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Soccer Receiving and Turning Drills

SOCCER RECEIVING DRILLS, SOCCER RECEIVING AND TURNING TRAINING SESSIONS, RECEIVING IN SOCCER, KIDS SOCCER TURNING, TURNING RECEIVING IN YOUTH SOCCER

Soccer receiving and turning drills to improve player's 1st-touch that often determine the direction of the attack.

Soccer Receiving and Turning Drills

Receiving the ball effectively is key to maintaining possession and setting up successful plays in soccer. This page offers drills to help players improve their first touch, control, and positioning under pressure.

Circle Passing Overlap Combination

Circle Passing Overlap Combination

The circle passing overlap combination drill will focus on passing, combination play, overlapping, playing with speed, and playing to feet. This combination drill is an excellent passing warm-up drill that can be a great start to a passing practice that incorporates overlapping.


Age: 9+ Field: 20X20
Players: 10+ Focus: PASSING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3.2 / 5 Views: 159,450
Published: 7/18/2012 Author: Chris Johnson
Circle Rondo Soccer Drill

Circle Rondo Soccer Drill

This circle rondo soccer drill is a great warm-up drill before a game, or a drill for your practice session.


Age: 9+ Field: 10X10
Players: 8+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3 / 5 Views: 36,047
Published: 1/24/2021 Author: Chris Johnson
Soccer Shooting on the Dribble

Soccer Shooting on the Dribble

This soccer shooting drill focuses on receiving a flighted ball, quickly dribble on the attack, and finishing with a shot on goal.


Age: 9+ Field: HALF FIELD
Players: 8+ Focus: FINISHING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: YES Team
Rating: 3 / 5 Views: 44,719
Published: 1/24/2021 Author: Chris Johnson
2v2 Battle - Attacking and Defending Drill

2v2 Battle - Attacking and Defending Drill

This 2v2 soccer attacking and defending drill focuses on the attacker's decision to dribble, pass, or shoot. From the defensive side, they must quickly close down the attackers and deny space.


Age: 9+ Field: 30X40
Players: 8+ Focus: ATTACKING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 2.6 / 5 Views: 28,901
Published: 1/19/2021 Author: Chris Johnson
4v4, Thirds of the Field, Shape and Positioning

4v4, Thirds of the Field, Shape and Positioning

This 4v4 drill is great for improving shape and positioning. Each player has their own responsibility: 1) attacker/target player stretches the field closer to the goal they are attacking. 2) winger players stretch the width of the field. 3) defensive player gives support to wingers and target player while staying the last man.


Age: 7-14 Field: 25X40
Players: 8+ Focus: Game-like
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 1 / 5 Views: 42,053
Published: 9/29/2022 Author: Chris Johnson
4v4+1 Corner Support Rondo

4v4+1 Corner Support Rondo

This drill improves quick passing, spatial awareness, and teamwork by encouraging players to use both central and corner support players to maintain possession. Players develop composure under pressure and transition awareness.


Age: 9+ Field: 15X15
Players: 9+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 6,046
Published: 2/13/2025 Author: Chris Johnson
5v3 Switching Rondo

5v3 Switching Rondo

This drill trains players to recognize when possession is lost and react instantly by switching fields of play. The attacking team learns to keep the ball under pressure in tight spaces while the defending team works on winning possession and immediately playing forward. The switching element teaches players to read the game and anticipate transitions. Players must communicate who stays and who goes when the switch happens, building decision making skills under pressure. The numerical advantage for attackers creates confidence in possession while defenders learn to press intelligently when outnumbered. Moving between grids forces players to stay mentally engaged even when they're not directly involved in the current action. This back and forth rhythm mirrors real games where play shifts from one area of the field to another.


Age: 9+ Field: 12x24
Players: 10 Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO TEAM
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 1,897
Published: 10/26/2025 Author: Chris Johnson
Y Passing Drill - Variation 1

Y Passing Drill - Variation 1

Develops players' ability to receive with an open body position, execute accurate passes, and transition quickly between roles. Encourages movement, decision-making, and proper body positioning when receiving the ball.


Age: 9+ Field: 15x20
Players: 5+ Focus: COMBINATION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 11,377
Published: 2/19/2025 Author: Chris Johnson
3v1 Transition Rondo

3v1 Transition Rondo

The 3v1 Transition Rondo drill emphasizes quick combination passing to unbalance the defender and shift the point of attack to an adjacent grid. This exercise challenges the defender to transition rapidly between areas, enhancing their ability to react under pressure. The focus is on sharp passing and strategic movement to exploit defensive weaknesses.


Age: 9+ Field: 7x14
Players: 5 Focus: Possession
Difficulty: Medium Time: 15 min.
Goalkeeper: No Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 7,225
Published: 9/2/2024 Author: Chris Johnson
2v2 with Target Players to Small Goals

2v2 with Target Players to Small Goals

This 2v2 drill focuses on penetrating passes to a target player to stretch the field and finish on goal.


Age: 9+ Field: 25X40
Players: 6+ Focus: GAME-LIKE
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 37,439
Published: 2/14/2021 Author: Chris Johnson
11v5 Positional Rondo

11v5 Positional Rondo

This drill teaches your full team to keep possession while maintaining positions on the field. Players learn where they should be in your formation and how to support teammates from their specific spot. The positional constraint forces players to understand spacing, passing lanes, and how their role fits into the team shape. The five defenders work hard in a numbers down situation, building fitness and pressing coordination. The attacking team of eleven develops patience in possession and learns to move the ball through different lines of the formation. Adding goals for the defenders creates real consequence for losing the ball, making players focus on smart decisions under pressure. This drill bridges the gap between basic possession work and full game situations.


Age: 13+ Field: 20X25
Players: 16+ Focus: Game-like
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 mins.
Goalkeeper: YES TEAM
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 1,541
Published: 10/9/2025 Author: Chris Johnson
3v2 Passing Pyramid

3v2 Passing Pyramid

This drill teaches players how to build attacks from the back in an organized way that mirrors real game structure. The pyramid shape represents how teams naturally position themselves with defenders deep, midfielders in the middle, and forwards high. Players learn to connect passes through different lines of the team while maintaining proper spacing and support angles. The progression from back to front develops patience in possession and helps players understand their role in the build up phase. When opponents enter to apply pressure, players must make quicker decisions while staying calm and trusting their teammates. Using the full width of the area teaches players not to bunch up in the middle where defending is easier. This drill builds the foundation for how your team will play out from the back in actual games.


Age: 9+ Field: 20X30
Players: 6+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 30
Published: 2/8/2026 Author: Chris Johnson