Top Soccer Drills for Young Players to Improve Skills

The Importance of Fun Soccer Drills

At Red Star Soccer Academy we understand that fun soccer drills are essential for player engagement and development. Our soccer coaches tailor soccer drills to various skill levels, from beginner to advanced.

Engaging soccer training drills help build skills while keeping players motivated. This makes sure players listen to coach calls at soccer training sessions. Research shows that soccer drills that mix skill development and repetition of skilled touches with fun elements are key to developing soccer players. This gets them ready to play soccer games.

Why Fun Drills Matter for Kids

Fun soccer drills create a perfect mix for kids to learn and enjoy. Drills and touch development are critical for young players to learn and repeat, allowing them to master advanced moves later on. Fun soccer drills that develop core soccer skills, such as control and passing, are essential for soccer players. Fun drills help build confidence and skills in youth soccer players.

Types of Fun Youth Soccer Drills for Children

Drills are a key part of soccer practice for young players. Teaching ball skills can be done in fun ways. Check out our Drills Page to see more examples

Ball Control and Soccer Dribbling Drills

Control and dribbling drills are essential for developing a player’s ability to control the ball. Soccer dribbling drills can include practice dribbling through cones, around small obstacles, or in a designated area.

These help improve a player’s body movements and then ability to control the ball in tight spaces. Dribbling techniques should provide players with greater ability in coordination and body movements. Examples of great soccer drills include “Dribbling Through Cones” and "Box Drill”. Offensive players dribble in tight spaces, depending on their skill level. These can be done as part of a soccer warm up. See more soccer drills in our Players Corner.

Youth Soccer Passing Drills

Passing drills are essential for developing a player’s ability to pass the soccer ball effectively. Drills can include passing with different parts of the foot, passing with both feet, or passing in a game-like situation. They help improve a player’s ability to pass the ball accurately and with power. Drills should force players into quick but accurate passing. Examples include “Passing with Both Feet” and “Wall Passing” to work on weak foot.

Shooting Drills

Soccer shooting drills are essential for developing a player’s ability to shoot the soccer ball effectively. Shooting skills are key in penalty box soccer to make a team score. Drills can include shooting with different parts of the foot, shooting from different distances, or shooting in a game-like situation. Teaching soccer shooting drills help improve a player’s ability to shoot the ball accurately and with power. Examples of shooting drills include “Shooting with Both Feet” and “Shooting from Different Distances”.

Best Soccer Drills for Kids

Practice Session Essentials

A practice session should include a warm-up, drills, and a game-like situation with two teams against each other. Competition is important in a soccer game and training. At Red Star Soccer we try to create an environment where players don't want to be on the losing team. Drills should be tailored to the age and skill level of the players. Training should include a mix of fun and challenging drills. Examples of training essentials include “Warm-Up Drill” and “Game-Like Situation Drill”.

Defensive Drills

Defensive drills are key for developing a player’s ability in playing defense and even in the midfield line facing an attacking player. Drills involves a player defending against an opponent who is trying to score.

This helps improve a player’s ability to defend and react quickly. Examples of defensive run down drills include “Defending Against an Opponent” and “Defending in a Game-Like Situation”. When the coach blows his whistle, an offensive player dribbles quickly towards the penalty box line keeping the ball close. Then the defensive player must stop them moving the ball forward. This can be done with legal slide tackling or any of the defensive core skills.

Defending Techniques

Defending techniques are essential for developing a player’s ability to defend effectively. Techniques can include defending with the feet, defending with the body, defending with the head. Drill focuses on accurate ball clearances help to make sure that middle players cant intercept the ball.

Defending techniques help improve a player’s ability to defend and react quickly. Examples of defending techniques include “Defending with the Feet” and “Defending with the Body”.

Fun Games and Drills for Kids

Fun Soccer Games

Fun soccer games are essential for developing a player’s ability to play soccer effectively. Games can include small-sided games, such as 3v3 or 4v4, or larger games, such as 7v7 or 11v11. This depends on their age group.

Fun soccer games help improve a player’s ability to play soccer in a game-like situation. At Red Star Soccer, we avoid coaching sessions where players line up or players stand in one place for a long time. Our youth coaches make sure there are never players sitting down in training. Examples of fun soccer games include small-sided games and larger games.