Soccer Drills for Kids
Updated
The best soccer drills for kids are short games where everyone has a ball or plays in a small group, not lines and laps. Match them to age: dribbling games for U6, 1v1s and 4v4 for U8, passing and 2v1s for U10, and team play for U12. Keep explanations short and end every practice with a scrimmage.
On this page
Soccer drills for kids by age
Each age page has 10 to 12 drills grouped by skill, each with a diagram, coaching points and ways to make it easier or harder, plus a sample practice and an 8-week season plan.
- U6 drills (ages 4–6)11 games for dribbling, ball mastery, first passes and 1v1s, a 45-minute plan, an 8-week season and ideas for 3 year olds.
- U8 drills (ages 6–8)12 drills, from Sharks and Minnows and juggling to shooting and 2v1s, with a 60-minute plan and an 8-week season.
- U10 drills (ages 8–10)11 drills for passing, receiving, 1v1s, defending and goalkeeping, a 7v7 build-out game and an 8-week season.
- U12 drills (ages 10–12)12 drills for possession, finishing, defending in pairs, goalkeeping and switching play, with an 8-week season.
All drills by skill
Every drill on our age pages, grouped by the skill it teaches. Find the skill you want to work on, then your team's age group.
Two drills work at every age and are shown in full below: the Ball Mastery Warm-Up and Partner Passing Through a Gate.
How to choose youth soccer drills by age
Start from the game your players play on the weekend. A drill should look like a small piece of that game: the same ball size, a similar number of players near the ball, and goals or targets to aim at. US Soccer's formats give you the frame:
| Age group | Game format (US Soccer) | Focus at practice | Our plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| U6 (ages 4–6) | 1v1 to 2v2 (U.S. WAY); 4v4, no goalkeepers (PDI) | Dribbling, stopping the ball, scoring; one ball each | 45 min |
| U8 (ages 6–8) | Up to 4v4, no goalkeepers | Dribbling, turning, 1v1 and 2v1, first passing, spreading out | 60 min |
| U10 (ages 8–10) | Up to 7v7 with goalkeepers and a build-out line | Passing and receiving, 1v1 and 2v1, goalkeeping, playing out from the keeper | 75 min |
| U12 (ages 10–12) | Up to 9v9 | Possession, defending in pairs, finishing, transition, switching play | 75 min |
US Soccer's 2026 U.S. WAY guidance treats these as maximum formats and says smaller games can be played at every age, which is exactly what good drills do. If your team sits between two pages, start with the younger page and use the "make it harder" ideas on each card. To check which age group a player belongs in this season, see youth soccer age groups.
Fun soccer drills for kids: what makes a good one
The drills on our pages follow the same rules. Use them to judge any drill you find.
- Lots of touches. One ball per player in the warm-up, groups of two to five after that. If kids spend more time waiting than playing, change the drill.
- Games over lines. If more than two or three kids are waiting, split the group and set up a second area with a parent helper.
- Short explanations. Name the game, show it once and start playing within 30 seconds. Coach during the game, one point at a time.
- Make it look like soccer. Goals, opponents and a direction teach decisions. Dribbling around cones alone doesn't.
- Keep score, celebrate effort. Personal bests and team challenges keep kids engaged; praise brave tries as much as goals.
- Safe and positive. Water breaks and shin guards, no running or push-ups as punishment, and no heading drills for U11 and younger. US Soccer doesn't allow heading through U11 and limits heading practice at U12.
- Always end with a scrimmage. The game is the best teacher, and it's why kids come back.
Top soccer drills for beginners
New to soccer at any age? These soccer drills for beginners need no experience, give lots of touches and take seconds to explain. Start with the two below, then try the favorites from our age pages.
Team A Team B Coach Keeper Cone Pass Run Dribble Shot
Ball Mastery Warm-Up
Focus: Comfort on the ball with both feet: toe taps, sole rolls, inside touches and pull-backs
How it works
- Toe taps: tap the top of the ball with the sole of each foot in turn, like a drum.
- Sole rolls: roll the ball side to side under the sole of one foot, then the other.
- Inside touches: knock the ball back and forth between the insides of both feet.
- Pull-backs: roll the ball back with the sole, turn and dribble the other way.
- Finish by dribbling around the square and doing a move every time the coach claps.
Coaching points
- Stay on your toes with your knees slightly bent
- Soft, light touches keep the ball close
- Try to look up while you do each move
- Count touches in 30 seconds and try to beat it next time
Make it easier or harder
- Easier: one foot at a time, slowly
- Harder: do the moves while moving forward, or faster with eyes up
- Home challenge: practice 5 minutes a day and track your best 30-second toe-tap count
Partner Passing Through a Gate
Focus: Passing with the inside of the foot and controlling the ball, the first skills every beginner needs
How it works
- Pass through the gate to your partner with the inside of your foot.
- Your partner stops the ball with one touch, then passes back. Each pass through the gate is a point.
- Count points in 60 seconds, then try to beat your score.
- Switch feet each round: right foot, left foot, then either.
Coaching points
- Plant your standing foot beside the ball, pointing at your partner
- Lock your ankle, toe up, and strike through the middle of the ball
- Receive with a soft foot that gives a little as the ball arrives
- Keep the pass on the ground
Make it easier or harder
- Easier: stand closer, or make the gate wider
- Harder: one-touch passes, or take a step back after every five good passes
- Control with one foot and pass with the other
More beginner favorites
- Red Light, Green Light: dribbling and stopping the ball. The easiest first game for any new player.
- Goal Rush: dozens of shots for every player, with no line.
- Sharks and Minnows: dribbling past defenders in a game most kids already know.
- Turn Challenge: four simple turns every player should know.
- 1v1 Channels: the simplest way to learn to beat a defender, and to defend.
- Passing Square: passing and receiving on the move, good for older beginners.
Older beginners (10 and up) still learn a lot from the simple games. Use the harder progressions so the challenge fits.
Soccer practice plan template for kids
Good soccer practice for kids follows the same shape at every age: warm up with the ball, learn a skill in a game, test it against opponents, then play. Here's how week 1 of each age group's plan splits the time, in minutes:
| Block | What it's for | U6 | U8 | U10 | U12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | Every player on the ball right away | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Skill games | Technique or one team idea with light pressure | 10 | 10 | 24 | 12 |
| Game-like drills | 1v1s, 2v1s, shooting and small games with goals | 10 | 20 | 15 | 29 |
| Water breaks | Two or three short breaks | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Scrimmage | The real game format, with little coaching | 13 | 15 | 20 | 18 |
| Total | 45 | 60 | 75 | 75 |
Copy the structure, swap drills in and out, and keep the scrimmage. Set up every area before players arrive and write the plan on a card. For what to run after week 1, each age page has an 8-week season plan with one focus per week, bringing games back so players already know the rules.
Youth soccer practice equipment checklist
- Balls: one per player plus two or three spares. Size 3 for U6–U8 and size 4 for U9–U12, matching US Soccer's small-sided standards.
- Cones: 20–30 flat disc cones for gates and grids, plus four taller cones for corners.
- Pinnies: two colors, enough for half the team in each.
- Small goals: two to four pop-up goals; cone goals work in a pinch. For game goals, see soccer goal sizes by age.
- Ball pump and needle.
- Water for every player, plus spare water on hot days.
- First aid kit and ice packs, and parents' emergency contact numbers.
- Shin guards on every player at every practice.
- Your plan on a card or phone, with drill names and minutes.
Ask each family to bring a ball with their child's name on it. You'll start every practice with one ball per player and spend less time chasing team balls.
From practice to game day
Practice builds the skills; game day has its own jobs: positions, subs and fair minutes. Our youth soccer positions guide explains roles in each format, and the youth substitution strategy guide shows how to rotate players so everyone gets a fair share of the game.
Plan fair subs and playing time for game day in 30 seconds
Open the plannerFrequently asked questions
What are the best soccer drills for kids?
Short games where every child is active: dribbling games like Red Light, Green Light and Sharks and Minnows, 1v1 and 2v1 battles, partner passing through gates, small rondos and small-sided games with goals. Pick drills that match your players' age and game format, and finish every practice with a scrimmage.
What are good soccer drills for beginners?
Start with ball mastery (toe taps, sole rolls and pull-backs), partner passing through a cone gate, Red Light, Green Light for dribbling and stopping, and simple 1v1 games. They need little explanation, give lots of touches and work for beginners of any age. Older beginners can use the harder progressions.
How long should a kids soccer practice be?
Our plans use 45 minutes for U6, 60 minutes for U8 and 75 minutes for U10 and U12. Younger players lose focus quickly, so shorter sessions with more variety work better. Whatever the length, keep each drill to about 8 to 15 minutes and save the last 13 to 20 minutes for a scrimmage.
How many drills should be in one soccer practice?
Three or four, plus a warm-up and a scrimmage. More than that means more time explaining and moving cones. Choose drills that build on each other, such as dribbling, then 1v1, then a small game. Across a season, give each week one focus and bring favorite games back every few weeks, as our 8-week plans do.
How do you make soccer practice fun for kids?
Make every activity a game with a score or a challenge, give every child a ball or a small group, keep explanations under 30 seconds and finish with a scrimmage. Use stories for young kids, like pirates and sharks, and personal bests for older ones. Never use running or push-ups as punishment.
What equipment do you need for youth soccer practice?
One ball per player (size 3 for U6 to U8, size 4 for U9 to U12), 20 to 30 disc cones, pinnies in two colors, two to four small goals, a ball pump, water, a first aid kit and shin guards for every player. A printed practice plan helps too.
Should kids practice heading the ball?
Not before U12. US Soccer doesn't allow heading for U11 and younger, in games or in practice. At U12, heading is allowed in games, with practice limited to 30 minutes per week and 15 to 20 headers per player per week. None of the drills on our pages involve heading.
Sources
- US Soccer U.S. WAY: age-appropriate game formats (2026)
- US Soccer Player Development Initiatives (small-sided standards), Oct 2017
- US Soccer Player Development Initiatives FAQ, Oct 2017
Leagues, states and tournaments can set their own rules. When in doubt, check with your league.