Football drills
Free · No sign-up · With diagrams
The drills from the blog’s training sessions, with diagrams, on one page: filter by age group, objective, the number of players you have and the space, and open each one in the tactics board to adapt it to your session. Every three days, a new drill from the Coaching Notebooks books is added.
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7v7 game with a sweeper-keeper rule
14 players · Full pitch · 30 min · medium intensity
U11 7v7 game where the keeper steps to the edge of the area when the team has the ball and sweeps behind the defence if the opponent plays long.
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2v2 pressure and cover
4–16 players · groups of 4 · 20×25 m · 12 min · medium intensity
Two defenders serve to two attackers in 20×25 m and protect two gates, with the nearest pressing and the partner covering behind.
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Passing through gates
6–14 players · groups of 2 · 25×25 m · 10 min · medium intensity
Pairs with one ball pass through 2 m gates scattered in a 25×25 m area, taking the first touch away towards the next gate.
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Receiving diamond
5–6 players · groups of 6 · 15×15 m · 12 min · low intensity
An unopposed passing pattern round a 15 m diamond where each receiver opens up and receives across the body before passing on.
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3v1 support rondo
4–12 players · groups of 4 · 10×10 m · 14 min · medium intensity
Three attackers keep the ball from one defender in a 10×10 m box, always supporting on the sides next to the ball carrier.
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4v4+2 to end zones
10 players · 30×36 m · 15 min · medium intensity
Two teams of four plus two neutrals on 30×36 m score by passing to a team-mate who runs into a 5 m end zone.
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7v7 with scoring rules
14 players · 37×55 m · 20 min · medium intensity
A 7v7 on a 55×37 m pitch where a goal counts double after a one-two or a switch of play.
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1v1 breakaways
4–10 players · Indoor or small area · 10 min · high intensity
Attackers dribble in from 22 m with six seconds to score while the goalkeeper advances and sets before the shot.
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Score and go in goal
8–10 players · 20×30 m · 23 min · high intensity
3v3 with keepers where the scorer runs to their own goal and swaps with the keeper; works on quick restarts and the set position.
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Ball-side arrival takes the ball
6–12 players · 22×25 m · 21 min · high intensity
1v2 that becomes 2v2 to mini-goals, where the backup goes to the ball or takes the spare player depending on their side; works on called switches.
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Centre-back step-in game
6–9 players · Half pitch · medium intensity
Goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a holding midfielder build out against two forwards on half a 9v9 pitch to reach targets 35 m out.
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Colour gate box
6 players · groups of 6 · 15×15 m · 10 min · medium intensity
Midfielder in a 15×15 m box receives from a server and turns through the colour gate called by the coach in one or two touches.
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Three-zone line-breaking game
8–9 players · 30×45 m · medium intensity
Three players beat a presser to find a midfielder marked in a middle zone, who turns and passes to targets on the end line.
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1v1 to 2v2 in a channel
5–10 players · 20×30 m · 12 min · high intensity
Defenders serve to attackers and defend a 20×30 m channel in front of a goal with a goalkeeper, progressing from 1v1 to 2v2.
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1v1 in the wide channel
5–7 players · 15×30 m · high intensity
Full-backs serve to wingers and defend a 15×30 m channel along the touchline, steering them down the line rather than inside.
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Game with wide free zones
16 players · 40×50 m · 15 min · high intensity
5v5 plus goalkeepers on a 50×40 m pitch with protected 6 m wide channels where wide players cross for runners.
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Receive, turn and shoot
4–10 players · Quarter pitch · medium intensity
A striker checks towards one of two servers 25 m out, turns with the first touch and shoots with the second against a goalkeeper.
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Pass and follow square
8–12 players · 15×15 m · 5 min · low intensity
Players at the four corners of a 12–15 m square pass to the next cone and follow their pass, keeping the drill flowing.
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4v4 to four mini-goals
8 players · 25×30 m · high intensity
Two teams of four each attack two mini-goals and defend two on a 30×25 m pitch without goalkeepers, encouraging switches of play.
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3v3 end-zone game
6 players · 20×30 m · high intensity
A 3v3 on 30×20 m with 5 m end zones, where a team scores by receiving a pass in the zone after a timed run.
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Rondo 5v2
7–21 players · groups of 7 · 12×12 m · 6 min · medium intensity
Five players around a grid keep the ball from two defenders inside, moving along the edge to create passing angles.
How to use the library
Pick the age group and the objective of the session and enter how many players you have: the list only shows the drills that fit, including those run in parallel groups. Each card shows the space, duration and intensity, and opens the full drill sheet.
From diagram to session
"Open in the tactics board" opens the diagram with the same players, cones, mini goals and zones, named after the drill. Change what you need and send the link to your coaches on WhatsApp, no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
Are the drills free?
Yes. The library, the tactics board and the blog sessions are free and need no sign-up.
Where do the drills come from?
From the training sessions on the DorsalCUP blog. Each drill sheet links to the section of the article where the drill is explained, with the context of the session.
Can I share a search or my favourites?
Yes. The filters are kept in the page address and favourites are shared with a link: whoever opens it sees the same drills, no account needed.