Drill category

Football small-sided games drills

Small-sided games are where the session theme gets tested. Conditioned 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 games keep everyone involved and decisions constant.

What to coach

Condition the game, not the players
Short games, quick resets
Coach in the natural stoppages

Filter the small-sided games drills Football session plans

All 89 football small-sided games drills

Every drill below has its own page with the full setup, coaching points, progressions and a pitch diagram.

Four Goal Game — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
World Cup Tournament — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
3v3 Continuous Games — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
2v2 Rapid Tournament — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
6v6 Thirds Conditioned Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: Two-Touch Limit — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: Weak Foot Only — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: Tempo Clock — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: Scan and Cue — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: Shadow Pressure — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 8 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: Score Challenge — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Four Goal Dribble Game: 1-to-1 Session — dribbling drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: Two-Touch Limit — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: Weak Foot Only — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: Tempo Clock — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: Scan and Cue — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: Shadow Pressure — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: Score Challenge — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Goal Finishing Game: 1-to-1 Session — finishing drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Switch To Score — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Five Second Counter-Press — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Target Zone Bonus — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Overload Rotation — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Restart Realism — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Two-Goal Decision — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Limited Touch Build-Up — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Switch To Score — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Five Second Counter-Press — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Target Zone Bonus — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Overload Rotation — possession drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Restart Realism — possession drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Two-Goal Decision — possession drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
Keep Away With Neutrals: Limited Touch Build-Up — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Switch To Score — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Five Second Counter-Press — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Target Zone Bonus — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Overload Rotation — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Restart Realism — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Two-Goal Decision — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
Beat The Press Game: Limited Touch Build-Up — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Switch To Score — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Five Second Counter-Press — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Target Zone Bonus — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Overload Rotation — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Restart Realism — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Two-Goal Decision — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 Transition Game: Limited Touch Build-Up — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Switch To Score — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Five Second Counter-Press — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Target Zone Bonus — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Overload Rotation — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 6 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Restart Realism — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Two-Goal Decision — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 6 to Adults
4v4 To Mini Goals: Limited Touch Build-Up — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Switch To Score — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Five Second Counter-Press — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Target Zone Bonus — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Overload Rotation — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Restart Realism — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Two-Goal Decision — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
5v5 With Keepers: Limited Touch Build-Up — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Switch To Score — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Five Second Counter-Press — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Target Zone Bonus — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Overload Rotation — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Restart Realism — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Two-Goal Decision — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
Three Team Rotation Games: Limited Touch Build-Up — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Switch To Score — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Five Second Counter-Press — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Target Zone Bonus — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Overload Rotation — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Restart Realism — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Two-Goal Decision — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Directional Possession Match: Limited Touch Build-Up — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Switch To Score — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Five Second Counter-Press — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Target Zone Bonus — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Overload Rotation — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Restart Realism — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Two-Goal Decision — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
Wide Channel Game: Limited Touch Build-Up — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Progressive Tempo — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Ball For Every Player — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Reaction Start — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Partner Race — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Mobility Focus — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Change Of Direction — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
Football Endurance Intervals: Team Target — speed & agility drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults

Drills by age group

Small-Sided Games drill questions coaches ask

How many football small-sided games drills are there on Football Coach Hub?

There are 89 football small-sided games drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.

What equipment do I need for small-sided games drills?

Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.

How long should a small-sided games practice last?

Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.