Soccer drills to do at home

What you need

• A ball in the right size: size 3 up to age 8, size 4 for ages 9 to 12.
• A flat space of about 5 by 5 yards. Grass, a driveway or a garage all work.
• Four markers. Shoes or water bottles are fine.
• A solid wall with no windows, or a parent who can pass the ball back.

A 15-minute home practice

• Minutes 0 to 3: toe taps and foundations, 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off.
• Minutes 3 to 6: cone weave, right foot only, then left foot only.
• Minutes 6 to 9: turn and go between two markers, five of each turn.
• Minutes 9 to 13: wall passing, two touches, then one touch, both feet.
• Minutes 13 to 15: free play. Try a move, shoot at a target, or beat a parent 1v1.

Soccer drills that work at home

• Toe taps and foundationsTwo square yards is enough. Count your touches and beat the score. U6 to U12.
• Cone weave dribblingShoes for cones. Time ten trips. U6 to U12.
• Turn and goTwo markers, three turns, both feet. U8 to U12.
• Wall passingThe wall always passes back. The best solo drill there is. U6 to U12.
• First touch gatesTake your first touch through a gate made of two shoes. U8 to U12.
• Receive across the bodyPass in from the side, receive on the back foot. U8 to U12.
• Thigh and chest controlA parent throws underarm from five steps. U8 to U12.
• Shoulder check colorsA parent holds up fingers behind you before the pass. U8 to U12.
• 1v1 to end zonesParent against child, to a line. U6 to U12.
• Goalkeeper catching: W and basketSoft throws and safe hands in the yard. U10 to U12.

Example: Wall passing

Wall passing is a solo drill in which a player passes the ball against a wall and controls the rebound, again and again. It trains a firm, accurate pass and a clean first touch with both feet, because the wall always gives the ball back. See the full drill.

Tips for parents

• Keep it short and stop while it is still fun. Tomorrow matters more than five extra minutes today.
• Let your child keep score against their own best, not against a brother or sister.
• Join in. You do not need to be good at soccer to pass a ball back or be a slow defender.
• Praise effort with the weaker foot more than a goal with the strong one.
• No heading at home either for players aged 10 and under.

Questions about drills to do at home

• How can my child practice soccer alone?

  With ball mastery and a wall: toe taps, foundations, a cone weave, turns and wall passing. All of them work in a small space with one ball.

• How long should a child practice at home?

  Ten to fifteen minutes on most days is plenty for ages 7 to 12. Short and regular beats long and rare.

• What is the best soccer drill to do at home?

  Wall passing. It trains the pass and the first touch together, with both feet, and a child can count and beat their own score.

• Can we practice indoors?

  Toe taps, foundations and slow turns work indoors on a soft floor with a soft or futsal-style ball, if there is nothing breakable nearby.

Lessons to go with these drills

• Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
• Carry or Pass? (7v7 lesson)Watch which route the defender leaves open.
• A Wall Pass, or Keep It (7v7 lesson)Use a teammate to go around pressure, but check whether the return is still open.

Keep reading

• Soccer passing drills for kidsPassing drills in teaching order: pairs, triangles, give-and-go and rondos
• Soccer dribbling drills for kidsBall mastery, ball-each games, turns and 1v1 for every age
• Soccer shooting drills for kidsShooting and finishing drills without long lines, for U6 to U12
• First touch soccer drills for kidsReceiving drills: back foot, touch into space, turning and high balls
• Soccer goalkeeper drills for kidsSet position, catching, angles and distribution for U10 and U12, with soft service
• Soccer ball size by ageSize 3, 4 or 5 for each age group
• First touch (soccer term)The touch you take as the ball arrives
• Give-and-go (soccer term)Pass, run past the defender, get it back
• All soccer drills for kids46 soccer drills and practice games for U6 to U12, each with a setup diagram, coaching points and the lesson it trains
• Soccer practice plans for kids12 ready-to-use soccer practice plans for U6, U8, U10 and U12, each with a clock table, equipment list and linked drills