For soccer warm up drills, warm up drills for kids and youth soccer warm ups, check out our age and topic specific drills for kids of all ages.
Soccer warm-up drills are necessary to introduce a skill, technique, or tactic while allowing the player to loosen up and get ready for practice. These drills are often best at the beginning of training; however, depending on the skill level of the team can be the main drills on your topic.
EASY
This drill helps players develop passing accuracy, weight of pass, and first-touch control. It also reinforces teamwork and focus while progressively increasing difficulty by narrowing the passing gate.
MEDIUM
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.
MEDIUM
Develops passing accuracy, movement off the ball, and one-two combination play. Encourages quick decision-making, communication, and proper body positioning for receiving and distributing the ball.
MEDIUM
Develops players' ability to execute quick one-two passes, play accurate long balls, and transition into new positions efficiently. Encourages decision-making and proper body positioning for receiving and distributing passes.
EASY
This drill enhances a player’s ability to move under pressure while maintaining balance and control. It also encourages teamwork and coordination among defenders using their hips to contain the central player.
EASY
Develops dribbling under pressure, decision-making in 1v1 situations, and ball protection. Players learn to change direction and use feints to evade defenders.
MEDIUM
This drill sharpens a player’s ability to receive under pressure, recognize defensive cues, and dribble into space. It emphasizes decision-making, ball protection, and breaking away from pressure in tight areas.
MEDIUM
This soccer drill sharpens short-range passing, encourages constant movement after the pass, and prepares players physically and mentally for training. It reinforces clean technique and fitness through repetition.
Medium
This drill focuses on teaching players how to open up their body, scan the field, and play accurate passes while moving continuously. It helps reinforce technical habits that translate directly to in-game situations.
MEDIUM
This drill teaches players how to play accurate breaking balls into space and make well-timed runs to receive them. Players will work on combination play through quick 1-2 passes, then focus on the weight and timing of through balls. The receiving player learns when to make their run and how to time it with the pass. This drill builds the connection between passer and runner that's crucial in breaking down defenses during games.
MEDIUM
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.
MEDIUM
This drill sharpens possession skills while teaching players to quickly switch between attacking and defending roles. Players learn to recognize when they win or lose the ball and immediately adjust their positioning and mindset. The team of three works on keeping possession against one defender, then must quickly transition to defense when they lose it. The single player learns to pressure and transition to attack when winning the ball. Outside players develop awareness of when to support and how to maintain possession in tight spaces. This constant switching builds mental quickness and helps players stay focused during the transitions that occur in real games.