Receiving Drills

A good first touch buys time; a poor one gives the ball away. These receiving drills train players to control the ball with every surface, take their first touch away from pressure and receive with their back to goal. Progressions run from unopposed technique work to receiving under full pressure.

31 drills
HomeDrillsReceiving
medium

3v3 Plus 3

3v3 Plus 3 is a soccer possession drill for U10–U16 where two teams of three combine as a six to keep the ball from the third team.

15 min9 playersU10–U16
easy

Angle of Support Possession Drill

The Angle of Support Possession Drill is a soccer passing drill for U8–U12 that teaches the single habit good possession teams share: always give the ball two options.

10 min3+ playersU8–U12
medium

Speed of Play Warm-Up

The Speed of Play Warm-Up is a soccer passing drill for U10–U16 that primes both feet and brain before a speed-of-play session.

15 min6+ playersU10–U16
easy

Soccer Control and Trapping Small-Sided Game

This soccer control and trapping drill for U9–U14 hides serious first-touch training inside a throw-and-catch game.

20 min14 playersU9–U14
medium

Accuracy Passing Under Pressure

Accuracy Passing Under Pressure is a soccer passing drill for U11–U16 that tests technique when the legs are burning.

15 min6 playersU11–U16
medium

Flighted Balls in the 18

Flighted Balls in the 18 is a soccer finishing drill that puts three key skills together: the chipped serve, the aerial first touch, and the shot.

20 min7+ playersU11–U16
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

Trapping with Passive Opposition

Trapping with Passive Opposition is a soccer receiving drill that adds a live body to basic control work.

15 min3+ playersU9–U16
easy

Across-Field Warm-Up

The Across-Field Warm-Up packs volleys, traps, and headers into a moving pre-game routine.

15 min2+ playersU9–U16
medium

Improving Combination Play

Improving Combination Play is a keep-away soccer drill that scores points for exactly the passing pattern you want to see in games: into a target, first-time layoff, out to a third player.

25 min8–16 playersU11–U16
easy

Circle Keep-Away Passing Game

The Circle Keep-Away Passing Game is a young player's introduction to possession soccer.

15 min8+ playersU7–U12
medium

Soccer Tennis

Soccer Tennis turns volleying and aerial control into a game older kids genuinely love.

20 min6+ playersU11–U16
medium

Trapping and Controlling the Ball While Facing a Defender

Controlling a bouncing ball is hard enough - doing it with a defender sprinting at you is the real test.

20 min3+ playersU10–U16
medium

Trapping and Controlling the Ball With Your Back to Goal

Every striker spends much of the game receiving with their back to goal, and this soccer receiving drill for U10–U16 players trains exactly that moment.

20 min3+ playersU10–U16
medium

Combination Play: Improving 1-2 Combinations (Part II)

This soccer passing drill for U11–U16 players builds on the basic 1-2 combination with a continuous pattern around a square.

15 min5+ playersU11–U16
medium

2v1 and 1v1 Possession Game

This 2v1 and 1v1 game is a soccer possession drill for U9–U16 players that teaches two ideas at once: keeping the ball under pressure and switching the point of attack to penetrate.

15 min5 playersU9–U16
medium

5 Pass Possession Game

Keeping the ball is only half the job - this soccer possession drill makes teams keep it with a purpose.

20 min8+ playersU10–U16
easy

The Passing Name Game

Quick players aren't always the fastest - they're the ones who decide before the ball arrives.

10 min6+ playersU7–U12
medium

Soccer Pass and Move Drill

Pass and move is the oldest rule in soccer, and this drill makes it non-negotiable.

15 min12 playersU8–U14
easy

Trapping and Control with No Opposition

Before a player can control the ball under pressure, they need to control it with none.

10 min2+ playersU8–U14
hard

2v2+4 Passing, Possession, and Combination

This 2v2+4 soccer possession drill builds composure in tight spaces.

20 min8 per grid playersU11–U16
easy

Check-In Passing Warm-Up

This soccer passing warm-up drill trains U9-U16 players to check in toward the ball and strike a clean return while moving.

12 min4+ (pairs) playersU9–U16
medium

Three-Person Passing Combination

The Three-Person Passing Combination is a soccer passing drill that keeps a trio of U10-U16 players in perpetual motion.

15 min3 per grid playersU10–U16
medium

Combination Play: Improving 1-2 Combinations

This soccer passing drill drills the classic 1-2 combination into your team's habits, and it works well for U10 to U16 squads.

15 min4+ playersU10–U16
easy

Partner Pass and Move Warm-Up

The Partner Pass and Move warm-up is a foundational soccer passing drill for U6 to U10 players.

10 min4+ playersU6–U10
easy

Passing and Receiving Warm-Up

This passing and receiving soccer warm-up suits players from U9 up and adapts to almost any technical theme you want to open practice with.

12 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

Center Mid Passing Combination 2

Center Mid Passing Combination 2 is a soccer passing drill for U12 to U16 teams that mirrors how central midfielders link play in matches.

15 min6+ playersU12–U16
medium

Handling Flighted Balls

Handling Flighted Balls is a soccer receiving drill for U10 to U16 players that builds comfort with the ball arriving out of the air.

15 min8+ playersU10–U16
medium

Circle Passing Combination Drill

The Circle Passing Combination drill is a soccer passing warm-up for U10 to U16 teams that runs two balls at once, so nobody gets to switch off.

12 min8+ playersU10–U16
medium

Triangle Combination Passing Drill

The Triangle Combination Passing drill is a compact soccer passing drill for U9 to U14 players that packs one-twos, receiving angles, and movement into a tiny footprint.

12 min3+ playersU9–U14
hard

Circle Passing Overlap Combination

The Circle Passing Overlap Combination is a soccer passing drill for U12 to U16 teams that layers overlapping runs onto a two-ball circle pattern.

15 min8+ playersU12–U16