Football
FOOTBALL

Football: training & drills

A filterable library of worked-out football drills — by level, type and session phase, each with a pitch diagram, steps and coaching. Build your session, tick the drills and download a complete, printable training sheet.

How2Sport · Football — training sheetClub / date: ________________

How to build a session

Warm-up

10–15 min

Activate and build ball feel: light passing and dribbling games.

Main

30–45 min

Technique per skill (passing, dribbling, shooting, defending), building up to match situations.

Cool-down

10–15 min

A game or match form: apply what you learned under pressure — and finish with fun.

How to read the diagrams: A attacker · V defender · K goalkeeper · P player · M team-mate · T target player · X opponent · ▲ cone · orange arrow = ball path (numbered), grey dashed line = run.
Level
Type
Phase

Tip: filter by phase and tick the drills you want. Your download runs automatically from warm-up → main → cool-down. Nothing ticked? Then the visible drills are printed.

Pass and move (triangle)

BeginnerPassingWarm-up
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport123PMM

Steps

  1. Play back and forth in a triangle.
  2. Pass the ball at pace with the inside of the foot.
  3. Always follow your own pass to the next position.

Coaching points

  • Open your body before you receive the ball.
  • Pass in front of your team-mate's foot.
  • Keep moving, never stand still.

Variations

  • Easier: the ball may bounce once / slower pace.
  • Harder: one-touch only (direct play).

Success criterion: 20 passes in a row without losing the ball, following every pass.

Dribbling course (slalom)

BeginnerTechniqueWarm-up
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2SportP

Steps

  1. Dribble in a slalom through the cones.
  2. Use your left and right foot in turn.
  3. Turn at the top and dribble back.

Coaching points

  • Keep the ball close to your foot (small touches).
  • Look up now and then, not only at the ball.
  • Use both the inside and outside of the foot.

Variations

  • Easier: more space between the cones.
  • Harder: against the clock, or with a feint at each cone.

Success criterion: Complete the course twice without hitting a cone.

Rondo 4-v-1

IntermediatePassingMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport12PPPPX

Steps

  1. Four players in a square, one defender (X) in the middle.
  2. Keep the ball moving; the X tries to intercept.
  3. Whoever loses the ball, or the X who touches it, swaps role.

Coaching points

  • Play to the foot furthest from the defender.
  • Move to offer a passing lane.
  • One or two touches: don't dawdle.

Variations

  • Easier: bigger square, free number of touches.
  • Harder: 4-v-2 or one-touch only.

Success criterion: Ten passes in a row without the X touching the ball.

Receive and turn

IntermediateTechniqueMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport12PAM

Steps

  1. P plays in to A, who has their back to goal.
  2. A receives and turns open in one movement.
  3. A plays the ball forward to M.

Coaching points

  • Look over your shoulder before receiving (scan).
  • Receive with the far foot, away from the pressure.
  • First touch out of your feet, into the turn.

Variations

  • Easier: throw in instead of passing.
  • Harder: a passive defender at A's back.

Success criterion: Six out of ten turns controlled and played forward.

Finishing from a cross

IntermediateShootingMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport12KAA

Steps

  1. The winger dribbles in and delivers a cross.
  2. The striker picks their moment and makes the run.
  3. Finish on goal (goalkeeper defends).

Coaching points

  • Striker: start your run only as the cross comes in.
  • Aim your effort low into the far corner.
  • Strike the ball cleanly and controlled, don't force it.

Variations

  • Easier: the cross is laid in (static ball).
  • Harder: a defender tracking the striker.

Success criterion: Six of ten crosses finished on target.

1-v-1 defending

AdvancedDefendingMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport1VA

Steps

  1. The attacker (A) tries to beat the defender (V) and score.
  2. The V delays, steers wide and picks their moment.
  3. Swap roles after each attempt.

Coaching points

  • Approach in a curved line; stay side-on, low.
  • Don't lunge in — delay and wait for the mistake.
  • Only tackle when the ball is off the attacker's foot.

Variations

  • Easier: the V only needs to steer the ball wide.
  • Harder: the attacker may also go in behind (small goal + line).

Success criterion: The defender wins or steers wide in 6 of 10 duels.

Combination: one-two

AdvancedPassingMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport123PMX

Steps

  1. P plays the ball to the wall player (M) and runs on.
  2. M lays it back first time, past the defender (X).
  3. P takes the ball on and shoots at goal.

Coaching points

  • Pass and run at high pace; surprise the defender.
  • M: lay it off one-touch into P's run.
  • Timing of the run matters more than speed.

Variations

  • Easier: the defender stays passive.
  • Harder: the defender may defend actively.

Success criterion: Seven of ten times P gets free in front of goal.

Goalkeeper: handling the corners

IntermediateGoalkeepingMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport12KP

Steps

  1. The shooter fires alternately into the low corners.
  2. The goalkeeper handles it with the right footwork.
  3. The keeper returns to the middle after each save.

Coaching points

  • Stay on your toes, weight forward, hands ready.
  • Push off with the leg on the ball side.
  • Catch or deflect the ball away from your goal.

Variations

  • Easier: rolled-in balls instead of shots.
  • Harder: shot direction shown at the last moment.

Success criterion: Five of eight corner shots handled under control.

Transition: 2-v-2 + target player

AdvancedGame playMain
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport1AAXXM

Steps

  1. 2-v-2 on a small pitch; score by playing in to the target player (M) at the top.
  2. Win the ball? Transition to attack immediately.
  3. After a goal, the other team starts with the ball.

Coaching points

  • Transition starts with the first step after winning the ball.
  • Offer yourself for the target player straight away.
  • Communicate: who presses the ball, who covers?

Variations

  • Easier: a target player on both sides.
  • Harder: score within 6 seconds of winning the ball.

Success criterion: More quick transition goals than the opposition.

Game: 4-v-4 with 4 mini-goals

IntermediateGame playCool-down
Football training & drills — filterable & printable | How2Sport1AAAXXX

Steps

  1. Two teams of 4 on a pitch with four small goals (two per team).
  2. You may score in either of the opponent's goals.
  3. Play 10 minutes; winner stays on.

Coaching points

  • Two goals force you to switch the play.
  • Look for the free space and the open player.
  • Defend together: shift across to the ball.

Variations

  • Easier: free scoring, bigger pitch.
  • Harder: 3 passes required before a goal.

Success criterion: The team switches play and exploits the free goal.

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