Soccer Drills with the Ball
Video Timeline
Soccer Drills with the Ball video timeline to skip through the video and jump to different soccer drills listed below.
- (00:06) Freestyle with Cones
- (01:37) Hop & Roll the Ball
- (02:51) Freestyle (No Cones)
- (04:02) Dance Around Stationary Ball
- (05:19) Figure 8 Turns with Cones
- (07:49) Linear Cuts with Cones
- (09:46) Sole Control with Cone
- (12:32) Sole Pull Back with Shot
Soccer Drills with the Ball
Freestyle with Cones
Fun soccer ball control drill with players dribbling the soccer ball using both feet and staying inside the grid. Large size cones are scattered around to create obstacles for players to go around. Use the soccer field's center circle or mark the training grid to create boundaries and give players less space to control the soccer ball around. Smaller space and soccer drills with the ball will promote quick thinking and decision making with the soccer ball. Encourage players to have fun and get creative with their touches, dribbling and moving the soccer ball using both of their feet.
Hop & Roll the Ball
Want strong calf muscles? Soccer drills with the ball combined with hops will give a proper workout to calves while getting touches with the soccer ball. Use each foot for 45 seconds and switch feet. Hopping on the toes and not letting the heel touch the ground will burn and work the calf muscle into getting stronger and leaner.
Freestyle (No Cones)
Soccer drills with the soccer ball an no cones. This soccer drill gives players more freedom to express themselves with the soccer ball. Limiting space is optional, but as a coach, I like to restrict space, so this time players can be in each other's way and dribble the ball past one another, promoting quick thinking and decision making. Encourage touches with both feet and getting creative using different dribbles. Small space allows me to see everyone and encourage not repeating the same dribble or using the same foot over and over again.
Dance Around Stationary Ball
In the game, players often find themselves in situations where the soccer ball is stationary, and the opponent is in front of them. Soccer drills with the ball being stationary is a great way to learn how to use body and feet to feint and fake movement to get the opponent off balance and move in the opposite direction. It's also a fun soccer drill where players laugh and do various exercises around the soccer ball, trying not to touch the ball but do tricks around it. Stepovers and scissors are some typical moves done around a stationary soccer ball.
Figure 8 Turns with Cones
Soccer is a game where close control and quick cuts with the ball separate good and great players. This soccer drill with the ball is fun and educational to get muscle memory for turning with the ball. Set up two cones about one meter/yard apart. Add competition by setting up two, three, or more sets of cones. Players use short touches in a figure-eight motion to go around the cones with the soccer ball 3-4 times before touching the ball forward and taking a shot on goal. Every turn should be encouraged to stay close to the cone but not touching the cone.
Linear Cuts with Cones
Use the same cone set up, except this time touching the soccer ball forward and cutting around cones in a linear motion 3-4 times before taking a shot on goal. Encourage short, controlled touches with the ball and tight turning close to the cone, but avoid touching it.
Sole Control with Cone
Soccer drills with the ball and cone to work the calves and get lots of touches on the soccer ball. Making the soccer drill competitive is only one cone away. Players use the sole to control the soccer ball around the cone clockwise direction 3 - 4 times and then reversing counterclockwise another 3 - 4 times before taking a shot on goal. Encourage hops on the opposite foot and try not to let the heel touch the hopping foot's ground.
Sole Pull Back with Shot
The game of soccer requires lots of ball movement with different parts of the foot. There are many situations in the game where the player needs to create distance between him and the opponent, and using the sole is one of the effective ways to get that distance and change direction. Using two cones spaced 2 meters/yards, players will use the sole to pull the ball back while hopping backward on the opposite foot. This move takes practice and repetition but is very useful in setting up a dribble to get past opponents and create space to attack.
There you have some soccer drills with the ball from one of my training sessions with young boys different ages and skill levels with the ball. Soccer, like anything in life, takes practice, ability, and lots of repetitions to get better at. Human beings are lazy by nature, and I always encourage and push my players to give me more in training than they usually do. It is rare to find players, especially younger ones that give their all during practice or games. Get creative and spend time with the soccer ball touching it with different foot parts, kicking it off the wall, rolling, doing tricks and dribbles to raise the ball's skill levels. Practicing a couple of hours in training twice a week and playing the game on the weekends does not lead to becoming a great soccer player. Daily training routine and having fun with the soccer ball is how you build skills and achieve a shot at greatness.
Eight Soccer Drills with the Ball from my training session with young boys different ages and various skill levels with the soccer ball. Watch the soccer training video and read about each drill.
Soccer Ball Control Training Drills using the agility ladder and cones to get touches and work on agility, speed, and coordination. Watch the training video and read about this soccer drill.
Ball Control Drills for Soccer with Cones to maximize touches with the soccer ball.
Soccer Drills with Cones to develop players dribbling skills by controlling the soccer ball through the cone grid and finishing with a shot on goal.
Better Ball Control Drills give players 100s of touches on the soccer ball to help players move towards achieving 10,000 hours of contacts on the soccer ball.
Soccer Drills to Improve Ball Control will focus on the touches and technique before adding more and more speed after getting comfortable with the soccer ball.
Ball Control, Agility and Speed Drills for Soccer using basic equipment to set this drill up. Agility ladder, cones and a soccer ball.
Simple Soccer Drill to develop touch on the ball and improve shooting off dribble. It is best to have 3 - 4 soccer balls so you can complete 3 - 4 repetitions one after another.
Ball Control Soccer Drills for Kids have to include lots of touches on the soccer ball, with different parts of the foot, and direction change with the ball.
U10 Soccer Training Drills focus on maximizing touches on the soccer ball through various turns and close control of the soccer ball. Apply this fun soccer training drill to any age group of soccer players for lots of touches, turns, creativity, and finishing with a shot on goal.
Adapt this Ball Control Soccer Drill in training, or get creative and add some things to it. Becoming a better soccer players takes a lot of work and dedication to training. The harder you work in training, transfers to how hard you will work in games.
Soccer Trapping Drills are done in repetition to help player get more touches on the ball coming from the air. This soccer exercise is going to help players build coordination on the ball, and first touch to turn into space with the ball coming from the air.
Beginner Soccer Drills are based on developing coordination, and getting familiar with the surface of the ball. Beginner soccer players may, or may not, have good balance and coordination, which helps in learning how to control the soccer ball using the feet.
Soccer Drills for Beginner Players are focused on fun and playing with the ball to improve the players coordination and skills with the soccer ball at their feet. This is a fun soccer drill for beginner soccer players, but it can also be adapted to more skilled players by getting creative with the training drill instructions.
Beginner Soccer Player Drills should be fun and entertaining. This soccer drill is simple and every player needs to have a soccer ball before the drill is started.
Simple Soccer Training Drills for players of all ages. This drill can be done with cones set up in a line or zig zag formation.
Coaching Kids Soccer is very rewarding. It is a great way to give back to the game through teaching, and motivating players to fall in love with the game of soccer.
Soccer Drills for Kids should be focused around fun and lots of touches on the ball. What better way to have fun than to simply play a small sided game with 2 goals to score on.
Small Sided Drills for Soccer are great for players of all ages. Younger players will benefit from small sided games as they are more involved in the game, both defensively and offensively.
Attacking Soccer Drill is a great way to build the attacking players confidence, decision making, and skills on the soccer ball. Defenders will also benefit by playing defense and trying to stop the attacking players.
Soccer Dribbling Drill with lots of fun and the game itself teaching players both attacking and defensive responsibilities. Players also have to be aware of the their number being called, sprinting into action to try and get to the ball and attack their opponent.
Passing Soccer Drill teaches players in possession of the ball to keep the soccer ball with the intention of completing passes splitting the defenders to earn a point.
Wide Attacking Soccer Drill teaches players to stretch the soccer field wide and open more space to build up the attack. Pass the ball wide and relieve pressure in the midfield.
1v1 Soccer Drill is a great way to improve the players confidence and skills on the ball. The objective for this soccer drill is to give players the freedom to take players 1 on 1 whenever they find themselves in the opponents half of the field.
First Touch Soccer Training is an essential part in every soccer players training routine. First touch soccer drills are a simple way to improve any player’s first touch on the soccer ball through repetition, and consistent training.
First Touch Soccer Drill done in practice, or out of practice with friends or parents. Players will develop better overall touch on the ball, and learn the positive habit of always running toward the pass, instead of waiting for the soccer ball.
First Touch Drills for Soccer need to focus on technique first. Young players try to do everything fast and the technique suffers. Teaching them to slow down and learn first is the best way in getting the technique correct.
First Touch in Soccer is crucial and more important as players get older and have less time on the soccer ball. Good first touch skills will allow players more time on the soccer ball to make creative decisions on the field.
First Touch Soccer Drills should play a very important part in every soccer players training routine. First touch soccer drills are a simple way to improve any player’s first touch on the soccer ball through repetition, and constant training.