Soccer Drills for 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds

What U6 players need (ages 4 to 6)

Four to six year olds learn soccer by playing with the ball, not by listening, standing in lines or running laps. Plan your U5 and U6 practices around how they think and move:

• Short attention spans. Change the game every 8–10 minutes, and show instead of tell.
• Big imaginations. Pirates, rockets and traffic lights hold attention far better than "cones" and "drills".
• It's "me and my ball". Dribbling, stopping the ball and scoring matter most now. Passing comes later, so give every child a ball.
• They need to succeed. Nobody should be "out" for long. Use rules where players rejoin straight away.
• Huge differences between kids. A 4 year old and a 6 year old can look like they're playing different sports. Make a game easier or harder for one child without stopping everyone.

Games should be small, too. US Soccer's 2026 U.S. WAY guidance calls U5–U6 the "No Structure" stage and suggests 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 games. Its 2017 small-sided standards (the Player Development Initiatives, or PDI) set the U6 game as 4v4 with no goalkeepers, and many leagues still play 4v4 on game day.

Not sure which age group your child plays in this season? Check our youth soccer age groups guide. Buying goals for the backyard? See soccer goal sizes by age.

Easy soccer drills for 5 year olds

These 11 soccer drills (or football drills, as most of the world calls them) work for 4, 5 and 6 year olds and any U5 or U6 team. They're grouped by skill, and every one is a game: each child has a ball or plays in a 1v1 or 2v2, so nobody waits in a long line. Each card shows the setup, the rules, what to say and how to make it easier or harder.

Team A Team B Coach Keeper Cone Pass Run Dribble Shot

Dribbling games

Dribbling is the main skill at this age, so start most practices with one of these.

Red Light, Green Light Dribbling

Focus: Dribbling with close control, stopping the ball, keeping eyes up

Ages

U5–U8 (ages 4–8)

Players

4–12, one ball each

Time

8–10 minutes

Space

20 × 20 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 4 cones

How it works

1. On "Green light", players dribble toward the coach.
2. On "Red light", they stop the ball with the sole of their foot and freeze.
3. Anyone whose ball keeps rolling goes back three steps.
4. The first player to reach the coach's line becomes the next caller.

Coaching points

• Small touches so the ball stays close
• Look up to hear and see the call
• Sole of the foot on top of the ball to stop

Make it easier or harder

• Add "Yellow light" for slow dribbling
• Use the weaker foot only
• Add "Turn!": players turn and dribble back

Gate Dribbling (Count Your Gates)

Focus: Dribbling with both feet, looking up for space, changing direction

Ages

U5–U8 (ages 4–8)

Players

4–12, one ball each

Time

8–10 minutes

Space

25 × 20 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 4 corner cones, 10–12 cones for 5–6 gates

How it works

1. Players dribble through as many gates as they can in 60 seconds, counting out loud.
2. You can't go through the same gate twice in a row.
3. Rest for 30 seconds, then try to beat your own score.
4. Add a new rule each round: left foot only, or stop the ball inside every gate.

Coaching points

• Small touches as you get close to a gate
• Look up to find a gate nobody else is using
• Use both feet and both the inside and outside of the foot

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: make the gates 3 yards wide
• Harder: shrink the gates to 1 yard, or the coach closes a gate by standing in it
• Follow the leader: one partner dribbles, the other follows and copies

Ball mastery for 4 to 6 year olds

Short bursts of ball mastery make a perfect warm-up, and kids can copy the moves at home.

Coach Says: Ball Mastery Moves

Focus: Touching the ball with both feet and different parts of the foot, listening and reacting

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

Any number, one ball each

Time

6–8 minutes

Space

15 × 15 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 4 cones

How it works

1. The coach calls a move starting with "Coach says", shows it, and everyone copies it for 20–30 seconds.
2. Moves to call: toe taps, foot on top of the ball, rolling the ball side to side with the sole, and little kicks between the insides of both feet.
3. If the coach calls a move without "Coach says" and someone does it, everyone laughs and keeps playing. Nobody sits out.
4. Finish with "Coach says dribble to me!", then let a player be the coach for the last round.

Coaching points

• Light, quick touches, as if the ball is hot
• Use both feet: say "left, right, left, right" out loud
• Stay on your toes with your knees bent
• Peek up at the coach while your feet keep moving

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: one move per round, done slowly
• Harder: change the move every 10 seconds
• Add silly calls between moves, like "Coach says sit on your ball"

Rocket Launch: Toe Taps and Blast Off

Focus: Quick feet on the ball, dribbling fast into space and stopping the ball under control

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

Any number, one ball each

Time

6–8 minutes

Space

20 × 20 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 4 corner cones, 1 cone per player (launch pads)

How it works

1. Players do toe taps on top of the ball while everyone counts down from 10 together.
2. On "Blast off!", players dribble fast to any side of the square and land their rocket by stopping the ball on the line with the sole.
3. Then they dribble back to a launch pad, ready for the next countdown.
4. Change the countdown move each round: sole rolls, inside touches or pull-backs. Count how many rockets land safely.

Coaching points

• Tiny taps, switching feet fast
• Push the ball ahead when you blast off, then take small touches near the line
• Sole on top of the ball to land
• Look up so your rocket doesn't crash into another one

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: count down from 5, slowly
• Harder: the coach calls which side to fly to
• Moon landing: fly back to a different launch pad each time

First passing games

Most 4 to 6 year olds aren't ready to pass to a moving teammate. These games teach them to kick the ball where they want it.

Soccer Bowling

Focus: Passing with the inside of the foot along the ground, aiming at a target

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

Pairs, any number

Time

6–8 minutes

Space

About 5 × 10 yards per pair

Equipment

1 ball per pair, 3 tall cones or plastic bottles per pair, 1 flat cone per pair

How it works

1. From the flat cone, pass the ball along the ground and try to knock down the pins.
2. Your partner stands up any pins that fall, stops the ball and passes it back.
3. Take three passes, then swap jobs. Count how many pins you knock down.
4. Each time you knock down all three pins, take one big step back.

Coaching points

• Inside of the foot, ankle locked, toe up
• Look at the pins, then at the ball as you pass
• Plant your other foot beside the ball, pointing at the pins
• Pass firm enough to reach the pins, but keep it on the ground

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: pass from 3 yards, or spread the pins wider apart
• Harder: use the other foot, or pass from 7–8 yards
• Dribble to the flat cone first, stop the ball, then pass

Clean Your Room

Focus: Kicking the ball where you want it with the inside of the foot and the laces, looking up before you kick

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

6–12, in two teams

Time

6–8 minutes

Space

20 × 20 yards, split in half

Equipment

1 ball per player, plus spares, 9 cones, Pinnies

How it works

1. On "Go!", players kick balls out of their own room into the other team's room.
2. Stop the ball before you kick it, keep kicks along the ground, and never kick at another player.
3. After 60 seconds, the coach calls "Freeze!" and everyone puts a foot on a ball. Count the balls in each room: fewer balls means a cleaner room.
4. Play four or five rounds, and swap rooms between rounds.

Coaching points

• Stop the ball first, then kick it
• Look up and kick into an empty space
• Inside of the foot for short kicks, laces for long ones
• Plant your other foot beside the ball

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: players may kick a rolling ball without stopping it first
• Harder: weaker foot only, or balls must go through one of two cone gates on the middle line
• Dribble a ball into the other room, leave it there and hurry back

Shooting game

Everyone loves scoring. Goal Rush gives every child dozens of shots without a line.

Goal Rush: Can the Team Score 30?

Focus: Dribbling toward goal and shooting with the inside of the foot or the laces

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

4–12, one ball each

Time

8–10 minutes

Space

20 × 20 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 6 cones, 1 wide goal (a pop-up goal, or two cones 5 yards apart)

How it works

1. Everyone dribbles toward the goal at the same time and shoots after crossing the shooting line.
2. After your shot, collect your ball, dribble back around the outside to the start, and go again.
3. The coach counts goals out loud. Can the team score 30 in two minutes?
4. Rest for a minute, then try to beat the team's score.

Coaching points

• Small touches as you get close to the shooting line
• Look at the goal, then at the ball as you shoot
• Plant your other foot beside the ball and kick through the middle of it
• Pick a corner of the goal and aim for it

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: no shooting line; shoot from anywhere
• Harder: the coach or a parent plays as a friendly keeper
• Goals with the other foot count double

1v1 and protecting the ball

Keeping the ball away from someone, and taking a player on, is where young players build courage.

Coach's Ball: 1v1 to Mini Goals

Focus: Attacking 1v1, winning the ball, scoring goals

Ages

U5–U8 (ages 4–8)

Players

4–6 per field, in two teams

Time

7–10 minutes

Space

20 × 15 yards

Equipment

Balls for the coach, 4 cones, 2 mini goals (or 2 cone goals 2 yards wide)

How it works

1. The coach rolls a ball into the middle and calls "Go!"
2. The first player from each team races out, wins the ball and tries to score in the other team's goal.
3. The turn ends with a goal or when the ball goes out. Both players go to the back of their line and the coach rolls the next ball right away.
4. Keep turns under 30 seconds. With more than 6 players, set up a second field so nobody waits long.

Coaching points

• Run fast to the ball, then slow down to control it
• Dribble at the defender, then go around them
• Lost the ball? Try to win it back straight away

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: roll the ball closer to the less confident player
• Harder: call two players from each team for 2v2
• Call "Two and one!" for a 2v1, then swap which team gets the extra player

Pirates and Treasure

Focus: Dribbling in traffic, shielding the ball, getting the ball back quickly

Ages

U5–U8 (ages 4–8)

Players

5–12, one ball each except the pirates

Time

8–10 minutes

Space

20 × 20 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 4 cones, Pinnies for the pirates

How it works

1. Players dribble anywhere inside the square, keeping their treasure close.
2. On "Pirates!", the coach or one or two players in pinnies come in and try to kick balls out of the square.
3. If your treasure is kicked out, run after it, do five toe taps on top of it and dribble back in. Nobody is ever out.
4. After 60–90 seconds, pick new pirates. Ask who kept their treasure the whole round.

Coaching points

• Keep the ball close so a pirate can't reach it
• Put your body between the pirate and the ball
• Look up and dribble away from pirates, into open space
• Change direction when a pirate gets near

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: the coach is the only pirate and takes slow, giant pirate steps
• Harder: add more pirates or make the square smaller
• Pirates who win a ball keep it, and the player who lost it becomes a pirate

Tails: Grab a Tail, Keep Your Ball

Focus: Dribbling with eyes up, protecting the ball, quick changes of direction

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

4–12, one ball each

Time

6–8 minutes

Space

20 × 20 yards

Equipment

1 ball per player, 1 pinnie per player, 4 cones

How it works

1. Everyone dribbles inside the square and tries to grab other players' tails while keeping their own ball close.
2. A grab only counts if your ball is right next to you. No leaving your ball behind.
3. If your tail is grabbed, the grabber drops it on the ground. Pick it up, tuck it back in, do five toe taps and keep playing. Nobody is ever out.
4. Play 60-second rounds and count the tails you grab. Then try to beat your score.

Coaching points

• Look up to find tails and to see who is coming
• Turn your body so your tail is away from other players
• Small touches keep the ball close
• Change direction fast when someone gets near

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: walking only, or only the coach chases tails
• Harder: make the square smaller
• Two teams in different colors: grab only the other color's tails

Small-sided games for U6

Finish every practice with a game. Play 2v2 or 3v3 at practice, even if your league plays 4v4, so every child touches the ball more.

2v2 Mini Games

Focus: Playing the game: dribbling, scoring, protecting your own goal

Ages

U5–U6 (ages 4–6)

Players

4–12, 2v2 on each field

Time

10–15 minutes

Space

20 × 15 yards

Equipment

1 ball per field plus spares, 4 cones per field, 2 mini goals per field (or cone goals 2 yards wide)

How it works

1. Play 2v2 with no goalkeepers. When the ball goes out, restart with a kick-in or a dribble-in.
2. After a goal, the team that was scored on starts with the ball from its own goal.
3. Swap waiting players in every 2–3 minutes or after each goal.
4. Every few minutes, rotate teams so kids play different opponents.

Coaching points

• Let them play: give one short tip at a stoppage, not a running commentary
• Cheer brave dribbling, not just goals
• Ask "Where's the space?" instead of telling players where to go

Make it easier or harder

• Easier: play 1v1 or 2v1 for brand-new players
• Harder: play 3v3 on a slightly bigger field
• To score, players must dribble the ball through the goal

45-minute U6 soccer practice plan

Here's week 1 of the season plan below. Set up all the cones before the kids arrive, so you can move from one game to the next in under a minute.

Running short on time? Shorten a skill game, never the scrimmage. For 4 year olds, trim each block by a minute or two and add an extra water break.

8-week U6 soccer season plan

Use the same 45-minute shape every week: a warm-up, a skill game, a second game, then the scrimmage. Each week has one focus, and favorite games come back with a new twist, so kids already know the rules.

Scrimmage twists: in week 3, goals count only when a player dribbles through the goal; in week 8, play 4v4 in short quarters, like game day. After week 8, start again at week 1 with the "harder" ideas on each card. If a game flops, swap in another drill from the same skill group above.

Soccer for 3 year olds

Many clubs and rec programs start at age 4 (U5), the youngest age group in US Soccer's guidance, so check what your local program offers. For a 3 year old in the backyard or a parent-and-child class, keep it to 20–30 minutes, one ball per child and a grown-up alongside. Three simple activities:

• Follow me. Walk slowly while your child dribbles the ball after you with little kicks. Then swap, and you follow them.
• Kick it in the big goal. Use a wide goal or two cones 3–4 yards apart, start 2–3 steps away and cheer every goal. Take a step back after each one.
• Stop it with your foot. Roll the ball gently and let your child stop it with the sole of their foot, then kick it back to you.

Expect short bursts of play and plenty of breaks; that's normal. At age 4, Red Light, Green Light and Coach Says are the easiest games on this page to start with.

Tips for volunteer coaches of 4 to 6 year olds

• Set up before kids arrive. Cones out, balls pumped, and the plan on a card in your pocket.
• One ball per child. Ask each family to bring a size 3 ball with the child's name on it.
• Talk for 30 seconds, then play. Show the game with a helper, start it, and make fixes while they play.
• Praise effort by name. "Great try going around her, Maya!" means more than "good job".
• Recruit one parent helper. They can be the pirate, chase loose balls or run a second 1v1 field.
• Keep it safe. Check the field for holes, insist on shin guards and water, and never use running or push-ups as punishment.

Game day: positions, playing time and moving up

At U6, positions don't matter yet. Kids will chase the ball in a bunch, and that's normal. Our youth soccer positions guide explains the simple 4v4 shapes you can introduce as they get older.

Playing time matters more. 4v4 games are played in quarters, so you can sub at every break as well as during play (see how many quarters are in soccer). US Soccer's standards suggest about six players per 4v4 team and recommend that everyone takes part at least 50% of the time; how many players are on a soccer team covers every age. With six kids and four spots, subbing every 5 minutes keeps minutes close to even. Our youth soccer substitution strategy guide shows how to rotate fairly, and the planner builds the rotation for you.

When your players are ready for passing games and real 4v4, move on to our U8 soccer drills, or browse every age on the soccer drills for kids hub.