Indoor Soccer Drills- Easy Basic Passing Drill Set Up: Place five cones in a line evenly spaced down the court. Place another set of five cones facing the other set of cones about 10 yards apart (see diagram). Have one person stand by each cone. Give all of the players in one of the lines a ball. Directions: Have the players practice passing the ball back and forth with the person at the cone across from them. Purpose: This drill helps the children gain ball control. This drill also emphasizes the importance of passing to teammates. ** Make sure that you emphasize ball control while doing this drill. Young children have the tendency of kicking the ball as hard as they can rather than passing it to their teammates. Also make sure that you explain to the players that they need to stop the ball when they receive it prior to kicking it back to their partners.
2 Line Passing Relay Team 1 Team 2 Set Up: Place five cones in a line evenly spaced down the court. Place another set of five cones facing the other set of cones about 10 yards apart (see diagram). Split the team into two and have each group line up behind the first set of cones. Directions: Have each player take a turn kicking the ball to the player in the opposing line. Once each player has touched the ball both groups will then progress to the next set of cones. This will continue until the groups have made it to all of the cones. This relay can be timed to track progress, and to make it exciting for the children. Purpose: This drill helps the children gain ball control. This drill also emphasizes the importance of passing to teammates.
Kick the Cone Line players up against this wall Set Up: Gather as many cones as you can and place them all over the ground. Give each child a ball and have them stand with one hand against the wall and their ball on the ground. Directions: On the whistle have all of the children dribble to as many cones as they can and kick them over using the ball. Purpose: This game helps the kids learn how to aim and shoot the ball. **Make sure that the children kick the ball into the cone rather than kicking the cone directly with their foot.
Pass and Shoot Run Line 1 Goal Run Line 2 Set Up: Split the kids into two lines at half court facing the goal. Give one ball to the first person in one of the lines. Directions: Have the person without the ball run towards the goal. Have the person with the ball pass it to the person running to the goal when they are about halfway to the goal. Once the ball is passed the person who passed it should run towards the goal. The person with the ball should pass it to the other person on the run. At this point the player with the ball can shoot it into the goal. The players should switch lines and wait for their next turn. Purpose: This game helps kids connect their passing and shooting skills. **Players might need a lot of direction at first as to who to pass the ball to and when.
Clean the Floor Soccer balls Line players up against this wall Set Up: Have all of the players line up on the baseline with one hand against the wall. Randomly set out all of the soccer balls on the other half of the court. Directions: On the whistle have all of the players run at the balls and kick them into the goal. Once all of the balls are in the goal have the kids leave the balls in the goal and return to the wall on the other side of the court. Purpose: This game helps the kids understand the importance of pursuing the ball. **Emphasize that the players need to return to the wall once the balls are in the goal. During this game young players tend to congregate near the goal while others are trying to shoot and injuries can happen.
Yard Work The Yard: Put players and balls inside of this area Set Up: Move both goals to one end of the court. Place the goals 10 yards apart facing each other (see diagram). Have the team stand within the two goals, the yard. Place all of the balls inside of the yard. Directions: Explain to the players that the goal of the game is to keep all of the balls out of their yard. Tell them they are not allowed to use their hands. As the children continue to kick the balls out of the yard have the coaches and parent helpers softly kick the balls back into the yard. Purpose: This game helps the kids practice their defensive skills.
Goalie Practice Set Up: Have all of the players line up on the sideline. Make sure that each player is evenly spaced out. Directions: Make sure that all of the players know that they can use their hands when they play the position of goalie. One at a time, roll or kick a ball to each player. Upon stopping the ball, either with a kick or by picking it up, have the kids practice throwing the ball to the side. Purpose: This game helps the kids practice being a goalie. **Make sure that the kids know to throw the ball to the sides because if they throw it towards the middle the other team will be in a good position to score. Often times the younger players like to try to drop kick the ball out of the goal. While some kids have the skill set to do this, some end up scoring on their own goal. For this reason we like to encourage throwing the ball in.
Sharks and Minnows Sharks Minnows Set Up: Have most of the players line up on the baseline with a ball they will be the minnows. Select two players to line up at half court facing the other players, they will be the sharks. Directions: On the whistle the players on the baseline will try to dribble across the court without getting the ball kicked away by a shark. If the ball is kicked away that player becomes a shark. As this process is repeated the sharks will outnumber the minnows. The last minnow standing will be the winner. Purpose: This game helps the kids practice dribbling and protecting the ball. **Make sure that the kids do not use their hands. Even the best young soccer players divert back to bad habits in stressful situations.
Dribble Weave Relay Line 1 Line 2 Set Up: Place the cones on the court as shown in the diagram. Split the players into two teams and line each team up behind a line of cones. Directions: Have the first player on each team dribble weave in and out of all of the cones. Once that player returns to the cone that they started by have them pass the ball to the next person in line. Once each player from a given line has finished have them sit down. The first team sitting down wins. Purpose: This game helps the kids practice dribbling and passing. **Make sure that each player weaves around ALL of the cones.
Dribble Around the World Set Up: Give each player a ball and have them stand on a line (sideline, baseline, volleyball line, free throw line, etc.). Directions: On the whistle have each player dribble around the court. The only rule is that the players must stay on a line. Most of the lines intersect so the players should be able to move all around the floor. Purpose: This game helps the kids practice dribbling and enhances ball control. **Make sure that each player moves all around the court following the lines on the floor.