Youth Indoor Soccer Drills

Conducting an indoor youth soccer training session can be difficult due to the small size of the field. Splitting the squad in half and having each unit stay on one side of the field will help the players to focus during drills. Design an indoor soccer practice that is both fun and instructive for the young players and try to vary the length and intensity of each drill.

  1. Dribbling Drill

    • Since an indoor soccer field is smaller than an outdoor field, spread the youth team out as far as possible. Give each player a ball to dribble between cones set up around the field. Make each player use both feet during the drill and focus on maintaining possession close to the foot. This drill will help the players learn to control the ball on an indoor surface.

    Passing Drill

    • Divide the youth soccer squad in half and have each unit form a circle approximately five yards in diameter. Have a player from each unit stand in the middle of a circle with a soccer ball. Instruct him to pass the ball to a player of his choice using the inside of his foot. The player on the outside of the circle will then receive the ball, control possession and pass the ball back to the center player. Continue the drill until each player has had a turn in the middle and made five passes with the inside of both feet. The pace of the drill depends on the overall skill level of the team. If time permits, have each player use the outside of the foot for an additional five passes.

    Receiving Drill

    • An indoor surface plays much faster than grass, so developing the proper receiving skills will improve the quality of the team's play on the carpet. Have the squad members pair off with a ball to work on receiving technique. Make each player trap the ball cleanly using the foot, then quickly pass the ball back to the other player. Once a player passes the ball, they should jog in place to keep their feet moving. This will help work on conditioning as well as keep the player ready to receive the next pass. Do this soccer skills training drill for five minutes or longer if time allows.

    Shooting Drill

    • Split the team into two groups and have the lines spread out roughly 10 yards apart and 20 yards from the goal. Once the goalkeeper is in place, have one player from each line move forward. Pass one of the players a ball, then have the player pass the ball to the shooter. Instruct the shooter to take a touch before launching a shot. Continue the drill until all of the players have had a chance to shoot with both feet.