Players love competition, especially these competitive shooting drills for soccer teams! Competing does something inside that makes people work harder. If you’re a coach make sure you add and adapt these into your plans. Depending on the number of players plays a role… Larger numbers means more planning and keeping the players from standing in lines. When you can add different elements in one exercise the development happens faster.
Drills for soccer teams of all ages
U-11 small group of 8 – Aerial first touch, passing and shooting
These types of drills for soccer teams [see below] are some of my favorites because they build many different elements [skills] in 1 exercise.
Plus it’s competition [2 teams] which makes them work under pressure.
Training under pressure in an unopposed atmosphere is good because it gets them used to game play.
This unopposed, pressure from competition drill allows players more success to grow skill and confidence.
A U-11 group of 8-12 players is perfect for this drill.
U-9 Team of 10 players – Passing, turning while receiving, give and go’s and shooting
This video below is a 5v5 competition drill involving passing, turning while receiving, give and go’s and shooting.
These girls have played rec soccer together for 4 seasons and have come along way…
They went from mostly playing soccer for the first time at age 6-7 and losing most games to now being age 8-9 and going undefeated their 4th season.
Drills like this [Great for ALL ages] help them improve 5 things:
- Passing accuracy
- Receiving [1st touch]
- Turning
- Weight and placement of passes
- Shooting
One touch passing drills with a partner
By far one of the best drills for soccer teams at every age and level…
No matter if it’s a U-7 rec team, U-16 select or a college team, this gets players fired up and building vital skills.
How to organize:
- Get in pairs of 2
- Each pair/team of 2 players uses 1 ball
- Get the pair 3, 5 even 10 yards apart
- Each team should be at least 5 yards spread apart from the other teams
- See which team can get 20 passes first. If they have to trap the ball, the team must start over at 0.
Note: Don’t do this drill [race to a certain number of passes – with 2-touch] because the players will do it sloppy. We don’t want players building bad form or habits. When doing two touch drills it’s important that players learn to take 3 steps or more between touches.
Learn why the steps are so important here.
Chipper Jones [Nothing but net] shooting drill
Of all the fun drills for soccer teams, this one is great to end practice with…
It’s a shooting drill we call ‘Chipper Jones’ AKA Nothing but net…
Long story, but the name stuck.
Chipper Jones is a retired pro baseball player who could hit short and long. The name goes with the drill because you can chip the ball up into the net or drive it.
You have to be good up close and from a distance.
Note: You don’t have to chip it. If easier for you, drive or bend the ball.
Rules:
- Everyone has a ball. One at a time – lined across the 6 yard box each player kicks the ball up into the net.
- To score [qualify to the next round] the ball has to hit the net first. If it hits the ground first, the player is out of the competition.
- If you make it back up 6 yards [making the 2nd round 12 yards from the goal, 3rd round 18 yards]…
- Go until someone wins, backing up 6 yards every round/kick.
- Bonus rule is you can have players who miss go behind the goal and if they catch the ball going over the goal, they’re back in.
For younger/novice players ages 5-8 you can make the rules where you just have to get the ball in the goal, not having to kick it up high.
Texas Tech University defender Macy Blackburn working with me [Jeremie]
Individual shooting drill
The purpose of this drill is to develop quick feet…
There are times when we have the ball around the 18 yard box and need to get the shot off fast.
Oftentimes the chances are uncomfortable, but we have to make it happen.
Fun and challenging shooting drill:
- 4×4 grid
- 2 soccer balls
- Get both balls moving, shoot both before they stop or go out of the grid
Credit to U23 France National Team trainer who gave me this idea. He used to train French forwards like Thierry Henry and Djibril Cissé
Circuit drills for soccer teams
Let’s say you have a team of 16 players…
Divide the players up into groups of 2-4:
- First station work on passing
- Second group do volleys
- Third Bringing balls out of the air [settling]
- Fourth station can be working on 1v1’s
Run each station for 2-5 minutes…
The time and sessions go by fast!
Other ideas for stations:
- Shooting or passing long
- If you have groups of 4 players do 2v2’s in a 15×15 yard grid.
- Crossing and finishing – If you have a goal. Get this full size 8×24′ goal, light weight and easy set up.
- Juggling
- Soccer tennis
My favorite goal that I use everyday
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