Under 16 Soccer Drills, Games, and Exercises

Quality age-appropriate soccer drills for kids in the U16, Under 16, 16 and Under age group.

Under 16 Soccer Drills Games and Exercises

Soccer drills for 16-year-olds emphasize advanced technical skills and tactical execution to prepare players for higher levels of competition. This page offers drills that focus on game awareness, speed of play, and strategic decision-making under pressure.

Age-Specific Drills

4v4+2 Endzone Possession Game MEDIUM

4v4+2 Endzone Possession Game

This drill develops players' ability to keep possession under pressure while moving the ball quickly and effectively. Players learn to scan the field, find open teammates in different zones, and make smart decisions about when to pass and when to dribble. The endzone players teach awareness of supporting options behind the defense. Neutral players on the sides create overloads that mirror real game situations. Players work on their first touch, receiving skills, and passing accuracy while constantly moving to create passing lanes. The progression from simple possession to scoring through the endzones builds complexity as players improve.

10+ yrs. 12+ players 20 mins. 12x20 yds. GK: no
4v4 Square with Four Mini Goals MEDIUM

4v4 Square with Four Mini Goals

This drill develops players' vision and awareness by forcing them to constantly scan and recognize which goals are open for attack. The requirement to pass through the center poles before scoring teaches patience in possession and rewards teams that can control the ball and pick the right moment to penetrate. Players learn to open up their body position to see the entire field, including teammates making backside runs away from pressure. The four goals create constant decision-making about which direction to attack based on where defenders are positioned. Quick transitions become essential because once a team completes the pass through the center, they must immediately identify and attack an open goal before defenders can recover. This setup mimics games in which teams must recognize when to keep possession and when to strike quickly, and it rewards players who can switch the point of attack rapidly.

8+ yrs. 8+ players 20 mins. 30X30 yds. GK: no
0 509 Sammy Robinson (BAYFA Soccer)
Goalkeeper Footwork Exercise with Hurdle MEDIUM

Goalkeeper Footwork Exercise with Hurdle

This goalkeeping drill will focus on footwork as well as handling the ball. This is a great goalkeeper warm-up or agility drill to do during keeper training.

9+ yrs. 1+ players 10 mins. 10X10 yds. GK: yes
0 15,936 Chris Johnson
1v1 Battle - Attacking and Reaction Drill MEDIUM

1v1 Battle - Attacking and Reaction Drill

This 1v1 soccer battle drill will focus on the attacker's change of direction, change of pace, and burst of speed to the goal all while working on the defender's ability to close down the attacker quickly, reaction time, speed of recovery, and angles of defense.

9+ yrs. 4+ players 20 mins. 30X40 yds. GK: no
0 21,477 Chris Johnson