The Ultimate Soccer Coaching Resource

This circle rondo gets your whole team working in one game. Eight attackers ring the circle and two more play in the middle. Together they keep the ball away from three defenders who come in as a unit. For the attackers, it is all about sharp passing, a clean first touch, and using the two middle players to break pressure. For the defenders, it is one of the best ways I know to teach pressure, cover, and balance. One player closes the ball. One covers behind. One balances and shuts off the far side. Three defenders cannot win the ball by chasing alone, so they must work as a team. When they win it, three fresh defenders sprint in and the game rolls on. The pace stays high, nobody stands for long, and every player gets a turn on both sides of the ball.

10+ yrs. 13-20 players 15 min. 20x20 yds. GK: no

0 19 Chris Johnson

Medium

6v4 Transition Rondo with 4 Mini Goals

This 6v4 rondo turns a simple possession game into a real fight for the ball. Six attackers keep the ball and score by stringing passes together. Four defenders hunt it down, and the second they win it they can score in any of the four mini goals in the corners. That one twist gives both teams a reason to work. The six learn to spread out, pass with purpose, and receive on the move under real pressure. They also learn the hard lesson that losing the ball costs them, so they must react at once and win it back. The four learn to press together, win the ball, and attack fast before the other team recovers. I have run games like this for years, and the best part is how close it feels to match day. Possession, defending, and transition all happen in one grid with no lines and no waiting.

10+ yrs. 10 players 15 min. 20x35 yds. GK: no

0 6 Chris Johnson

Medium

6v2 Back Foot Rondo: Play Around the Grid

This 6v2 rondo keeps eight players busy in one small grid and teaches a habit every good passer needs. Players cannot pass across the grid. The ball can only go to the teammate next to them, on the left or the right. That rule forces players to open up and receive with the back foot so the ball keeps moving around the grid. I like this version for bigger groups because six attackers give the ball plenty of places to go, but only if players set their body shape early. A player who faces the passer gets closed down fast by two defenders. A player who opens the hips and takes the first touch across the body moves the ball on with no fuss. You will see quicker ball speed, sharper first touches, and players who look before they receive. The two defenders get a real workout too, and they learn to press as a pair.

10+ yrs. 8 players 15 min. 8x15 yds. GK: no

0 11 Chris Johnson

Medium

4v2 Back Foot Rondo: Play Left or Right

This 4v2 rondo takes a classic possession game and adds one rule that makes players think. No passes across the grid. The ball can only go to the teammate on the left or the right. With two defenders hunting the ball, players have no time to receive closed and turn. They must open up early and take the ball on the back foot so the next pass is ready to go. I love this game because the rule does the coaching for you. A player who faces the passer gets trapped. A player who opens the hips and lets the ball run across the body plays out with one clean touch. Expect quicker passing, smarter movement along the lines, and players who scan before the ball arrives. The two defenders also get great work on pressing as a pair. Set up one grid for every six players and let them compete.

10+ yrs. 6 players 15 min. 8x12 yds. GK: no

0 12 Chris Johnson

Medium

4v1 Back Foot Rondo: No Pass Across

This 4v1 rondo has one simple rule that changes everything. Players cannot pass to the teammate straight across from them. The ball must go to the player on their left or their right. That one rule forces every player to open up their body and receive with the back foot, so the ball keeps moving around the grid. I have used this rondo for years because the game does the teaching. Players who receive closed get stuck and lose the ball. Players who open up and take the first touch across their body find the next pass with ease. You will see sharper passing, cleaner first touches, and better support angles in a tight space. It only takes five players and a few cones, so you can set up several grids and keep the whole team busy.

10+ yrs. 5 players 15 min. 5x8 yds. GK: no

0 16 Chris Johnson

Medium

5v4 Big Goal to 2 Mini Goals

This game-like drill creates a high-tempo match situation to challenge both attackers and defenders. Attackers learn how to break through a compact defense to create finishing chances on the big goal. Defenders focus on applying pressure, staying compact in central spaces, and protecting the penalty area. When defenders win the ball, they must transition immediately to find the two mini goals or connect with the neutral target. The neutral player keeps the pace high and gives both teams an outlet to reset and switch the attack.

10+ yrs. 10+ players 25 min. 44x40 yds. GK: yes

0 750 Chris Johnson

Medium

Castle Game: Beautiful Chaos

This game is chaos on purpose. Two balls are live at the same time, so players cannot lock onto one thing and switch their brain off. They have to scan, talk, and decide fast. That is the whole point. Each team guards five cones on their own end line. Each team tries to knock over the other team's cones with the ball. Knock one down, sprint it back to your castle, and it belongs to you. Simple rules, and the players get it in about thirty seconds. What you get out of it is much bigger than the rules suggest. Players learn to keep their head up because a second ball can hit them from behind. They learn to pick a pass instead of blasting it, because an accurate ball knocks a cone over and a wild one does not. They learn to shift from attack to defense in a heartbeat, since both happen at once. And the sprint rule turns this into real conditioning without a single line drill. Nobody stands around. Nobody asks how much longer. Use it as a warm-up, a mid-session energizer, or the last twenty minutes when legs are tired and you still want quality touches. It fits U6 all the way to adults. You only change the grid size and the number of balls. Coaches, resist the urge to over-coach this one. Let it get loud. Step in for a quick word, then let them play. The best learning here happens on its own, and the kids will ask for it again next week.

6+ yrs. 12 players 20 min. 35x50 yds. GK: no

1 1,109 Chris Johnson

Easy

Protect the Rock: 1v1 Shielding Game

This game teaches your youngest players one of the most useful skills in soccer: shielding the ball. One player stands over the ball like it's a treasure they must guard. The other player tries to knock it away. The defender learns to use their body, not their hands, to keep the attacker out. It is simple, it is active, and every player touches the ball on every single turn. Coaches love it because it needs almost no setup and keeps kids moving the whole time.

4+ yrs. 2+ players 10 min. 15x20 yds. GK: no

4.5 632 Chris Johnson

Hard

2v1 Two-Grid Possession Rondo Drill

This drill sharpens your team's ability to keep the ball under pressure and use support. Two attackers face one defender in a tight grid. That is a real test of quick touches and quick thinking. When the defender wins the ball, they looks to link with his own attacker in the next grid to keep his team involved. Your attackers must think fast too. They can use the player in the next grid as an out ball, but that player only gets one or two touches. This forces sharp first touches, quick scanning, and constant movement to support the ball. It is a great drill for players who need work on tight combination play, fast decisions, and staying composed under pressure.

12+ yrs. 6 players 20 min. 8x12 yds. GK: no

0 931 Chris Johnson

Hard

4-Grid Rondo: 2v1+1 Neutral Overload Possession Drill

This drill builds two skills at once: tight possession play and the scanning habit every good midfielder needs. Attackers work 2v1 in a tight grid, so they must move the ball fast and support each other well. The real teaching point sits with the two neutral players. They have to read the game across two grids at once and decide, on their own, which team needs help right now. That is a decision soccer players make every match, and this drill forces it over and over in a small space. When a defender wins the ball, the drill flips instantly into a fast counter-attack on a small goal, so players also learn to transition the moment possession changes. Keep score with the point system and players will fight for every pass and every turnover.

12+ yrs. 14 players 20 min. 25x25 yds. GK: no

3 656 Chris Johnson

Medium

4v2 Double Grid Dribble to Penetrate

This drill builds the courage to dribble forward and the vision to combine once you get there. Most young players learn to keep the ball. Fewer learn when to carry it into space on purpose. Here, attackers hold a 4v2 advantage in one grid until a gap opens. Then one player has to make a bold read: drive the ball across open space into a second group and keep the play alive. It is a great tool for coaches who want players who dribble with a purpose, not just to beat a defender for the sake of it. Along the way, players practice supporting angles, scanning before the ball arrives, and staying patient in tight numbers-up possession. Add pass or touch restrictions once players get comfortable, and this drill turns into a real tactical test of speed of play and decision-making under pressure.

12+ yrs. 11 players 25 min. 12x36 yds. GK: no

0 698 Chris Johnson

Medium

3-Second Transition Game

The first three seconds after a turnover are the most important moments in any game. This drill puts your players right in the middle of that chaos and trains them to handle it. When a team wins the ball, the clock starts. They have three seconds to complete three passes or attack a target gate. That pressure forces fast thinking, quick movement, and clear communication. On the flip side, the team that just lost possession has to react just as fast. No standing still. No watching. They need to press, close space, and get compact before the other team can hurt them. This is a game-like drill that builds real habits. Players stop drifting and start making sharp, confident decisions at the exact moment it matters most. Run it often and you will see those habits show up on match day.

12+ yrs. 8 players 20 min. 20x25 yds. GK: no

3.5 798 Chris Johnson

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Latest Drills

10v3 Circle Rondo: Pressure, Cover, Balance

6v4 Transition Rondo with 4 Mini Goals

6v2 Back Foot Rondo: Play Around the Grid

4v2 Back Foot Rondo: Play Left or Right

4v1 Back Foot Rondo: No Pass Across

5v4 Big Goal to 2 Mini Goals

Castle Game: Beautiful Chaos

Protect the Rock: 1v1 Shielding Game

2v1 Two-Grid Possession Rondo Drill

4-Grid Rondo: 2v1+1 Neutral Overload Possession Drill

4v2 Double Grid Dribble to Penetrate

3-Second Transition Game

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