Warm-ups, games and circuits to start training: ball activation, easy rondos, chasing games and coordination circuits. Perfect for the first 15 minutes of any session.
15 drills
15 drills
The six running exercises of the FIFA 11+ injury-prevention programme: straight ahead, hip out, hip in, circling partner, jumping with shoulder contact and quick forwards-and-backwards in a cone course.
Horst Wein's small-sided game that inspired the DFB and FIFA 3v3 formats: 3v3 without keepers on 25x25 yards, each team defending two 3-yard goals set apart on its end line and attacking the two opposite ones. Players learn to look up and switch the point of attack.
The most famous grassroots game: minnows dribble across the grid while two sharks without a ball try to kick their ball out. Lose your ball and you become a shark; the last minnow wins.
Progressive 12-minute routine in goalkeeper pairs: hand passes, mid-height catches on the move, lateral footwork between cones and gentle volleys. Prepares hands, shoulders and legs before the specific work.
Activation rondo in 8x8 m squares: four keepers of the ball against one presser who swaps out every time they touch the ball. Ideal to start the session with the ball and rhythm.
Foundation game (U4-U8): pirates dribble out from their ship, dodge the two or three guards, knock over a tall treasure cone with the ball and dribble home carrying the cone. The team that collects the most treasure wins.
Relay race in groups of 2-3 in 5x10 yard channels: dribble to the end of the channel, stop the ball, turn with the requested move (drag-back, Cruyff turn, inside or outside hook) and come back to hand over to a teammate. First group to complete five trips wins.
Pairs duel inside a 10x10 m square with a 1 m cone gate on each side: the attacker can score by dribbling through any of the four gates and the defender, starting central, must read and close. Constant changes of angle and lots of take-ons in 8 minutes.
1v1 duel on a 20x30 yard field with four to six tall cones on each end line as targets: the attacker must beat the defender and knock a cone over with a pass or a low shot. When every cone on one side is down, roles switch.
Foundation game (U4-U8): everyone dribbles around the island and the coach holds up a coloured disc. Green, dribble fast; amber, turn and burst away; red, stop the ball with the sole. Heads must come up to see the colour.
Everyone with a ball inside a 20x20 m square: keep your own ball under control while trying to kick everyone else's out of the ring. Lose your ball and you are out; the last player standing is king of the ring.
The grassroots classic: six 1-yard gates spread across a 15x20 yard rectangle; every player scores a point for each gate dribbled through in 60 seconds, never the same gate twice in a row.
Classic Coerver progression for U8-U12: ball mastery in 3x3 yard grids, 1v1 moves (scissors, step-over, croqueta) on defender cones and a 1v1 to a gate to finish. Hundreds of touches in 20 minutes.
Chasing game where everyone dribbles a ball: two taggers in bibs try to touch the others, who escape by dribbling away. The most fun way to start with young kids.
Progressive warm-up in pairs: passing combined with dynamic mobility, controls with lateral movement and a final activation with short sprints to a central cone.
Between 15 and 25 minutes: mobility and easy running, a block with the ball (rondo or passing) and a final activation with progressive sprints. The drills in this section cover each of those parts.