Soccer dribbling drills for kids
Soccer dribbling drills work best when every child has a ball and a reason to look up. This page groups ours into ball mastery, games with a ball each, turns, and 1v1 against a real defender.
Dribbling is the first skill to teach and the one young players enjoy most. A player who is comfortable with the ball has time to see a pass, and one who is not has no time for anything.
Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.
What good dribbling looks like
- Small touches, so the ball stays within one step.
- Both feet, and both the inside and the outside of the foot.
- Eyes up between touches.
- A change of speed or direction to get away from a defender.
What to teach at each age
- U6: games with a story. Stop, go and turn.
- U8: turns, gates with defenders, and 1v1 on small fields.
- U10: moves to beat a player, and dribbling to set up a pass.
- U12: when to dribble and when to pass, at game speed.
Dribbling drills and games
- Toe taps and foundationsBall mastery on the spot. U6 to U12.
- Cone weave dribblingClose control in short lanes, both feet. U6 to U12.
- Red Light, Green LightStop the ball on the call. U6 to U8.
- Sharks and MinnowsDribble past the sharks. U6 to U10.
- Pirates and TreasureDribble a ball home at speed. U6 to U8.
- Gates dribblingHead up to find an open gate. U6 to U10.
- Busy square dribblingDribble in a crowd without bumping. U6 to U10.
- Turn and goDrag-back, inside hook, outside hook. U8 to U12.
- KnockoutShield your ball and win others. U8 to U12.
- 1v1 to end zonesBeat a real defender. U6 to U12.
Example: Gates dribbling
Gates dribbling is a game in which every player has a ball and scores a point each time they dribble through a small gate made of two cones. It trains dribbling with the head up, because players must look for a gate that is open. See the full drill.
Common dribbling mistakes
- Kicking the ball ahead and chasing it.
- Using only the strong foot.
- Looking down the whole time.
- Dribbling into a crowd when a teammate is free. Dribble into space, and pass out of trouble.
Questions about dribbling drills
What are the best dribbling drills for beginners?
Games where each child has a ball: Red Light Green Light, Sharks and Minnows and gates dribbling. They build close control without anyone waiting in a line.
How do I teach a child to dribble with both feet?
Make the weaker foot worth more. Run a round where only that foot counts, or give double points for a gate or a turn done with it.
Are cone drills bad?
No, in short doses. Cones build touch, but a cone never tackles. Follow any cone drill with a game against a defender.
Lessons to go with these drills
- Carry or Pass? (7v7 lesson)Watch which route the defender leaves open.
- Give Your Teammate Room to Dribble (7v7 lesson)The sole middle midfielder leaves room for a wide teammate to try a one-against-one, then reconnects after the dribble.
- Two Attackers: Commit the Defender (Futsal lesson)Carry at the lone defender, then choose the route their movement leaves.
Keep reading
- Soccer drills to do at homeSolo and parent-and-child drills for a yard, a driveway or a wall
- Soccer passing drills for kidsPassing drills in teaching order: pairs, triangles, give-and-go and rondos
- 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
- Winger in soccerThe wide attacker who takes players on
- Nutmeg (soccer term)The ball played through a defender’s legs
- 2v1 (soccer term)Two attackers against one defender
- 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
Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.