Wet Weather Football Drills

1. Non-stop passing gates

Constant movement and short passing

Set up

Scatter small gates in a 30 x 30 yard area. Pairs pass through as many gates as they can in 60 seconds.

Coaching points

Pass along the ground — a wet ball skids, so use the side of the foot and a firm pass.

Make it harder

Two touches maximum, then one touch.

2. Tag and dribble

Warming up fast

Set up

Everyone dribbles in a box. Two taggers without a ball try to tag dribblers; tagged players do five toe taps and rejoin.

Coaching points

Small touches to stay balanced on a slippy surface.

Make it harder

Add more taggers every minute.

3. Wet-ball shooting

Finishing and goalkeeper handling

Set up

Players take a touch and shoot low from 12-15 yards. Strikers follow in for rebounds.

Coaching points

Low shots are hard to hold on a wet day — follow every shot in.

Make it harder

Shots from a lay-off pass to add a first touch.

4. Small-box 3 v 3

Short, sharp games

Set up

Several 20 x 15 yard boxes with 3 v 3 games. Games last 2 minutes, then winners move up a pitch.

Coaching points

Keep the ball on the floor. Defenders stay on their feet — no sliding.

Make it harder

Goals only count from a pass inside the final third.

5. Relay races

Fun finish that keeps them warm

Set up

Teams of four. Dribble around a cone 15 yards away and back, then pass to the next player.

Coaching points

Control the ball before turning — wet grass punishes big touches.

Make it harder

Weaker foot only, or add a slalom.

Should you train football in the rain?

Light rain is fine if players keep moving and the surface is safe. Cancel for lightning, waterlogged pitches or when the cold makes it unsafe for young players.

How do you keep kids warm at wet training?

Give every player a ball, avoid lines and long explanations, use short games and finish with a lively relay. Shorten the session if players are getting cold.

What drills work best on a wet pitch?

Short passing, dribbling with small touches, low shooting and small-sided games. Avoid long-ball practices and anything with sliding or sharp turning on slippy areas.