Football Drills

This is an initial pulse raiser to get players focus; physically prepared for the session. Mark out a 20 x 20 grid with cones every 10m. On each line of the grid put a piece of equipment (poles, ladders, hurdles, cones). Put 2 players into bibs (pac men) and everyone else starts spread out next to cone. You can only move alone the lines from cone - cone. If a player comes to a piece of equipment they need to go through it efficiently. If you are caught then you're out or can join the pac men chasing. Introduce balls after a couple of games, where players can take turns to enter skill zone with ball, perform skill; pass to partner (swap).

Set up 2 goals 10-15m apart.  Divide in to 2 groups and line up either side of the goals. 2 from one side and 1 from the other enter. The 2 must beat the defender and score

Straight forward passing and moving drill with only two touches on the ball. The blue players off the ball can only receive the ball at one of the four cones in each corner of the area and the red player is trying to intercept the ball.

The foxes (players) put bibs into the back of their shorts. The farmer (coach) runs around the area attempting to pull the bibs out. When a players bib is pulled out, he becomes a farmer too. Play until 1 fox is left. The players must remain within the confines of the area throughout the activity. Any player running outside the area, automatically becomes a farmer.

Each teams has 3 players and one goal to defend and one to attack. The ball is not allowed to stop or go over head height. By passing and dribbling the ball players must try to score three goals - first to three wins!

Get your players to stand an equal distance around the cones in the middle. There should be one less cone than there are players - so in this instance there are 10 cones and 11 players. On the coach's call players sprint into the middle and try to collect a cone. Once players have collected a cone they should run back to their starting position.

Two lines stand behind a cone, with the defending line standing slightly forward of the attacking line. To start the drill the defender plays the ball in front of the attacker for them to run onto. As soon as the pass is played the drill is live and the attacker must run forward, under pressure from the defender, and shoot once they've entered the 18 yard box.

Position players in groups of 4 as shown in the diagram. Repeat in 2 other areas for a total of 12 players. The server (player 3) stands behind the goalkeeper. He makes a pass out to the shooter who strikes the ball 1st time at the goal. This shot must come from the grid at the right of the diagram. Player 2 retrieves any balls from behind the goal. Repeat and rotate. Progression: Serve the ball for a volley or 1/2 volley.

Player 1 starts the drill of by passing the ball to the wide player. The wide player then crosses the ball into the box on their first touch for both the attacking players to run onto and attack (near and far post runs). Immediately after the two strikers have headed for goal the opposite wide player then delivers in another cross into the box. After the second cross players swap roles (crossers join the queue and the attackers become the two next crossers).

Set up as shown. Player 1 starts with the ball in the middle of the field and plays a 1-2 pass with player 2 before passing out wide to player 3. At this point, players 1 and 2 run towards the penalty area, ready to receive a cross, while one of the defenders goes out wide to put pressure on the crosser. Player 3 will cross the ball into the box where players 1 and 2 will try to beat the defender to it and score.

Player 2 curves their run away from the passer before then cutting back to the ball. Player 2 receives the ball and turns towards goal in 1 fluid motion. Player 2 then delivers a cross for the waiting centre forward.

Set up: 3 Attacking players from each team on each side of one half, taking it in turns. If you have 2 GKs then have a GK for each team Attacking players A1, A2 and A3 positioned as shown in diagram. Description:  A1 passes to A3, and runs towards the penalty area. A2 runs behind A3 to the upper right corner of the field to be passed the ball. A3 then also runs into the penalty area. Out of the 2 strikers running in, the first person who gets to the box is the one who takes the front post. This will usually be A1 as they started running in first. Therefore A3 takes the back post. A2 crosses in and A1/A3 finishes. The opposition have the same set up the other side and they go while the other team is setting up again. Swap the GK for the opposition Having 2 teams makes the drill competitve The teams switch sides after 10 crosses. After 10 crosses each on each side the team who gets the most goals wins and you can make the other team do a forfeit. (For example a high intensity run)  

The drill starts with player 3 moving to the red cone and then coming back to receive pass from player 1. Once player 3 has received the ball player 2 runs forward in support and receives the ball from player 3. Player 2 controls and then plays a long switch ball to the wide player 4 who is on the move down the line. The wing player then runs down the line and swings in a cross for the 3 other players to run onto and attack!

2 players outside the area play a ball into one of their players in the grid.  The 2 players in the grid play 2 v 4 to try and score a goal on the half way line by dribbling the balll through the gate. The 4 players try to win the ball and when they do they have to break as quick as they can and try to score a goal. the only 2 defenders that can stop them are the 2 defenders out side the grid. (Blue dot players)

Organize groups of 6. Station goalkeepers in a goal at each end line. Place 2 players inside the area and 2 wide players outside the area. Goalkeepers should have a supply of balls. Repeat in another area for a total of 12 players. White goalkeeper distributes the ball to player white 1, who advances the ball up the touchline with his first touch and crosses the ball to player white 2 with his second touch. Keepers must stay on their line throughout the practice. Repeat in the opposite direction from red goalkeeper to red player 1 and red player 2. The wide player should attempt to vary his crosses to near, middle and far post positions.

Set up as shown with 2 cones (the disatance of which between can be modified depending on ability or challenge you want to set your players). 1 player on each cone and 1 player in the middle, 1 ball between the 3. Players always take 2 touches, the ball is moved from one end, into the middle man and then to the other end before the sequence is repeated from the other side.