Under 8s learn football through games, not lectures. The best U8 drills have a story, give every child a ball for as long as possible and can be made easier or harder without stopping the session. The ten drills below cover dribbling, turning, passing, shooting, 1v1s and 5v5 — enough for a full half-term of under 8s training.
How to structure a U8 session
- 1. Arrival game (8 min) — a ball each, a silly name, zero queues.
- 2. Skill game (10 min) — dribbling, turning or passing with a scoring element.
- 3. Skill with pressure (10 min) — the same theme with a chaser or a time limit.
- 4. Shooting or 1v1 (10 min) — the bit they will tell their parents about.
- 5. 5v5 match (15 min) — let them play and rotate teams often.
10 fun football drills for under 8s
1. Cops and robbers
Dribbling with a purpose
- Set up
- Put a pile of cones ('treasure') in the middle of a 20x20 yard area. Players dribble in, collect one cone and dribble back to their home base.
- Coaching points
- Head up to spot a gap, small quick touches, protect the ball on the way home.
- Make it harder
- Add one 'cop' without a ball who can tag robbers and send them back.
2. Traffic lights
Ball mastery and stopping the ball
- Set up
- Everyone dribbles inside the area. Green means dribble, amber means slow toe taps, red means stop the ball with the sole of the foot.
- Coaching points
- React to the call, keep the ball within one stride, stop it dead.
- Make it harder
- Add colours for skills: blue = drag back, yellow = inside-foot cut.
3. Sharks and minnows
Dribbling under pressure
- Set up
- Minnows dribble across a 20x20 yard box while two sharks without balls try to kick the balls out.
- Coaching points
- Move into space, shield the ball with your body, change speed to escape.
- Make it harder
- Players who lose their ball become sharks too.
4. Pass through the gate
Short passing accuracy
- Set up
- Pairs stand 8 yards apart with a two-cone gate between them. Score a point for every pass that rolls through the gate.
- Coaching points
- Inside of the foot, non-kicking foot pointing at your partner, firm but friendly weight.
- Make it harder
- Narrow the gate, then move the pairs further apart.
5. Rob the nest
First touch and decision making
- Set up
- Four teams each guard a nest of three balls. On 'go', players dribble balls from other nests back to their own for 90 seconds.
- Coaching points
- Look before you go, take the closest ball, dribble away from crowds.
- Make it harder
- Only balls dribbled (not kicked) into the nest count.
6. Shooting gallery
Striking the ball
- Set up
- Two short lines 8-10 yards from goal. Two touches then shoot low and hard, then jog back to the line.
- Coaching points
- Non-kicking foot alongside the ball, laces through the middle, look at goal before you strike.
- Make it harder
- Add a rolling pass from a server, then a light defender.
7. 1v1 to mini goals
Confidence in duels
- Set up
- A 12x10 yard box with two mini goals at each end. Attacker drives at the defender straight away.
- Coaching points
- Attack at speed, try a big feint, then accelerate past.
- Make it harder
- Swap to 2v1 so the attackers learn to combine.
8. Superhero turns
Learning to turn
- Set up
- Dribble to a cone and perform a named turn (drag back, chop, stop turn) before returning. Give each turn a superhero name.
- Coaching points
- Slow down before the turn, use the side of the foot, explode out of it.
- Make it harder
- Add a coach call so the turn is a surprise.
9. Four-goal game
Finding space
- Set up
- 3v3 or 4v4 on a 25x20 yard pitch with two goals to attack at each end.
- Coaching points
- Switch to the free goal, spread out, look up after the first touch.
- Make it harder
- Award two points for scoring in the goal you switched to.
10. 5v5 free play
Putting it together
- Set up
- Finish every U8 session with a 5v5 match on a 30x25 yard pitch. Rotate teams every three minutes.
- Coaching points
- Let them play. One short message linked to the session theme, then back to the game.
- Make it harder
- Everyone plays everywhere — no fixed positions at U8.
U8 football drill FAQs
What are the best football drills for U8s?
Games with a story and a ball each work best: cops and robbers, sharks and minnows, traffic lights and rob the nest. Add a simple passing or shooting drill and finish with 5v5 so every player gets plenty of touches and a real game.
How long should a U8 football training session be?
Around 45 to 60 minutes. Use four or five short activities of 6-12 minutes each rather than two long ones, because attention spans at under 8s are short and queues kill enjoyment.
Should U8s be taught heading or tackling drills?
No deliberate heading is recommended at U8 in England, and Football Coach Hub hides heading drills for age groups under U12 automatically. Tackling is introduced through 1v1 and small-sided games rather than isolated tackling practices.
How many players should be in a U8 drill?
Keep groups to eight or fewer per activity and play 5v5 matches, which is the standard England format at U8. Small groups mean more touches, more decisions and far less standing around.
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