Dribbling Drills

Confident dribblers change games. These soccer dribbling drills build close control, quick changes of direction and the courage to take players on in 1v1 situations. Younger groups get fun, game-based exercises with lots of touches; older players work on beating defenders at speed and choosing the right moment to dribble.

52 drills
HomeDrillsDribbling
easy

Sharks and Minnows

Sharks and Minnows is one of the best soccer dribbling drills for U5–U8 players because it disguises hard work as a game.

15 min6+ playersU5–U8
easy

Ouch!

Ouch! is a fun soccer dribbling drill for U5–U8 that sneaks three skills into one silly game: dribbling, looking up, and striking a moving target.

10 min4+ playersU5–U8
medium

Pirates of the Pugg

Pirates of the Pugg is a soccer dribbling drill for U9–U12 players built around one Pugg goal in the middle of a circle.

15 min12 playersU9–U12
easy

The Numbers Game

The Numbers Game is a 1v1 soccer drill for U6–U10 that packs dribbling, shielding, turning, and finishing into short, high-energy duels.

15 min6–12 playersU6–U10
easy

The Flag Game: Dribbling in Tight Spaces

The Flag Game is a soccer dribbling drill for U6–U10 that forces young players to keep the ball close in genuinely tight space.

15 min6+ playersU6–U10
easy

Simon Says

Simon Says is a soccer dribbling drill for U5–U8 that borrows the playground classic and adds a ball.

10 min4+ playersU5–U8
medium

1v1 to Goal

1v1 to Goal is a soccer finishing drill for U8–U14 that isolates the moment every striker faces: one defender between you and the keeper.

20 min6+ playersU8–U14
easy

Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light is a soccer dribbling drill for U5–U8 that turns the playground game into ball mastery practice.

10 min4+ playersU5–U8
easy

Extreme Tag

Extreme Tag is a soccer dribbling drill for U6–U10 where every player is hunter and hunted at the same time.

10 min6+ playersU6–U10
medium

2v2 Dribbling to Beat the Defender

2v2 Dribbling to Beat the Defender is a soccer dribbling drill for U10–U14 built around decisions: dribble, pass, or shoot? Two attackers advance through a corridor where each defender is locked to one zone, so every few yards presents a fresh 2v1 puzzle.

20 min6+ playersU10–U14
medium

Four Corners Aggressiveness and Fitness Drill

The Four Corners drill is a competitive soccer fitness game built around one habit: attacking 50/50 balls at full speed.

15 min8+ playersU8–U16
easy

The Soccer Gauntlet

The Soccer Gauntlet is a classic dribbling drill that forces players to keep the ball close while scanning for danger.

15 min6+ playersU6–U12
easy

Jam-Packed Soccer Dribbling Drill

The Jam-Packed Soccer Dribbling Drill teaches young players to keep control of the ball when the field gets crowded.

15 min4+ playersU6–U12
easy

Down and Back Dribbling Game

The Down and Back Dribbling Game is a simple racing drill for young players who are just learning to dribble.

15 min6+ playersU5–U10
easy

Dribbling Warm-Up

This Dribbling Warm-Up is a ten-minute routine that touches every part of the foot before the real session begins.

10 min4+ playersU8–U16
easy

Shadow Dribbling

Shadow Dribbling pairs players up so one leads and one copies, both with a ball at their feet.

10 min4+ playersU6–U12
medium

1v1v1 Triangle Game

The 1v1v1 Triangle Game throws three players into a chaotic triangle where everyone attacks and defends at once.

15 min3+ playersU9–U16
medium

2v2 or 1v1 - Get Outta Here

Get Outta Here is a breathless small-sided soccer game where scoring is the only way to stay on the field.

20 min8+ playersU8–U14
easy

Hitters and Dodgers

Hitters and Dodgers is a dribble-and-pass game that young players fall in love with instantly.

15 min8+ playersU5–U9
hard

Team Tactics: Dribbling in the Attacking Third

This attacking soccer drill for U11–U16 teams answers a question every young player faces: when should I dribble? Working 6v6 against tight man-marking in the attacking third, players learn to shoot when the chance is there, pass when a teammate is better placed, and take their defender on when neither option exists..

25 min14 playersU11–U16
easy

Dribbling Warm-Up Drill

This dribbling warm-up drill piles up ball touches faster than almost any other soccer dribbling drill for U6–U12 players.

20 min3+ playersU6–U12
medium

1v1 Dribble Attack with Shot

1v1 Dribble Attack with Shot is a soccer dribbling drill for U8–U16 players that rewards bravery on the ball: beat your defender, earn your shot.

20 min6+ playersU8–U16
medium

5v5 Dribbling Game

The 5v5 Dribbling Game is a soccer dribbling drill for U9–U16 players that builds 1v1 confidence inside a real game.

25 min10–12 playersU9–U16
easy

Criss Cross Dribbling Game

The Criss Cross Dribbling Game is a soccer dribbling drill for U5–U9 players that makes heads-up dribbling non-negotiable: teams race across the grid straight into oncoming traffic.

15 min12–24 playersU5–U9
medium

2v1 Dribbling with Opposition

2v1 Dribbling with Opposition is a soccer dribbling drill for U8–U14 players built around one decision: dribble or pass? With a numbers-up attack against a single defender, the player on the ball gets constant repetitions of reading pressure and picking the option that actually beats the defender..

15 min3+ playersU8–U14
medium

Dribbling with Speed: Recognizing When to Dribble

Some players dribble at every chance; others never do.

20 min13 playersU10–U16
hard

Winger Taking On the Outside Fullback

Wingers win games by beating their fullback, and this soccer attacking drill for U12–U16 players isolates exactly that duel.

25 min14 playersU12–U16
easy

Traffic Jam Dribbling Game

The Traffic Jam Dribbling Game is a soccer dribbling drill for U5–U9 players that turns cone clutter into a teaching tool.

15 min8+ playersU5–U9
medium

1v1 to Multiple Goals

1v1 to Multiple Goals is a soccer attacking drill for U7–U14 players that packs a whole game of duels into one grid.

15 min6+ playersU7–U14
easy

Team Reaction Dribbling Drill

The Team Reaction Dribbling Drill is a soccer dribbling drill for U6–U12 players that mixes free dribbling with sudden bursts of reaction speed.

15 min6+ playersU6–U12
medium

1v1, 1v2, 2v2 Four-Goal Game

Giving an attacker two goals to aim at changes everything: the defender can't guess, and the dribbler has to commit them before choosing.

20 min6+ playersU8–U14
easy

Dribbling to Beat a Defender

Beating a defender starts long before the move - it starts with a controlled approach that puts the defender off balance.

15 min3+ playersU8–U12
easy

Body Parts Warm-up Game

The Body Parts Warm-up Game is a simple soccer dribbling drill that gets U5–U8 players moving, laughing, and listening from the first minute of practice.

10 min4+ playersU5–U8
medium

Tunnel of Death

The Tunnel of Death is a 1v1 soccer drill with a name kids remember and a rhythm coaches love: attack, transition, attack again, no standing around.

15 min7+ playersU8–U14
easy

Pirate Treasure Dribbling Game

Tell young players they're pirates raiding for treasure and suddenly every dribbling rep matters.

15 min6+ playersU5–U8
easy

Soccer Tag

Soccer Tag hides hundreds of dribbling touches inside a playground game.

10 min6+ playersU5–U8
medium

1v1 Defending the Dribble

This 1v1 soccer defending drill isolates the first defender so U9-U16 players can master pressing the dribbler.

15 min6-12 playersU9–U16
medium

Dribble with Speed

Dribble with Speed is a soccer dribbling drill that teaches U8-U14 players to run with the ball flat out - and then bring it back under control.

15 min10+ playersU8–U14
medium

Diagonal 1v1

Diagonal 1v1 is a soccer drill that coaches both sides of the duel at once.

15 min8+ playersU9–U16
easy

Dribbling at the Cone

Dribbling at the Cone is a soccer dribbling drill that lets U6-U10 players learn fakes and feints without any pressure.

12 min3 per grid playersU6–U10
easy

Clean Your Room

Clean Your Room is a soccer dribbling drill made for U5-U8 players.

10 min6+ playersU5–U8
medium

Indoor Shooting Drill

This indoor soccer shooting drill makes the walls part of the session.

20 min8+ playersU9–U16
hard

1v1 Defending the Dribble with a Teammate

This soccer defending drill takes the classic 1v1 press and adds a partner.

25 min10+ playersU10–U16
medium

Fun Dribbling Warm-Up

This fun soccer dribbling warm-up turns teammates into obstacles.

15 min6+ (pairs) playersU8–U12
medium

Dribbling to Beat Defenders

This soccer dribbling drill teaches U10-U16 players when to keep the ball and when to take someone on.

20 min12 playersU10–U16
easy

Frogger

Frogger is a soccer dribbling drill built for U6 to U8 players who are still learning to move with the ball under light pressure.

10 min8+ playersU6–U8
easy

Indoor Dribbling and Passing Drill

When practice moves inside, this indoor soccer dribbling and passing drill turns the walls into an extra teammate.

10 min3+ playersU8–U14
easy

Knock Out

Knock Out is a classic soccer dribbling warm-up for U6 to U10 players that hides serious skill work inside a game kids beg to play.

10 min6+ playersU6–U10
easy

1v1 First Attacker Dribbling Without Opposition

This 1v1 soccer dribbling drill introduces U7 to U10 players to the art of beating a defender, without the fear of actually losing the ball.

15 min4+ playersU7–U10
medium

1 on 1 Soccer Progression

This 1 on 1 soccer dribbling progression for U8 to U12 players builds the courage and skill to take a defender on.

15 min2+ playersU8–U12
easy

Monster Turns

Monster Turns is a soccer dribbling drill for U6 to U8 players that makes turning away from pressure feel like the best game at practice.

10 min6+ playersU6–U8
easy

Alien Tag Soccer Game

Alien Tag is a soccer game for the very youngest players, ideal for U5 and U6 groups and even toddlers just starting out.

10 min6+ playersU5–U6