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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5v5 possession with acceleration lanes
8–12 players · 30×35 m · 18 min · high intensity
5v5 possession with side lanes entered only at a sprint, scoring by receiving out of the lane; works on runs in behind and timing the pass.
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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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Compensation game: 5v5 with goalkeepers
8–12 players · 30×40 m · 16 min · high intensity
Continuous 5v5 with goalkeepers on a 40×30 m pitch giving non-starters the high-intensity load they missed in the match.
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2v2 to four mini-goals
4–12 players · groups of 4 · 15×20 m · 12 min · high intensity
Pairs play 2v2 on a 15×20 m pitch, each team attacking two mini-goals and defending two, with no goalkeepers.
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3v3 festival
6–18 players · groups of 6 · 15×20 m · 20 min · high intensity
3v3 games without goalkeepers on 15×20 m pitches, with winners and losers moving pitch after each game so opponents change.
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5v5 with a dribble bonus
8–12 players · 27×37 m · 22 min · high intensity
5v5 (four outfield plus goalkeeper) on a 37×27 m pitch where goals involving a successful dribble count double.
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Two 6v6 games side by side
20–24 players · groups of 12 · 25×35 m · 14 min · high intensity
Four teams of six play two simultaneous games on 35×25 m pitches, with the coach standing between them on the halfway line.
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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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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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4v4 with goalkeepers
10–20 players · 20×30 m · 20 min · high intensity
Short, intense 4v4 bouts with goalkeepers and portable goals, while waiting teams feed balls from the sides to keep play continuous.
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9v9 on 70×50 m
18–20 players · 50×70 m · 16 min · medium intensity
A 9v9 on 70×50 m (3-2-3 v 3-3-2) where a goal within 8 seconds of winning the ball counts double.
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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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7v7 with goalkeepers on 50×34 m
14–16 players · 34×50 m · 20 min · medium intensity
A 7v7 with goalkeepers along the 50 m length of a quarter pitch, with a double goal after a forward pass from the middle third.
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5v5 futsal-style in a 30×18 m hall
10–16 players · 18×30 m · high intensity
A 5v5 with goalkeepers in a 30×18 m sports hall using a futsal ball, kick-ins and rolling substitutions.
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8v8 transition game
18 players · Full pitch · 22 min · high intensity
An 8v8 plus goalkeepers between the penalty boxes at full width, rewarding fast goals after regains and 5-second counter-press wins.
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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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7v7 with goalkeepers
14–18 players · 35×50 m · 16 min · medium intensity
A 7v7 with goalkeepers on 50×35 m, both teams in a 2-3-1, where a goal after playing through the middle third counts double.
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.