U8 soccer drills for 7 and 8 year olds
U8 soccer drills should still be games, but 7 and 8 year olds are ready for more: a partner, a defender and a score to beat. Dribbling and 1v1 stay at the center, and passing in pairs begins.
Players this age can hold attention a little longer than at U6 and start to enjoy working with one teammate. They still play 4v4 with no goalkeepers, so practice should look like that game.
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.
U8 soccer at a glance
| Detail | U8 |
|---|---|
| Players | 7 and 8 years old |
| Game | 4v4, with no goalkeepers |
| Field | 25 to 35 yards long, 15 to 25 yards wide |
| Ball | Size 3 |
| Game length | 4 quarters of 10 minutes |
| Practice length | 45 to 60 minutes |
| Heading | None |
Game format, field, ball and game length are U.S. Soccer’s small-sided standards; practice length is US Youth Soccer’s coaching guidance. Your league may differ.
What U8 players can and cannot do yet
- They can dribble with both feet, turn and stop the ball, with practice.
- They can pass to a partner over five to ten yards and begin to control the pass that comes back.
- They can play 1v1 with real purpose, both attacking and defending.
- They are starting to cooperate with one teammate. Pairs work, but large groups do not.
- They still follow the ball in a bunch, though it begins to loosen. Do not fix it with positions; fix it with small games.
- They cannot yet picture the whole field. Keep ideas to “me, the ball and one friend”.
Attention span and group sizes
- Plan activities of eight to ten minutes each.
- A ball each, or a ball between two. Never more than four players to a ball, except in the final game.
- Build several small fields rather than one big one: 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 and 3v3.
- One coaching point at a time, in one sentence, then play again.
The 10 best U8 soccer drills
- Sharks and MinnowsDribbling under pressure, with a way back in for everyone. U6 to U10.
- Gates dribblingHead up to find an open gate. Add defenders who close gates. U6 to U10.
- Turn and goThree turns every player needs, each followed by a burst of speed. U8 to U12.
- 1v1 to end zonesMany small fields, lots of turns at beating a defender. U6 to U12.
- Partner passing through gatesThe first passing game: one ball between two, a point per gate. U6 to U10.
- Numbers gameHear your number, race out and play 1v1 or 2v2. U6 to U12.
- Rondo 3v1Keep-away in a 10-yard square. Start it late in the season. U8 to U12.
- Dribble and shootLaces through a moving ball, at a small goal with no goalkeeper. U6 to U10.
- 2v1 to goalThe first team decision: dribble or pass? U8 to U12.
- 3v3 small-sided gameThe game itself, small enough for everyone to play. U6 to U10.
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.
What to avoid with U8 players
- Laps, lines and lectures. They cost time on the ball and teach nothing about the game.
- Scrimmages of 7v7 or more. In a big game a few children do all the playing.
- Goalkeeper training. Games at this age have no goalkeepers.
- Games where being “out” means watching. Give a quick task and a way back in.
- Shouting instructions during play. Ask a question at the water break instead.
- Heading. Players aged 10 and under do not head the ball.
U8 practice plans
Questions about U8 drills
How long should a U8 soccer practice be?
45 to 60 minutes, according to US Youth Soccer’s coaching guidance. Three or four activities of eight to ten minutes and a game at the end fills it well.
What skills should U8 players learn?
Dribbling with both feet, turning, 1v1 attacking and defending, striking the ball with the laces and passing with the inside of the foot to a partner.
How do I stop U8 players bunching up?
Play 3v3 on a small field and praise the player who finds space. Fewer players means less of a bunch, and the habit of spreading out grows from there.
Should U8 teams have set positions?
Not fixed ones. In 4v4 everyone attacks and everyone defends. Simple ideas such as “one player stays back a little” are enough.
Lessons to go with these drills
- Carry or Pass? (7v7 lesson)Watch which route the defender leaves open.
- Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
- Step Out of the Blocked Lane (7v7 lesson)Move so the defender is no longer between you and the ball.
- Make Room for Your Team (7v7 lesson)Spread into useful space so the player on the ball has another route.
Keep reading
- U6 soccer drills: fun games for 5 and 6 year oldsNine games for 5 and 6 year olds, a ball each, with what to avoid
- U10 soccer drills for 9 and 10 year oldsTen drills for 9 and 10 year olds: rondos, first touch, 2v1 and first goalkeeping
- U12 soccer drills for 11 and 12 year oldsTen drills for 11 and 12 year olds: 4v2 rondos, possession, defending in pairs and finishing
- U8 first practice planA 60-minute plan for the first day
- U8 dribbling practice planOne hour built around 1v1
- Soccer age groups explainedWhat U6, U8, U10 and U12 mean
- Soccer field size by ageField, goal and game length for each age group
- 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.