U16 Soccer Drills

U16 sessions should look and feel like the real game. These advanced drills develop game intelligence, positional discipline and execution at speed - preparing players for senior soccer while still growing their individual skills.

96 drills
HomeDrillsU16
medium

4v3 Attack vs. Defense

4v3 Attack vs.

20 min8+ playersU10–U16
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
medium

Four Corners Passing Game

The Four Corners Passing Game is a soccer passing drill for U10–U16 that rewards teams for changing the point of attack.

20 min8–16 playersU10–U16
hard

4v4 With 5 Goals Inside the 18

4v4 With 5 Goals Inside the 18 is a soccer finishing drill for U11–U16 that crams every box skill into one chaotic game: crosses, headers, volleys, near- and far-post runs, and composure in traffic.

25 min10+ playersU11–U16
medium

5v2 Rotating Defenders

5v2 Rotating Defenders is a soccer possession drill for U9–U16 built on a classic rondo shape with one twist: the defenders arrive in fresh pairs, ball first.

15 min9+ playersU9–U16
medium

Finding the Target Player

Finding the Target Player is a soccer passing drill for U11–U16 that trains midfielders and defenders to lift their eyes and play forward with purpose.

20 min10+ playersU11–U16
medium

1v1 Competition

1v1 Competition is a soccer drill for U10–U16 that trains both sides of the duel at once.

25 min8+ playersU10–U16
hard

Attacking from the Midfield

Attacking from the Midfield is a soccer attacking drill for U12–U16 that teaches midfielders their most match-changing habit: following the pass into the attack.

25 min12+ playersU12–U16
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
hard

Attacking the End Line Crossing Game

The Attacking the End Line Crossing Game is a soccer crossing drill for U12–U16 that isolates wide players in their own channel and makes their delivery the only way to score.

25 min14 playersU12–U16
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
medium

Quick Transition Game

The Quick Transition Game is a three-team soccer drill that hammers home the basics of attacking and defending in one continuous flow.

25 min12–14 playersU10–U16
medium

World Cup Soccer Drill

The World Cup Soccer Drill is a tournament-style shooting game that kids of every age beg to play.

20 min13 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
medium

Goalkeeper Shooting Angle Drill

The Goalkeeper Shooting Angle drill sharpens the footwork that decides whether a keeper reaches the shot at all.

15 min7–11 playersU9–U16
medium

Defensive Overlapping Drill

The Defensive Overlapping Drill is a pattern-play exercise that gets fullbacks running forward into the attack.

20 min5+ playersU11–U16
medium

4v4 to Lines or Small Goals

4v4 to Lines or Small Goals is the smallest true version of the full game, which is why coaches at every level lean on it.

25 min8 playersU8–U16
hard

Target Players

Target Players is an advanced soccer possession drill built around finding the forward and connecting with him.

25 min8 or 16 playersU12–U16
medium

2v2 Challenge

The 2v2 Challenge is an attacking soccer drill that punishes wasted shots and rewards ruthless transition.

25 min8+ playersU10–U16
medium

4v4 Playing Wide Out of the Back

4v4 Playing Wide Out of the Back trains one of soccer's most valuable habits: after winning the ball in your own half, play it wide instead of forcing it through the middle.

25 min8 playersU10–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
medium

3v1 Early Support

3v1 Early Support is a possession soccer drill that isolates one idea: start supporting before your teammate even receives the ball.

20 min6 playersU10–U16
hard

Cross and Finish Under Pressure

Cross and Finish Under Pressure recreates the game's real crossing picture: a winger racing a recovering defender to the ball, and a striker finishing with a marker on their back.

25 min8+ playersU12–U16
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
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

Soccer Tennis

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

20 min6+ playersU11–U16
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
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

4v4 Plus Target Players

4v4 Plus Target Players takes the classic small-sided game and gives it a purpose: find your target.

20 min10 playersU9–U16
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
medium

2v2+1: Two vs. Two Plus a Target Attacker

The 2v2+1 game is a situational soccer attacking drill for U10–U16 players that lets you coach both sides of the same moment: attackers exploiting a numbers-up advantage, and defender pairs surviving a numbers-down scramble.

25 min10+ playersU10–U16
medium

5v2 Angle of Support Passing Drill

The 5v2 is a soccer passing drill for U9–U16 players and one of the best tools there is for teaching support angles.

15 min7+ playersU9–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

Power/Finesse with a Twist

Power/Finesse with a Twist is a soccer shooting drill for U10–U16 players that pairs two very different finishes back to back: a driven strike from the edge of the box, then a volley or header from close range.

20 min5+ playersU10–U16
medium

Dribbling with Speed: Recognizing When to Dribble

Some players dribble at every chance; others never do.

20 min13 playersU10–U16
medium

Diagonal Soccer Shooting Drill

The Diagonal Soccer Shooting Drill is a high-energy soccer shooting drill for U11–U16 players that works perfectly as a pre-game or pre-shooting-session warm-up.

20 min6+ playersU11–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
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

4v4 Zone Game

The 4v4 Zone Game is a soccer possession drill for U11–U16 teams that gives keeping the ball a clear purpose: play through the middle.

25 min12 playersU11–U16
medium

Goalkeeper Pressure Cooker

The Goalkeeper Pressure Cooker is a soccer goalkeeping drill for U10–U16 keepers that never lets them switch off.

15 min8–12 playersU10–U16
hard

3v2 Flying Changes

3v2 Flying Changes is a soccer attacking drill for U11–U16 players that never stops moving.

25 min12+ playersU11–U16
hard

Crossing, Finishing, and Shooting Drill

This soccer crossing drill for U11–U16 teams trains the full package: the delivery, the runs, and the finish.

25 min10+ playersU11–U16
easy

Goalkeeper Warm-up Drill

Every keeper deserves better than a few lazy shots before kickoff.

10 min1+ playersU9–U16
medium

Goalkeeper Arc Drill 1

Great keepers save shots before they're struck - by being in the right spot.

10 min1+ playersU9–U16
medium

Soccer End Zone Game

The Soccer End Zone Game turns possession into a soccer attacking drill with real direction.

20 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

Goalkeeper Arc Drill 2

Arc Drill 2 raises the demand from the first version: instead of shots from fixed spots, the ball now travels.

10 min3–4 playersU10–U16
medium

3-Minute Shooting Drill

Put a clock on shooting practice and everything sharpens.

15 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

One-Two Wall Pass Combination

The one-two is the fastest way through a defender who can't be dribbled.

15 min6+ playersU9–U16
hard

Combination Play with Crossing and Finishing

This crossing and finishing drill packs a full attacking move into one repeatable pattern: a short build-up, a ball released into the corner, and two forwards arriving at the posts on time.

20 min6+ playersU12–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

Goalkeeper Down-Up Drill

A keeper on the ground is a keeper out of the game - until they're back up.

5 min1+ playersU9–U16
medium

Crossing and Finishing Drill

Goals from crosses come down to two things: the quality of the delivery and the timing of the runs.

20 min10+ playersU11–U16
medium

Pressure and Cover Defending Game

Good team defending starts with two players knowing exactly who they are: the one pressing the ball and the one covering behind.

25 min10+ playersU10–U16
medium

Small-Sided Shooting and Finishing Game

This small-sided shooting and finishing game crams a full match's worth of shots into twenty minutes.

20 min12–14 playersU9–U16
medium

Defensive Speed Course

Defenders live on short sprints, sharp cuts, and recoveries toward their own goal - so train exactly that.

15 min4+ playersU11–U16
medium

Three Goal Shooting Drill

Three goals, three keepers, no waiting around.

20 min6+ playersU9–U16
medium

Diamond Passing Combination

The Diamond Passing Combination is a soccer passing drill that flows like a metronome: pass, overlap, first-time layoff, release.

15 min6+ playersU10–U16
easy

Goalkeeper Side-to-Side

Saves rarely come from a standing start - keepers are usually moving, or getting up off the ground.

5 min1+ playersU9–U16
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

Shooting Warm-Up

This soccer shooting warm-up drill turns long-range striking into a team race.

20 min9-18 playersU10–U16
medium

Shooters and Shaggers

Shooters and Shaggers is a competitive soccer shooting drill that builds accuracy, leg strength, and a clean instep drive.

20 min6+ playersU9–U16
medium

4v2 Angle of Support

4v2 Angle of Support is a soccer possession drill that hammers home three habits: move early, support at a good angle, and always give the ball carrier at least two passing options.

20 min8 playersU10–U16
easy

Reaction, Acceleration, and Winning the Ball

Reaction, Acceleration, and Winning the Ball is a soccer fitness drill that turns 50-50 duels into a game.

12 min6+ playersU8–U16
medium

Line Passing Combination Warm-Up

This soccer passing warm-up drill gets a group of four combining while they travel the length of the field together.

12 min4+ (groups of 4) playersU10–U16
medium

Move, Combo, 1v1 Shooting Drill

This soccer shooting drill packs three different finishes into one flowing circuit: a shot after a move, a first-time strike off a 1-2 combination, and a finish after beating a defender 1v1.

20 min9+ playersU11–U16
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

Diagonal 1v1

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

15 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

3v1 Attacking the Goal

3v1 Attacking the Goal is a soccer attacking drill that builds composure in front of goal.

20 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

Shooting on the Turn

Shooting on the Turn is a soccer shooting drill that forces U10-U16 players to strike quickly out of a turn instead of taking a settling touch.

15 min6+ playersU10–U16
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

3v3 in the 18

3v3 in the 18 is a soccer attacking drill played entirely inside the penalty area, so every moment happens in shooting range.

20 min8+ playersU11–U16
hard

Attacking from the Back

Attacking from the Back is a full-field soccer attacking drill that starts every move where real attacks start: the goalkeeper's distribution.

25 min12+ playersU12–U16
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
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
hard

Combination Crossing Drill

This soccer crossing drill chains a dummy, a one-touch layoff, a first-time cross, and timed runs to the near and far post into one flowing pattern.

25 min12+ playersU12–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
medium

Combination Shooting Rotation Drill

This soccer shooting drill for U12 to U16 players ties build-up passing directly to the finish, so shots come off realistic combination play instead of static serves.

20 min10+ playersU12–U16
medium

Soccer Fitness: Improving Reaction and Acceleration

This soccer fitness drill trains two qualities that decide countless duels in a match: reaction time and acceleration.

15 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

3v1 Rotating Defenders

The 3v1 Rotating Defenders game is a small-space soccer possession drill that suits U9 to U16 teams.

15 min6+ playersU9–U16
hard

Combination Shooting and Finishing Drill

This combination shooting and finishing soccer drill challenges U13 to U16 players with the hardest moment in attacking play: receiving with your back to goal, turning tight, and getting a shot away before the defense recovers.

25 min8+ playersU13–U16
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
hard

Combination Shooting with Dummy Run

This combination shooting soccer drill for U12 to U16 players is built around one of the game's slyest moves: the dummy.

20 min8+ playersU12–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

Combination Shooting Drills

This combination shooting drill gives U11 to U16 soccer players a framework for building up to a strike, with two small passing triangles feeding first-time finishes at goal.

20 min6+ playersU11–U16
medium

Center Mid Passing Combination 1

Center Mid Passing Combination 1 is a soccer passing drill for U10 to U16 teams that puts a central pivot at the heart of a four-corner passing pattern.

15 min9+ playersU10–U16
medium

Great Attacking Skills

Great Attacking Skills is a soccer attacking drill for U11 to U16 teams built on two adjacent grids and a constantly shifting overload.

20 min5+ playersU11–U16
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