8 U8 Dribbling Soccer Drills
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1. Skill through the square and shoot u8 dribbling • Shoot as early as you can
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
drill • What kind of touches should I be taking before I get to the
defender?
Purpose: • How fast/slow should my skill be performed?
The purpose of this drill is to encourage players to practice skills at pace • What should I being doing after my skill to get away from the
and then taking a shot at goal. defender?
• When should I shoot? Why?
Set up:
• Create a 15 x 20 yard area Progression:
• 5 x 5 yard square in the middle of the area As a progression you can introduce 2 defenders into the square (you may
• 1 cone in the middle of the square need to make the square bigger) with players still having to dribble
• 4 goals through the square and taking a shot on goal.
• 1 soccer ball per player You can also make the 4 teams compete to see who can score the most
goals.
Instructions:
Set up your goals opposite each other on the 15 yard line and 20 yard line
and line up your players in teams of 3 next to goals.
Each player will have a soccer ball, the first player in each of the lines will
dribble towards the square and perform a soccer skill on the cone in the
middle of the square as if it were a defender.
Players must perform a skill of the coaches choice that takes the first to the
right they will then have a shot in the goal opposite them.
Once the player has exited the square the next player in line can go.
Alternate so now players must perform a skill which takes them out of the
square to the left.
Coaching points:
• Small touches as you approach the square
• The skill should be performed quickly
• Big touch that takes your outside the square
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2. Soccer Skills in pairs U8 dribbling drills • Should my skill be performed fast or slow?
• How can I make sure I get away from the defender after I have
used my skill?
Purpose:
To get a lot of repetition using skills and turns while keeping your head up.
Progression:
This will now become a 1v1 with 1 soccer ball per pair. Both players will
Set up:
start on the their respective lines with the player who starts with the ball
• Create 2 lines that run parallel with each other and are 10 yards
being the defender.
apart
• Place cones in the middle of the 2 lines ( 1 cone per pair)
The defender will pass the ball to their partners who will become the
• 1 soccer ball per player
attacker.
Instructions: If the attacker dribbles past the line the defender started on the attack
Players should line up opposite each other on the lines 10 yards apart with with get 3 points, however if the defender manages to steal the ball and
a cone in the middle of them, the players will then have a ball each and at dribble past the line the attacker started on.
the same dribble towards the cone and perform a soccer skill that takes
them to the right. The defender and attacker will swap round every round.
Once they have they have performed their skill on their cone they will
dribble to the line where their partner started, and they can perform a turn
such as a drag back, an outside hook or a Cruyff turn so they are no facing
their partner and ready to go again.
Swap over to the players will perform the same skill but it will now take
them to the left.
Coaching points:
• Dribble with your head up
• Small quick touches
• Skill should be performed quickly
• Big touch away in the direction after the skill has been used
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• Where should i be looking when I am dribbling?
• What kind of touches should be taking as we come towards the
cone in the middle?
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3. Dribble through the gates soccer drills for u8
Purpose:
Encourages players to use a variety of skills and changes of directions beat
a defender
Set up:
• 15 yard x 10 yard area
• 2 gates
• 1 goal
• 1 soccer ball per 2 players
Instructions:
The defenders will start with ball in between the two gates and they will
pass the ball to the attackers on the opposite side of the area next to the
goal.
The attackers must dribble through the gates to score 3 points, if the
defender steals the ball and scores in the goal the attacker started from
they will get 1 point.
Swap the attacking team and defending team and keep track of the scores.
The team with the most points wins.
Coaching points:
• Keep your head up to see where the space and the defender is
• Use skills to help beat the defender
• Dribble at different speeds while changing direction
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• Where should be looking when we are dribbling?
• What can we use to help us beat the defender?
• How else can we beat the defender without using a skill?
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4. 1v1 dribbling ladder u8 soccer drills
Purpose:
Encourages players to try skills and beat defenders in a 1v1 scenario.
Set up:
• Create a 10 yard x 5 yard area per pair
• 1 soccer ball per pair
• 2 goals per area
Instructions:
Each pair should have their own area with a soccer ball and 2 goals, this
will effectively be a 1v1 is small area to help improve close control and foot
work in tight areas.
The areas will be set up next to each other with winners moving up the
ladder and loser moving down the ladder
The player that scores the most goals in the pair at the end of 2 minutes
will move up and their pair will be moving down so players should be
playing new players at the end of each round.
Coaching points:
• Small sharp touches when approaching the defender
• Quick skill and a change of direction to get away from the
defender
• Be confident and try new soccer skills
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• What type of touches should I be taking as a approach the
defender?
• What can I do to help get past the defender?
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5. Soccer skill then shoot u8 dribbling drills As a progression collect your 10 cones scattered around and divide your
area into 3 sections and place a defender in each section (they must stay in
their section).
Purpose:
This is to get a lot of repetition of performing soccer skills while on the If the defenders win the ball they can score in the goal in their section, the
move and being aware of what is going on around them player in the middle can score in either of the goals.
Set up: Players are still trying to score as many goals as they can after 5 minutes
• Create a 15 yard x 20 yard area see who scored the most goals and swap the defenders.
• 2 goals
• 10 cones
• 1 ball per soccer player
Instructions:
After you have set up the area and the goals scatter your cones around the
area.
The players must try and score as many goals as they can back and forth
between the 2 goals however they must perform a skill on X amount of
cones ( acting as a defender) before taking a shot a goal.
You can vary the skills so they must perform a different skill on each cone,
practicing with both feet
Coaching points:
• Dribble with your head up
• Small touches as you approach the cone
• Quick skill, big touch and accelerate away from the cone
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• Why should I be dribbling with my head up?
• What type of touches should I be taking as i approach the cone?
• What do I need to help me get past the defender (cone)?
Progressions:
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6. Dribble round the square U8 Dribbling Drill As a progression 1 player in the pair will become the tagger without a
soccer ball and the other player will have a soccer.
Purpose: The players can travel in any direction but eh player with the ball must
To keep the ball under close control while moving at speed and changing avoid getting tagged by the tagger.
direction. Swap players round so they both have a chance to dribble and tag.
Set up:
• 5 yard x 5 yard area per pair of players
• 1 soccer ball per
Instructions:
With you area set up start your players on opposite sides of the square,
both players must travel round the square in the same direction with their
soccer ball.
The player that is able to catch up with their partner and tag them from
behind will be the winner.
You are able to vary the direction players are traveling in, what foot
players can use and what part of the foot players can use.
Coaching points:
• Dribble with your head up
• Small quick touches to change direction around the corners of the
square
• Big touch out of your feet and accelerate out of the corners
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• Where should we be looking when we are dribbling?
• What type of touches should I be taking if I want to change
direction
• What type of touches should I be taking if there is space in front
of me?
Progression:
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7. Skills and turns through the gates u8 dribbling Progression:
Using the same area introduce 2 goals either side and add 2 defenders.
drill The players with the ball must still perform skills or turns through the gates
to get points.
Purpose: The defenders can steal the ball and try and score in either of the goals.
To practice and get lots of repetition of practice different skills and turns
Set up:
• 15 yard x 20 yard area
• 20 cones to create 10 gates 2 yards in width
• 1 soccer ball per player
Instructions:
Scatter you 10 gates around your area every time a player dribbles through
a gate they will get one point.
You change this to players must perform a soccer skill or turn when they
dribble through the gate.
You can also ask players to dribble with a certain foot and different parts of
the foot too.
Coaching points:
• Dribble with your head up
• Small and quick touches to keep control of the soccer ball
• Skills and turns should be performed quickly with a big touch into
space and accelerate away.
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• Why should our heads be up while dribbling?
• What kind touches should I be taking to keep the ball under
control?
• What do I need to do after I have performed my skill/turn?
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8. King/Queen of the castle U8 Soccer dribbling
drill
Purpose:
Encourage players to balance risk and reward when deciding to beat a
player or turning back out if they don't think they can.
Set up:
• Create a 15 x 20 yard area
• 3 5 x 5 yard boxes
• 1 soccer ball per player
• 3 defenders
Instructions:
Set up your area with your 5 x 5 yard boxes spread out evenly inside the
area.
Place 1 defender in each box and the other players will each have a soccer
in the 15 x 20 yard area.
If the players with the soccer ball are able to dribble through the square
exiting the side that they entered they will get 3 points.
If they are able to exit the side the entered or exit the sides to the left or
right they will get 1 point.
Coaching points:
• Skills and turns should be performed quickly
• If you see a space accelerate through the square
• Turn out if you cannot get through the square
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
• What pace should our skills and turns be performed? Why?
• Do you always need to use a skill to get through the square?
• Do you always have go forward? what else could we do?
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