Kid’s soccer drills should be simple and easy to understand. Still, many coaches tend to make them too complicated.

As a coach, you need to understand that kid’ don’t like complicated drills that require too much thinking.

Instead, they want something simple and easy. In this article I will present 3 drills that you can use while coaching the kids.

However, you may use these drills for all ages as well. Now, let’s check out the soccer drills…

5 vs. 5 with Goals

Purpose
Improves your players’ ability to keep the ball with the team.

Set Up
Divide your team into two teams with five players per team. Place two goals (use cones if you don’t have any). If you have 16-20 players you could either create four teams (five players per team) or create two teams (seven players per team) and let the third team have six players.

Performing the Drill
The team who has the possession of the ball should try to maintain it within the team as long as possible.

Variations
The variations on this drill are many. You could for example restrict your players to only touch the ball 3-4 times or let them play without any restrictions. However, I would recommend you to teach your player to pass the ball on the first touch as this will develop their overall game faster.

Equipment
Equipment needed: 4 cones, goals (or 4 cones if you don’t have any goals), balls, 8 soccer bibs (two different colors).

Summary
If you use real goals you could use two players to act as goalkeepers. However, if you use cones, there should be no goalkeepers.

3 vs. 3 + 1 bonus player

Purpose
Improves your players’ ability to keep the ball within the team.

Set Up
Start by dividing your team into groups of 3 players. Use cones or similar to create a field (15 x 15 yards). One of your players should act as a bonus player. This means that he will be playing with the team that is in possession of the ball.

Performing the Drill
The gray player will always play with the team that is in the possession. Players should try to pass the ball on first touch as this will add more tempo to the game.

Variations
You could vary this drill in several ways. One suggestion is to let the bonus player only play with the team that is not in the possession of the ball. This drill doesn’t require goals but I recommend you to use them as the players will be more motivated.

Equipment
4 cones, goals (or 4 cones if you don’t have any goals), balls, 7 soccer bibs (three different colors).

Summary
The main focus in this drill should not be scoring as many goals as possible. Instead, restrict your players to pass the ball within the team at least 10 times before they are allowed to score.

Dribbling Cones

Purpose
Improving your players overall dribbling skills.

Set Up
Separate your team into groups of 4-5 players. Place one cone in the middle and 2 cones at each side (5 yards from the middle cone). Both first standing players in the two lines should start to drive the ball forward. When they are about half yard from the middle cone they should perform a move (step over, fake kick or similar).

Performing the Drill
The red players should run to the left after they have performed the move and the blue players should run to the right. When they are 1 yard from their respective lines they should pass the ball to the first standing player and then jog at the back of that file.

Variations
You may vary this drill by restricting your players to perform one specific move. I recommend you to start out with the fake kick move as it is the easiest move to perform. Once your players are comfortable with the drill you should involve other more difficult moves.

Equipment
5 Cones, 2 balls.

Summary
Your players should focus on performing moves that they can use in a regular soccer game. Do not let them practice on some freestyle tricks because your players will rarely benefit from these in a regular competition. Teamwork is the key – don’t just let them show off!