Professional Soccer Training Drills

There are many different kinds of soccer drills you can introduce to a team. However, professional soccer training drills, such as those used by youth academies at top European clubs, are among the best. They teach players important skills and fundamentals and encourage them to play at their highest possible level.

  1. Liverpool Academy Pass and Move

    • This is a drill that was created at the youth academy at Liverpool FC in England. Its objectives are to improve passing and moving skills while simultaneously teaching players to support one another.

      The drill requires at least eight players and is meant to be conducted in a 20-by-40-yard area that can be marked off with cones. Divide the players into two sides of at least four players each.

      The two sides will play each other and try to score goals. However, each time a player makes a pass, he must sprint five yards in any direction to another position. If a player fails to sprint upon completing a pass, a free kick will be awarded to the other team. No goalkeepers are used in this drill.

    2-on-2 Pressure and Covering Defending

    • This is a good drill for small groups of players to improve their defensive skill. It requires four players divided into two sides. Set up a 20-by-20-yard playing area. The attacking side will have the ball and must go for goal.

      The first defender will immediately start pressing the attacker with the ball while the second defender must position herself between the ball and the goal while keeping on eye on the second attacker.

      The first defender must try to channel the on-ball attacker away from the goal and from the off-ball attacker. Once the on-ball attacker is cornered with no passing or shooting options, the second defender joins in to double-team the on-ball attacker and win possession of the ball.

      Once possession has been won by the defenders, they become attackers and the vice versa.

    Ajax Pass and Movement Game

    • This drill was invented at the famous Ajax Academy in Amsterdam, which has trained many of the world's greatest players. The objective of this drill is to teach players passing, movement, support and how to maintain possession.

      This drill requires eight or more players and is conducted in a 20-by-40-yard area that can be delineated with cones. Then use smaller cones to split the playing area into four triangles that converge in the middle.

      Divide the players into two sides and have them try to score goals. The condition of the drill is that every time a player makes a pass, that player must run to another triangle before he can receive the ball again. If he violates this rule and gets the ball passed back to him in the same triangle, the other team is awarded a free kick.

      No goalkeepers are used in this drill. Players should be awarded one point for a two-touch finish and two points for a one-touch finish.