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Under 12 Soccer Drills, Games, and Exercises

Quality age-appropriate soccer drills for kids in the U12, Under 12, 12 and Under age group.

Under 12 Soccer Drills, Games, and Exercises

Soccer drills for 12-year-olds emphasize skill refinement and tactical awareness to prepare players for more competitive play. This page provides drills designed to enhance dribbling, passing, shooting, and decision-making in game-like situations.

UNDER 12 SOCCER DRILLS, GAMES, AND EXERCISES

World Cup Soccer Drill

World Cup Soccer Drill

The World Cup Soccer Drill is a great shooting game for kids of all ages. The World Cup Soccer game is a great drill to work on game-like situations while numbers down.


Age: 6+ Field: PENALTY AREA
Players: 10+ Focus: ATTACKING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: YES Team
Rating: 4.11 / 5 Views: 439,921
Published: 6/16/2010 Author: Chris Johnson
Four-Corner Shielding Drill

Four-Corner Shielding Drill

This is a great drill for teaching the basics of shielding as it focuses on positioning your body between the ball and the defender to protect the ball.


Age: 8+ Field: 12X12
Players: 5+ Focus: SHIELDING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 4.11 / 5 Views: 33,034
Published: 1/16/2023 Author: Chris Johnson
The Numbers Game

The Numbers Game

The Numbers Game soccer drill focuses on the 1v1 situational play for younger players. This  1v1 drill works on all dynamics of this game such as dribbling, shooting, shielding, turning and beating an opponent.


Age: 4-14 Field: 15X20
Players: 8+ Focus: Game-like
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 4.1 / 5 Views: 626,135
Published: 1/10/2006 Author: Chris Johnson
Defensive Overlapping Drill

Defensive Overlapping Drill

The Defensive Overlapping Drill is a great drill to teach fullbacks to overlap midfielders and getting the defenders into the attack. This is a great starting point to teaching defensive overlaps.


Age: 9+ Field: HALF FIELD
Players: 6+ Focus: ATTACKING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: YES Team
Rating: 4.1 / 5 Views: 193,000
Published: 10/26/2008 Author: Chris Johnson
Soccer Dribbling and Juggling Warm-up

Soccer Dribbling and Juggling Warm-up

This soccer drill is a great warm-up drill that allows players to work on touching the ball with all parts of the foot. If you want to improve players footwork and dribbling skills, this is an excellent start to each practice.


Age: 8-14 Field: 20X20
Players: 5+ Focus: DRIBBLING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO INDIVIDUAL
Rating: 4.1 / 5 Views: 265,547
Published: 10/18/2008 Author: Chris Johnson
Speed of Play Warm-up

Speed of Play Warm-up

This soccer drill is a great warm-up to sessions relating to the speed of play in a soccer game. Players must have a good grasp of necessary passing and receiving skills to execute this soccer drill successfully.


Age: 9+ Field: 30X40
Players: 12 Focus: SPEED OF PLAY
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 4.09 / 5 Views: 260,986
Published: 2/25/2009 Author: Chris Johnson
Combination Play; Improving 1-2 Combinations Part II

Combination Play; Improving 1-2 Combinations Part II

This soccer passing drill focuses on improving 1-2 combination play. This passing combination drill encourages good movement off the ball.


Age: 9+ Field: 20X25
Players: 5+ Focus: PASSING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO INDIVIDUAL
Rating: 4.09 / 5 Views: 160,392
Published: 10/10/2006 Author: Chris Johnson
Head/Catch Game

Head/Catch Game

This soccer game is more of a fun activity. When players need a break from the normal drills, need a reward from hard work, or if you just want to let the players goof around. It focuses on listening and reaction skills.


Age: 10-14 Field: 20X20
Players: 5+ Focus: HEADING
Difficulty: EASY Time: 15 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO INDIVIDUAL
Rating: 4.09 / 5 Views: 225,785
Published: 8/6/2006 Author: Chris Johnson
Four Corners Aggressiveness and Fitness Drill

Four Corners Aggressiveness and Fitness Drill

This soccer drill focuses on aggressiveness in winning 50/50 balls and fitness. This drill will be more beneficial for players under 8 and older.


Age: 4+ Field: 20X20
Players: 8+ Focus: RECEIVING
Difficulty: EASY Time: 15 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO INDIVIDUAL
Rating: 4.08 / 5 Views: 441,135
Published: 9/29/2006 Author: Chris Johnson
Circle Keep-Away Passing Game

Circle Keep-Away Passing Game

This keep-away game is a fun passing exercise for younger players that focuses on the passing game while playing keep away.


Age: 6-14 Field: 10X10
Players: 6+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 10 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 4.08 / 5 Views: 281,690
Published: 1/24/2011 Author: Chris Johnson
Winger Taking on Outside Fullback

Winger Taking on Outside Fullback

This dribbling game focuses on the winger players taking on the outside fullbacks in the offensive third of the field.


Age: 9+ Field: HALF FIELD
Players: 14+ Focus: ATTACKING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: YES Team
Rating: 4.08 / 5 Views: 175,895
Published: 1/31/2011 Author: Chris Johnson
Flighted Balls in the 18

Flighted Balls in the 18

This soccer drill is designed to focus on chipping, trapping and shooting inside the 18. If you need your team to feel more comfortable inside the penalty box, you have to practice there.


Age: 9+ Field: 20X40
Players: 6+ Focus: ATTACKING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: YES Team
Rating: 4.08 / 5 Views: 160,716
Published: 9/28/2006 Author: Chris Johnson

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