Under 8 Soccer Drills, Games, and Exercises

Simon Says - Youth Soccer Drill

The "Simon Says Youth Soccer Drill" is a fun and engaging activity designed for U6 and U8 players, focusing on improving dribbling skills and close ball control. This drill helps young soccer players develop quick responses to instructions while also enhancing their listening skills in a dynamic and enjoyable way.

Criss-Cross Dribbling Game

The Criss-Cross dribbling drill focuses on the younger player. This dribbling drill assists players play with speed while keeping their heads up. Be warned, this drill can be dangerous for players who have a tendency of dribbling with their head down.

Indoor Shooting Drill

This is a great indoor soccer shooting drill to use while practicing indoors. This indoor soccer shooting drill also touches on dribbling, passing, using the walls, and finally shooting on goal.

Alien Tag Soccer Game

This is a fun game for 3 through 6 year-olds. This will focus on agility, vision, and awareness, but best of all, it's fun.

Coach's Revenge

This drill is a fun soccer drill. It will focus a bit on young players' agility while dodging balls kicked at them and is a great ice breaker or a fun warm-up game at the beginning of practice.

Teaching 1st Defender without Opposition

This soccer defending drill is excellent for teaching young players how to defend when they are the closest player to the opponent with the ball.

Line Passing Combination Warm-up

This combination passing drill is designed to work on combination play while advancing up the field. This passing drill focuses on the timing of passes, runs, combination play, and will be a great warm-up to passing practices.

Partner Pass and Move Soccer Warm-up

This soccer passing drill will help you focus and teach a young player how to pass with the correct surface on the foot, how to receive a ball and move after receiving the pass.

Indoor Dribbling and Passing Drill

This indoor soccer drill is great for warm-up to your indoor soccer practice. This focuses on dribbling and passing warm-up indoors.

Body Parts Warm-up Game

This fun soccer dribbling drill focuses on the younger player's dribbling skills, and the ability to listen to directions and think quick on their feet while holding the ball close. This drill is an excellent dribbling warm-up exercise for Under 4, Under 5, and Under 6 soccer players.

1v1 1st Attacker Dribbling Without Opposition

This 1v1 dribbling exercise allows coaches to focus on the 1st attacker's ability to beat the defender on the dribble. In this soccer drill, the coach should focus on the attacker's approach, make sure the attacker has a change in direction, and finish with a burst of speed (change of pace). This drill helps beginners get a feel for moving around defenders.

4v1 Rondo

This rondo variation is geared for younger player or players you are just introducing to the rondo training.