Junior Soccer Training Drills

Junior soccer training drills help young players develop the skills necessary to take their games to the next level. Coaches of youth soccer teams have numerous drills to choose from. Junior players typically require practice activities designed with a focus on fundamental skills such as passing, dribbling, shooting and defending. Several drills can be applied to address these skill areas.

  1. Keep Away

    • Keep away ranks as one of the easiest and most effective drills for teaching players to make quick and smart passes. Coaches set up a small grid with cones, serving as boundaries for players to stay within. The basic approach to this drill involves putting three attacking players in the grid along with one defender. The attacking players must pass the ball amongst themselves while the defender attempts to take the ball or break up a pass by poking the ball out of bounds. The attacking player responsible for the errant pass then switches places with the defender and the game starts again. This same concept can also be utilized with more attackers and defenders in a larger playing area. Ideally there will always be at least two more attackers than there are defenders.

    Knockout

    • US Youth Soccer recommends the knockout drill for building dribbling and shielding skills. The entire team starts with a ball at their feet inside of a defined playing area. The coach blows his whistle and players start dribbling around the field. Players must navigate the area, keeping control of their own ball while trying to poke balls away from their teammates. Players that lose their ball are eliminated until the next round. Individuals cannot stop dribbling during the course of the game, or they will also be eliminated. The last player still in control of his ball at the end of the game wins. Proper execution of this activity will assist juniors in developing their ability to shield the ball and keep their eyes up while dribbling.

    One on One Breakaway

    • US Youth Soccer also suggests employing one on one breakaway drills to enhance attacking and defending capabilities. The coach splits the team in two, separating players into one group of attackers and one group of defenders plus a goalie. The defenders will get in line behind the goal with the coach. The attackers will form a single-file line at midfield. The coach rolls or tosses a ball out to the first attacker in line, at which time the first defender in line will run out to play defense. The attacker must control the ball and dribble in one on one against the defender before shooting at goal. Coaches should emphasize patient defending tactics and the concept of shielding the ball away from goal. Coaches should also relay the concept of attacking with speed and shooting when an opening presents itself. Players retrieve the ball and switch places after the breakaway is over, with the defense going to the end of the offense line and the offense going to the back of the defensive line.