Football | Football Drills

Two teams line up side by side behind their cones. When the player with the ball sets off to run around the cone the drill is live. The player with the ball must run around the cone and then try to score a goal in the defender's side goal by dribbling the ball across the line. This will score them a point. The defenders have to try and force the player to run across their own goal line or tackle them and run the ball over the line themselves. The winner is the first team to 3 goals. After this you can swap the roles around, with the attackers now defending and vice versa.

With the signal given by a player and then the corner taker, the ball is delivered to the signal-giver at the front post. This player then plays a 1,2 with the corner taker, who then crosses the ball to the back post. Here, one of three players who have made a run from the edge of the box should be able to attack the ball. The rest of the team should make runs to create space and time for the pass to happen.

Setup: 50 x 40 with wide zone for full backs / wingers Explanation:   Ball starts with either the coach or either GK. Once the ball is in play, the defending team are tasked with getting immediate pressure on the ball from front to back. 1st and 2nd defenders show press aggressively and force the opposition to play backwards or side wards or long. Look for clear communication from players in positions behind to help support the closest players to the ball. Aim is to win the ball back and counter attack quickly or regain controlled possession.

The 5 attackers must get the ball from one end zone to the other without losing possession to the defenders. Encourages use of width, depth and possession.

3 teams of 6: red blue and yellow. Set up an area starting at the edge of the penalty box, 44 yards wide and about 20 yards long. 2 teams start in the area with the other team spaced evenly around the edge. Games of 6 vs 6 using the outside players as extras for whichever team has the ball: 3 minute rotation (including the players on the outside) The aim of this is for teams to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible. The players on the outside are 2 touch only. 6 games, so each team plays the others twice.

Four players with one ball can only be outside the square of cones. Only one defender is allowed inside the square. The players on the outside have to pass the ball through the square to score a goal. The ball must remain on the floor. The player in the middle tries to intercept the ball. Players should move the ball around at speed to move the defender out of position and create pass to pass across the square.

3 teams of 6: red blue and yellow. Set up an area starting at the edge of the penalty box, 44 yards wide and about 20 yards long. 2 teams start in the area with the other team spaced evenly around the edge. Games of 6 vs 6 using the outside players as extras for whichever team has the ball: 3 minute rotation (including the players on the outside) The aim of this is for teams to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible. The players on the outside are 2 touch only. Have a goal at each end with Goalkeepers. The 2 outside players (yellow) nearest the top goal are numbered "1" and those nearest the bottom goal are numbered "2". One team attacks towards the end with the "1" players, the other towards the "2" players. Once a team in the area has had 6 consecutive passes then they can play the ball to the players "1" or "2" and then can enter the penalty area to shoot at goal. Players "1" or "2" only have 2 touches to pass to the player running in. If players aren't getting enough opportunities to take shots, due to not breaking through Defence then each team can shoot in both goals. This will create more space for both of them. 6 games, so each team plays the others twice.

3 teams of 2, with 2 teams combining to play against the 3rd team. If the 3rd team get the ball, the team that lost the ball becomes the defending team and the other two teams combine to try and keep possession.

The aim of the drill is to work on helping your team keep possession all over the field. The game starts with normal rules, no limitations on touches, with both teams simply trying to score. The game changes when the coach shouts the following: 1. Possession - Players must keep possession in their own half, which of course means they are not allowed to score. If a team wins the ball, they must take the ball to their own half and try and keep it. 2. Normal - Teams return to a normal game and are allowed to score. 3. Barca - Similar to possession, but this time players must attempt to keep the ball in the other teams half, but they are not allowed to score. If the other team wins the ball they must get the ball into their opponent's half and keep it there.

Passing pattern: The ball starts with the player near the corner flag who passes up the line to the next player. the next player must them play a long ball (lofted or driven) the opposite corner player. That player must then control the ball and then pass to the center player who then dribbles back to the start point.

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.

There are two triangles in this drill, both using the same top point player (player 5). Players in the top triangle pass in an anti-clockwise direction and players in the lower triangle pass in a clock-wise direction. Both pairs of players must use the middle player as their third passing option.

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.

In both the wide channels put one defender and two attackers. Both attackers in the same rectangle must touch the ball before trying to pass to the other attackers. However the ball is not allowed to touch the floor in the minefield area (middle box). If the pass doesn't find its intended recipient because it falls short or is intercepted the player who passed the ball swaps over with the defender in their area.