Soccer Drills With Limited Space (Indoor + Yard + Garage)

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If you’ve got limited space and want to practice soccer, we have got the drills for you. Practice in your yard with these creative sessions.

These drills are fun and you can do them on your own or with friends. Your ball control and agility will be boosted.

Soccer drill being done in a limited space

Soccer Drills With Limited Space

Pass, Move, and Shuffle: Soccer Drill

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: Pass, Move, and Shuffle
  • Age Group: All age groups
  • Session Length: 5 minutes
  • Number of players: minimum of 2 as players work in pairs
  • Skills learned: first touch, passing, and quick feet
  • Equipment: 2 cones, 1 ball per pair

Drill Setup

  • Each pair of players needs 2 cones. 
  • Place 2 cones approximately 5 yards apart to create the passing lane. 
  • Create separate passing lanes parallel to these cones for each pair of players. 
  • Each pair requires 1 ball.
Pass Move and Shuffle
Pass Move and Shuffle

Drill Instructions

  • P1 stands 1 yard to the right and behind the cone, with the ball at their feet.
  • P2 stands in a mirrored position, 1 yard to the left and behind the cone, waiting to receive a pass.
  • P1 plays a firm, right-footed pass along the ground to P2. 
  • P1 then shuffles to the left side of the cone and waits for the return pass.
  • P2 takes one touch to shift the ball from the left to the right side of the cone, before playing return pass to P1.
  • P2 then shuffles back to the left side of the cone. 
  • P1  takes one touch to shift the ball from the left to the right side of the cone, before passing it to P2 
  • In the first and second rounds, allow 3 touches. In the third and fourth rounds, allow only 2.

Drill Variations

  • Switch starting positions to focus on opposite foot passing.
  • Increase the distance between players to improve passing accuracy, control, and range. For this drill, the maximum distance between players should be 15 yards.

Defensive Jockeying: Soccer Drills

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: Defensive Jockeying
  • Session Length: 3 to 5 minutes
  • Number of players: 4 to 16
  • Skills learned: defensive pressure, controlled defending, sideline defending, and jockeying
  • Equipment: 8 cones and a ball

Drill Setup

  • Create a passing/dribbling lane, 5 yards wide x 10 yards long, using cones.
  • Split the team into even groups of attackers and defenders. 
  • The attackers line up at one end of the lane and the defenders line up at the other. 
Defensive Jockeying
Defensive Jockeying

Drill Instructions

  1. The defensive group starts with the ball. 
  2. P1 passes the ball to P2 and then sprints toward them, slowing down as they approach touching distance. 
  3. P1 lowers their center of gravity and angles their body to one side, guiding the dribbler in this direction. This simulates an in-game defensive situation along the sideline. 
  4. Defenders should practice showing the dribbler down both sides so they are prepared for all scenarios. 
  5. P2 starts dribbling toward the other end of the lane.
  6. P1 remains within touching distance of P2, using quick feet to shuffle backward. This is called jockeying. It is a controlled form of defense that keeps the attacker close without overcommitting to a tackle. 
  7. P1 continues to jockey 2  without tackling until they reach the end of the lane. 
  8. P2 can dribble from side to side but they must not try to run past P1. 
  9. After reaching the end of the lane, P1 and P2 join opposite lines and the next players continue the drill. 
See also  5 Player Soccer Drills (Solo and Team Play)

Drill Variations

  • Once the ball passes the halfway point along the lane, allow the attacker to attempt to dribble past the defender and allow the defender to tackle.

4 Cone Wall Passes: Soccer Drill

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: 4 Cone Wall Passes
  • Session Length: 10 minutes
  • Age Group: all ages
  • Number of players: 1 
  • Skills learned: Quick passing, first touch, ball control, weak foot
  • Equipment: 4 cones, 1 ball, 1 wall

Drill Setup

  • Set up this drill in front of a wall. If you don’t have a wall or hard fence, you can tip a fence on its side and use the seat as the rebounding surface.
  • Place 4 cones in a line approximately 1 yard apart, 5 yards from the wall. 
  • P1 stands on the right side of the cone line with the ball at their feet.
4 Cone Wall Passes
4 Cone Wall Passes

Drill Instructions

  1. As a warmup and to get accustomed to how the ball rebounds against the wall, P1 should play a number of short wall passes. They should focus on getting the power and placement right, ensuring the ball returns straight to them at a controllable height and pace. 
  2. P1 starts the drill by passing the ball against the wall. 
  3. When the ball returns, P1 takes a touch, taking the ball to the opposite side of the cone before playing the next wall pass. 
  4. P1 repeats the steps until they reach the end of the grid. P1 then completes the drill from the opposite side. 
  5. P1 repeats the entire process 5 times, then takes a 1-minute break before performing the drill a further 2 times (3 times in total).

Drill Variations

  • Increase or decrease the distance between the cones and the wall to practice different passing ranges. 
  • In the beginning, P1 should focus on taking their first touch with the inside of their foot for maximum control. After a while, they can practice using different parts of the foot, like the sole or the outside of the foot.
  • Reduce or increase the number of drill repetitions according to the need and skill set of the player.

Dribble to Sprint Square: Soccer Drill

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: Dribble to Sprint Square 
  • Session Length: 3 to 5 minutes
  • Age Group: all ages
  • Number of players: 1 (set up multiple grids for more players)
  • Skills learned: Sprinting, dribbling, conditioning
  • Equipment: 4 cones, 1 ball

Drill Setup

  • Create a 4-cone square grid with each cone placed 10 yards apart.
  • Place 1 ball in the center of the grid.
  • This drill works best with 1 player but 2 can participate at the same time as long as they work in opposite directions. 
  • Set up multiple grids for each player or grid.
  • This drill works well in conjunction with another team-based drill, ensuring all players are active. 
Dribble to Sprint Square
Dribble to Sprint Square

Drill Instructions

  1. Ensure all players undergo a thorough warmup before all conditioning drills to avoid injury.
  2. P1 starts with the ball at their feet in the center of the grid.
  3. P1 dribbles toward, then around a cone before leaving the ball back in the center of the grid.
  4. As soon as they stop the ball in the center, P1 sprints to the opposite cone around it and then sprint to the center grid.
  5. P1 collects the ball, turns to their right, then dribbles to the next cone, repeating the entire process. 
  6. The focus of this drill is on speed, improving the players’ conditioning. However, they must also focus on technique, maintaining control of the ball at all times. 
See also  Indoor Soccer Drills (Tight Space Practice)

Drill Variations

  • Focus on the players’ left and right feet each round, ensuring they practice with both.
  • Count how many times each player completes a dribble and a sprint. Create a competition to see how many rounds players can complete. 

Dribble Weave – Speed Ladder: Soccer Drill

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: Dribble Weave – Speed Ladder
  • Session Length: 5 minutes
  • Age Group: all ages
  • Number of players: 1 
  • Skills learned: Dribbling, quick feet
  • Equipment: 4 cones, 1 ball, 1 speed ladder

Drill Setup

  • Place a speed ladder on the ground. 
  • Set up a 4-cone dribbling weave the same length as the ladder. 
  • P1 begins at one end of the cone weave.
Dribble Weave Speed Ladder
Dribble Weave Speed Ladder

Drill Instructions

  1. P1 starts by dribbling through the cone weave. 
  2. When they reach the end, P1 passes the ball lightly between the cone and the ladder from one end to the other. 
  3. As soon as they make the pass, P1 sprints through the speed ladder. 
  4. P1 then collects the ball and dribbles through the cone weave, repeating the drill again. 
  5. P1 completes the drill 10 times, takes a 1-minute break, then repeats the full routine 2 more times (3 in total).

Drill Variations

  • Focus on right foot dribbling only for some rotations. 
  • Focus on left foot dribbling only for some rotations.
  • Perform different movements through the speed ladder.

Passing Rondo: Soccer Drill

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: Passing rondo
  • Session Length: 5 minutes
  • Age Group: all ages
  • Number of players: 6 to 18
  • Skills learned: Quick passing, first touch, quick feet, interceptions
  • Equipment: 1 ball (per group)

Drill Setup

  • This drill requires just 1 ball. 
  • Divide the team into groups of 6.
  • Assign 1 player per group to begin as the defender. 
  • The other players form a circle approximately 3 to 5 yards wide around the defender.
  • P1 begins the drill with the ball at their feet.
  • If you have more than 6 but less than 12 players, scale the drill to accommodate the number of players you have.
Passing Rondo
Passing Rondo

Drill Instructions

  1. P1 starts the drill by passing the ball to a teammate. 
  2. The attacking players then try to keep possession through quick passing. 
  3. Instruct attacking players to hold their general positions to maintain the circle size.
  4. D1 attempts to intercept the passes and gain possession. D1 can also press and tackle. 
  5. When D1 wins the ball, the attacking payer responsible for losing possession switches with D1.
  6. If an attacking player plays a bad pass that strays outside the circle, they must switch with D1.
  7. The process is repeated for several minutes. 

Drill Variations

  • Expand the circle size and use 2 defenders. 
  • Limit the number of touches attacking players can take. 
  • Set pass completion targets and instruct players to count consecutive passes.

Soccer Tennis: Soccer Drill

Drill Outline

  • Drill Name: Soccer Tennis
  • Session Length: 15 to 20 minutes
  • Age Group: all ages
  • Number of players: 2 to 16
  • Skills learned: Heading, ball control, first touch
  • Equipment: 1 ball, 1 net, 4 cones per match 

Drill Setup

  • Soccer tennis can be played 1 v 1, 2 v 2, or 3 v 3.
  • Each court is 15 yards long and 10 yards wide. The net is 1 to 1.5 yards high.
  • Depending on the number of players, you can set up multiple courts. 
  • Decide on the type of match-ups to run and divide the players into teams if necessary.
See also  3 Players Soccer Drills (3 V.s 3 Sessions)
Soccer Tennis
Soccer Tennis

Drill Instructions

  1. A match starts with a serve from behind the baseline, outside of the court. Players serve by kicking, heading, or striking the ball with any body part other than the arms or hands. 
  2. For a serve to be legal, the ball must pass over the net and touch the opponent’s half of the court or an opposition player.
  3. Like tennis, the objective is to score points by bouncing an unreturnable shot into your opponent’s half. 
  4. The team that scores always takes the next serve.
  5. The ball may skim the net on the way over. 
  6. If a player touches the net, a point is awarded to the other team.
  7. Each team has a maximum of 5 touches to return the pass. Each player can take a maximum of 2 consecutive touches. 
  8. The ball can bounce once per play.
  9. A set is won when a team reaches 11 points. However, a team must win by 2 clear points.
  10. If a team reaches 15 points, they win the set, regardless of the points difference.

Drill Variations

  • Create a tournament. Consider doing 1 v 1, 2 v 2, and 3 v 3 tournaments. 
  • Reduce the number of touches per team. 
  • Limit individual touches to 1.
  • Shorten the court and play head tennis only. 
  • Play the best of 3 sets to determine the winner.
  • Create a rule where all players on a team must touch the ball before it can be returned.

120 + SOCCER DRILLS

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Soccer Analyst and Publisher at Soccer Blade | Soccer Blade | + posts

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.

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