Soccer skills are an essential part of any soccer player’s training. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, having the right drills for soccer practice can help you become a better player.
Coaches and players can use many different types of beginner soccer drills to improve their skills, from dribbling and passing to defending and shooting. Here we will look at 27 soccer drills for beginners that every soccer coach and player should know.
These drills focus on basic skills such as dribbling, passing, receiving, defending, shooting, and more. They also teach players how to use the inside of their feet to keep the ball, how to keep their heads up when they have the ball, how to kick the ball back and forth between two players, how to score a goal using both feet, and more.
With these drills, coaches can teach players how to keep possession of the ball under pressure from defenders or opponents. They can also help players learn how to stop the ball, quickly get the ball and put it in play.
Practicing drills regularly can help players develop a wide range of skills, including dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending. It is important to vary the drills and choose those appropriate for the team’s skill level to keep practices interesting and challenging.
Dribbling and Ball Handling Drills
Dribbling is an important skill for any soccer player to master, as it allows them to keep possession of the ball and move it up the field. Here are some drills to help beginners improve their dribbling and ball-handling skills:
Before diving into specific dribbling drills, reviewing some basic dribbling tips is helpful. This can include techniques for ball control, body positioning, and changes of direction.
Dribble on an open field: This simple drill involves players dribbling around an open field. Players must focus on maintaining control and making quick direction changes. All this drill needs is a soccer ball and an open space to dribble.
The Tunnel: This drill involves setting up a series of cones in a straight line to create a “tunnel” for players to dribble through. The aim is for players to control the ball and use quick direction changes to navigate the cones.
Obstacle Course: This drill involves setting up a series of cones, obstacles, or other objects for players to dribble around. Players should focus on maintaining control of the ball and making quick direction changes to navigate the course.
Freeze: This drill involves the first player dribbling the ball while the rest of the team tries to steal it. If a player successfully steals the ball, the dribbler must freeze until the ball is returned to them.
Inside-Outside Circles: This drill involves players dribbling around a series of cones set up in a circular pattern. Players should focus on using both the inside and outside of their feet to maintain control of the ball and make quick direction changes.
Side-to-Side Taps: This drill involves players tapping the ball back and forth between their feet while dribbling. This helps to improve ball control and coordination.
Dribbling Speedway: This drill involves players dribbling the ball around a series of cones set up in a straight line. Players should focus on maintaining control of the ball and making quick direction changes to navigate the cones.
This drill needs a soccer ball and a set of cones. Place a series of cones in a straight line to set up the drill, leaving enough space between them for players to dribble through.
Players should start at one end of the line and dribble around each cone, using quick direction changes to navigate through the “speedway.”
Red Light Green Light Soccer: This drill involves one player acting as the “traffic light” while the rest of the team dribbles the ball around the field.
The traffic light can call out “red light” at any time, causing the players to stop dribbling. If a player is caught dribbling when the traffic light calls out “red light,” they are eliminated from the game. The traffic light can also call out “green light,” and the players can resume dribbling. The last player remaining is the winner.
Passing and Trapping Drills
Passing and trapping are essential skills for any soccer player, allowing them to move the ball up the field and maintain possession. Here are some drills to help beginners improve their passing and trapping skills:
Passing Tips: Reviewing basic passing tips before diving into specific passing drills is helpful. This can include techniques for striking the ball, accuracy, and communication with teammates.
Trapping Tips: In addition to passing, trapping is an important skill for any soccer player to master. This involves receiving the ball with different parts of the foot, including the inside, outside, and top of the foot.
Partner Passing and Trapping: This drill involves pairs of players passing and trapping the ball back and forth between them. Players should focus on using proper techniques and communicating with their partners.
Pressure Passing: This drill involves players passing the ball back and forth under a defender’s pressure. Players should focus on making quick, accurate passes to maintain possession.
Pickle in the Middle: This drill involves a group of players passing the ball around a “pickle” (a player standing in the middle) while trying to avoid being tagged by the pickle. The pickle can only move within a small area and must try to intercept the ball as it is passed around the circle.
Looped Passing Drill: This drill involves players passing the ball in a looping pattern, with each player making a pass to the next player in the circle. Players should focus on making accurate passes and communicating with their teammates.
To see this drill in action, check out this video!
Shooting Drills for Soccer Players
Shooting is an important skill for any soccer player, allowing them to score goals and help their team win. Here are some drills to help beginners improve their shooting skills:
Shooting Tips: Reviewing basic shooting tips before diving into specific shooting drills is helpful. This can include techniques for striking the ball, aiming, and generating power.
Ghostbuster Soccer: This drill involves players attempting to score goals while being chased by “ghosts” (defenders). Players should focus on shooting accurately and quickly to evade the ghosts and score goals.
Pin Knock Over (Soccer Style!): This drill involves players shooting at a set of pins (or cones) set up in the goal. Players should focus on accuracy and power as they try to knock over the pins with their shots.
Poly Spot Shot: This drill involves players shooting at a set of small, numbered spots marked on the goal. Players should focus on accuracy and aim as they try to hit specific spots with their shots.
Receive and Shoot: This drill involves players receiving passes from teammates and shooting on goal. Players should focus on trapping the ball and shooting accurately in one fluid motion.
Dribble and Shoot!: This drill involves players dribbling the ball toward the goal and shooting on the net. Players should focus on maintaining ball control and shooting accurately while under pressure.
Target Shot: This drill involves players shooting at a series of small, numbered targets placed in the goal. Players should focus on accuracy and aim as they try to hit specific targets with their shots.
Defensive Soccer Drills for Beginners
Defending is an important skill for any soccer player, allowing them to protect their own goal and prevent the opposing team from scoring. Here are some drills to help beginners improve their defensive skills:
Pirates and Sailors: This drill involves two teams, one acting as “pirates” and the other acting as “sailors.” The pirates try to steal the ball from the sailors while the sailors try to keep possession and score goals.
Sharks and Minnows: This drill involves a group of players (the “minnows”) trying to keep possession of the ball while being chased by a “shark” (a single defender). The minnows must pass the ball to each other and try to evade the shark, while the shark tries to intercept the ball and become a minnow themselves.
King of the Ring: This drill involves a group of players passing the ball around a designated “ring” while a defender tries to intercept the ball and become the new “king” of the ring. The game continues until the ball is intercepted, at which point the new king becomes the defender and the previous defender becomes a passer.
Best Soccer Drills for Goalies
Goalkeeping is a crucial position in soccer, requiring a unique set of skills and techniques to protect the goal and make saves. Here are some drills to help beginners improve their goalkeeping skills:
Basic ball handling: This drill involves the goalkeeper practicing basic ball-handling skills, such as catching, throwing, and rolling.
Goalie practice: This drill involves the goalkeeper practicing making saves on shots from their teammates.
Partner High Ball: This drill involves the goalkeeper practicing catching high balls with a partner. The partner throws the ball to the goalkeeper, who must get and control it.
Movement Drill: This drill involves the goalkeeper practicing movement and positioning in the goal. The coach can set up various shooting situations for the goalkeeper to react to and make saves.
Fun Soccer Drills for 5 year olds
If you’re looking for fun soccer drills for 5 year olds, you’ll want to focus on teaching the game’s basic skills. These young players are just learning to play soccer, so ensure they have fun while learning.
One of the best soccer drills for kids this age is to have them practice dribbling the soccer ball around cones or other small obstacles. This helps them develop their ball control and dribbling skills. Another great soccer drill is a “1v1” that helps kids learn how to steal the ball from opponents and defend their possession.
To enhance the basic skills further, you can use the inside and outside of their feet to help players learn to move the ball in different directions more precisely. You can also try “passing drills,” in which players must pass the ball to each other while maintaining control and running toward a designated spot.
It’s also a good idea to include some “shooting drills” where players learn how to aim for the goal and score. It’s also important to encourage young players to keep their heads up and be aware of their teammates on the soccer field.
To do that, you can include the drill where players should pass the ball by only using their heads, and make sure that the soccer drills and games you’re using are age-appropriate. These drills and games will help players develop basic soccer skills, foster a love for the game, and build teamwork skills.
In addition to the drill, it’s essential to include coaching sessions, providing tips and guidance, which will help players to understand the game better.
Beginner soccer drills are essential to any player’s training routine. Whether you are a coach or a player, practicing drills regularly can help to improve skills and techniques on the field.
Various drills include dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending. It is important to choose drills that are appropriate for the team’s skill level and to vary the drills to keep practices interesting and challenging.
Players can improve their game and reach their full potential with consistent practice and dedication.