Indoor Soccer Training Drills

The skills required for outdoor soccer are easily transferable to indoor soccer, but to optimize indoor play, players should focus on sharpening certain elements of the game. Instead of a grass pitch, the playing surface for indoor soccer is typically hardwood flooring and is significantly smaller than a full-sized outdoor field. Due to the smaller playing surface, many of the drills performed for indoor soccer focus on close control, quick shooting and agility.

  1. Tick Tock Drill

    • This is a great warm-up drill that develops ball control and increases foot speed. Each player should begin with a ball between her feet. On the coach's whistle, players tap the ball back and forth between their feet. The first player to reach 20-50 taps, depending on the age of the players, is the winner.

    Dribble Slalom Relay

    • Set up a line of cones spaced approximately one meter apart. Split the players in to two teams with an equal distribution of defenders and attackers. Instruct the players weave in and out of the cones, before stopping the ball dead at the end and repeating the course in reverse. When the player has completed the course twice, he passes the ball to the next player in line. Encourage close control and accuracy by giving a time penalty to any player who deviates from the course or loses the ball. Whichever team has all of its members run through the course with the fastest time wins.

    First Touch Shooting

    • Indoor soccer is fast and frenetic. Due to the smaller playing area, which the United States Indoor Soccer Association sets at 180 feet long, games are more crowded and players have less time on the ball. Being able to shoot quickly, often with just one touch, is imperative. Develop this skill by having all players line up in front of the goal. Pass the ball in and have them shoot upon their first touches. As the players improve, vary the speed at which you pass the ball to them.

    One Touch Possession

    • Learning one-touch passing is just as important as one-touch shooting. Develop players' passing and movement skills by setting up miniature games of three against three. Mark out a square and have the six players position with one in each corner and two in the center. Begin the drill by bouncing the ball in to the square. Players are not allowed to control the ball; they must find a teammate immediately upon their first touch. If the ball is kicked out of the square, restart the game.