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If you’ve got three players to play soccer we’ve got some drills for you. Here’s a range of passing, shooting, and movement drills you can practice with your teammates and friends.
Adapt these drills for your field and speed them up with a timer. This variation of drills is fun and will prepare you for a game.
3 Players Soccer Drills (3 V.s 3 Sessions)
Musical Balls: Soccer Drill
- Age Range: 4-6
- Length of Session: 10 mins
- Number of Players: any
- Skills to Learn: awareness, speed, coordination
- Equipment: balls and cones
- Description: The number of balls decreases by one each round
Drill Set-up:
- Create a large square based on the number of players you have.
- Give each player a ball.
- Optional: set up a small side activity for kids to do once they are out of musical balls.
Drill Instructions:
- Give each player a ball at first.
- Instruct players to dribble around the area using different techniques.
- When you stop playing music or blow your whistle, each kid must leave their ball and find a new one.
- Take away one ball.
- Repeat the steps, this time one player won’t have a ball in the end.
- The player without a ball must perform a simple action, like 5 jumping jacks, or they are out.
- You can repeat the activity this way or take away one more ball each time the same way you would with musical chairs.
Dribble Through Gates: Soccer Drill
- Age Range: 4-8
- Length of Session: 10 mins
- Number of Players: 3-10
- Skills to Learn: Ball control, keeping the head up while dribbling
- Equipment: enough balls for each player and cones
Description; Randomly place gates that are approximately 3 meters wide. Kids will aim to dribble through each gate once or as many gates as possible in the set time.
Drill Set-up:
- Set up a large area around 30 meters by 30 meters (use a larger space for more kids)
- Randomly set up 6-10 3m wide gates using cones
- Give each kid a ball.
Drill Instructions:
- Kids 4-6 can have more gates and larger gates to minimize collisions.
- Give kids a set time and goal. For example, you can see who can get through the most gates in 60 seconds, or who can get through every gate first.
- Make the drill more challenging for older players with restrictions, like right or left foot only. You could also require older kids to complete a move before dribbling through the gate.
Dribble to Pass: Soccer Drill
- Age Range: 4-10
- Length of Session: 10 mins
- Number of Players: 4+
- Skills to Learn: passing on the move, ball control, receiving
- Equipment: cones and balls
Description: Players dribble through a series of cones and then pass the ball to the next player in line.
Drill Set-up:
- Set up 10 cones in a line.
- The cones should be 1.5 to 2 meters apart.
- On each end of the line of cones, set another cone 5-7 meters away.
- Repeat this setup to create multiple groups if you have a lot of players.
- 2-3 players will line up behind the cone on each end of the line of cones.
- Give the ball to the first player in line.
Drill Instructions:
- The first player dribbles through the line of cones.
- Once they complete the line of cones, the player then passes the ball to the next player in line who is at the cone 5-7 yards away.
- The second player should receive the ball and then dribble through the line of cones.
- Create different dribbling rules (right foot, left foot, inside-outside, stepovers, etc).
- Focus on dribbling and passing technique, picking the eyes up, and being ready in line.
- Extend the distance of the pass for older/ advanced kids.
- Make the game competitive by having multiple groups compete to see who can have all players go twice. If you only have one group, turn it into a race against the clock.
Double Movement Finishing: Soccer Drill
Drill Outline
- Drill Name: Double movement finishing
- Session Length: 10 to 15 minutes
- Age Group: 10+
- Number of players: 3 to 18
- Skills learned: First touch, shooting, finishing from a cross, crossing, movement
- Equipment: 1 mannequin (alternatively 1 cone or agility pole), 3 cone, 1 goal, 2 balls (minimum)
Drill Setup
- Use the penalty box for this drill.
- Set up a full-size goal, even if there is no goalkeeper.
- Place a mannequin, cone, or agility pole centrally on the penalty spot inside the box.
- Place 1 cone 5 yards outside the penalty box.
- Place 1 cone next to the goal on the end line.
- Place 1 cone between the right-hand sideline and the edge of the penalty box.
- P2 stands next to the cone on the end line with a ball.
- P3 stands next to the cone near the sideline with a ball.
- P1 and the rest of the players line up behind the cone outside the penalty box.
Drill Instructions
- P2 starts the drill by passing the ball to P1.
- P1 takes one touch to control the pass before taking a shot on goal.
- P1 then makes a dummy run to the left side of the mannequin as if they are heading for the back post. When P1 reaches the mannequin, they quickly check their run, sprinting to the other side toward the front post.
- P3 crosses the ball to P1.
- P1 finishes the ball with a header, volley, or regular shot. Instruct the attackers to try to finish first-time.
- P1 rejoins the end of the attacking line.
- Rotate the passer and crosser occasionally.
Drill Variations
- Switch the passing and crossing positions to the opposite side.
- Instruct strikers to shoot first-time on all shots.
- Change the starting position of the strikers for different shooting angles.
- Change the angle of the runs toward the back post.
- Focus on weak foot shooting.
Pass, turn, & shoot: Soccer Drill
Drill Outline
- Drill Name: Pass, turn, & shoot
- Session Length: 10 minutes
- Age Group: all ages
- Number of players: 2 to 18
- Skills learned: Passing, turning, & shooting
- Equipment: 2 balls, 2 cones, 1 goal
Drill Setup
- Use the penalty box for this drill.
- Set up a full-size goal. Even if there is no goalkeeper, it’s important to practice shooting in a regulation goal.
- Place 1 cone centrally on the edge of the penalty box.
- Place 1 cone 5 yards from the first, toward the center of the field.
- P2 stands at the cone on the edge of the penalty box.
- P1 and the rest of the players line up at the other cone.
- P1 begins with the ball at their feet.
Drill Instructions
- P1 starts the drill by playing a low, hard pass to P2.
- P2 takes a touch to control the ball then turns toward the goal.
- P2 sets the ball in front of them and shoots at goal.
- This drill focuses on technique. Instruct players to work on precision passing, great first touches, and accurate shooting.
- P1 collects their ball, gives it to the next player, and joins the end of the line.
- P1 takes P2’s original position and the next player in line continues the drill.
Drill Variations
- Instruct players to turn to their right and left to focus on shooting from both sides.
- Instruct players to focus on power shots for a round.
- Set accuracy targets, instructing players to aim for specific targets on goal, such as the bottom and top corners.
One-Touch Passing and Shooting: Soccer Drill
Drill Outline
- Drill Name: One-touch passing and shooting
- Session Length: 10 minutes
- Age Group: 10+
- Number of players: 3 to 18
- Skills learned: One touch passing, first touch, crossing, first time finishing
- Equipment: 1 ball, 3 cones, 1 goal
Drill Setup
- Use the penalty box and the width of the training field for this drill.
- Set up a full-size goal. If you have a goalkeeper, this drill can double as saving practice.
- Place 1 cone centrally, approximately 5 yards outside of the penalty box.
- Place 2 more cones next to either sideline, in line with the first cone.
- Divide the team into groups of 3. Each group lines up behind a cone.
- P1 begins at the central cone with the ball at their feet.
Drill Instructions
- P1 starts the drill by playing a long pass to P2.
- As soon as the first pass is played, P3 starts to run toward the box.
- P2 takes a good first touch toward the endline or penalty box.
- P2 times the run of P3 and crosses the ball to them, aiming for their feet or head.
- P3 shoots or heads the ball first time on goal.
- If you have a goalkeeper, instruct them not to compete for the crosses. They should only attempt to save the shots.
- After the round, P1 joins P2’s line, P2 joins P3’s line, and P3 joins P1’s line.
Drill Variations
- Switch the crossing angle to the opposite side of the field.
- Set scoring targets for the team.
- Instruct P1 to vary the height of their initial passes so P2 and P3 can practice their first touch and ball control with their feet, knees, and chest.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
