Two teams line up behind opposite goals with numbers. Call two numbers per team for a 2v2 to the first goal or 60 seconds, then rotate.

Coaching points

Support your partner, one goes forward and one stays, shoot when you see the goal.

Make it harder

Call three numbers for a 3v3, or make the first pass count as an assist point.

8. World Cup finish

Ending the session on a high

Set up

Pairs play as countries around one goal with a keeper. Score to progress to the next round, last pair out each round is eliminated.

Coaching points

Stay alive to rebounds, shoot early, celebrate every goal.

Make it harder

Restart each round with the coach serving a difficult ball into the area.

What are good football drills for kids?

The best drills for kids are simple to explain, give every child a ball or plenty of touches, and feel like a game. Traffic lights dribbling, sharks and minnows, cone knockdown and small-sided 2v2s all work from age five upwards with nothing more than balls, cones and bibs.

How long should a kids football session be?

45 minutes for U5 to U8 and around an hour for U9 to U11. Split it into short blocks of 8-10 minutes so attention stays high, and finish with a game every single session.

How do I keep young players engaged?

Use names and stories, keep queues short, give every player a ball where possible, and rotate the activity before they get bored rather than after. Competition with a quick scoreboard helps, as long as everybody gets a fresh start each round.

What equipment do I need for kids football drills?

Balls, cones and bibs cover almost everything on this page. Mini goals help for finishing and small-sided games, but two cones make a perfectly good goal.

Should young kids do fitness work?

No separate fitness work is needed. Ball-based games, dribbling races and small-sided matches give plenty of running while developing technique at the same time.