2 v 1 with gates
2 gates to start. pairs of attackers try to score past 1 defender and a keeper. Point is to emphasise passing when you have a numerical advantage Variant: When the defender wins the ball, they can score a point by passing through or dribbling through a start gate. Reason: Emphasise that when you win the ball as a defender, the safest exit route is out wide, because if you lose the ball dribbling / passing it out the middle, you give up an easy chance to opponents if you were the last man.
Goalkeeper Practice Football Drills
1 vs 1 Shoot then Defend
Dribble round cones. Player 1 has a shot then becomes the defender against player 2.
Pivot & Winger Build Out
Build out from the back. The defensive players have to play a bounce pass with a pivot in ...
Cone dribbling & shooting practice
Dribble round cones away from goal, then turn around final cone, drive towards goal and fi...
Pass and Move Football Drills
Layoff Passing Warmup
A simple passing warmup, with players moving up the pitch while passing to two stationary ...
Pivot pass and move
Players on 4 corners and 1 as a pivot in the middle. If the pass is played to the pivot in...
Diamond passing warmup
Receive the first pass on a pancake, split out wide to receive the second pass on the half...
3rd Man Runs - two ends
A semi-uncontested run through of 3rd man runs / patterns of play.
Y passing drill
Y formation pass and move drill.
Pass and move pancakes
2 teams line up on matching sets of pancakes. After each pass, the passing player must mov...
1-2 Jinking Shooting Drill
Simple jink, 1-2 then shoot.
Endzone Game - 2 Directions Version
Teams have to get the ball from one side to the other. Basically the endzone game but with...
Spanish Corners
Similar to the 4 corners game but you can only score in the two attacking corners and ther...
4 Corners Game
4 vs 4 or similar. Teams get a point by passing to a player in one of the 4 corners. V...
4v4 quadrants with feeders
Neutral feeders around the outside. 4 vs 4 in the middle. Teams try and maintain position ...
Touchdown football (endzones)
Small sided game. 3 vs 3 (or similar numbers). Pass to a teammate in the endzone and touch...
4 vs 3 Endzone Game
2 endzones with a player in each. Two teams of players in the middle - one team is the pos...
Possession Clock
Possession clock drill. Keep possession for 1 minute. Once a team has kept possession for ...
Pressing Drill with Scoring Gate
Two teams of 4 or 5. One pivot per team, who moves along the line of pancake cones. Te...
Progressive Rondo
A rondo with 3 areas - progress the ball from one side to another.
Layoff / Pivot Warmup
Players move up the pitch in pairs, with 3 pivot players spreading the play to the opposit...
4 Box Rondo
Use this four box rondo to encourage the players to be alert, and confident when under pre...
Pivot & Winger Build Out
Build out from the back. The defensive players have to play a bounce pass with a pivot in ...
Rondo into Possession Drill
Start with a rondo. 6 or 7 around the outside of 2 defenders. Defenders hold bib. Phas...
1 v 1 (numbered players)
Kids number themselves 1 to 7 Played on a shortened pitch and the kids line up to the sid...
Short pitch 1 v 1 with feeders
Short pitch, 1 v 1. 1 player starts with a ball. They can either dribble 1 v 1 and try to ...
Pressing vs Passing
5 v 5 or 6 v 6... One side starts passing, with 1 presser from the other team. Every 3 pas...
Pancake rondo for movement
A pentagon of pancakes with 1 pancake in the middle too. 4 players passing and one presser...
Scanning shoulder drill
We've done this a couple of times. Three receivers in the middle. Two pressers. The re...
3rd Man Runs
Pairs of players start at each end of the pitch. There are two central players. The pairs ...
Dribbling Football Drills
First touch eliminations with gates
Players are fed a ball and choose which side they want to take their first touch to, for t...
1 vs 1 Shoot then Defend
Dribble round cones. Player 1 has a shot then becomes the defender against player 2.
1 v 1 Transition Box
Two teams try and carry the ball in opposing directions. One team has possession and tries...
Cone dribbling & shooting practice
Dribble round cones away from goal, then turn around final cone, drive towards goal and fi...
1 v 1 (numbered players)
Kids number themselves 1 to 7 Played on a shortened pitch and the kids line up to the sid...
Basic 1 v 1s (touchdown)
Pair up the players. They have to dribble past their opponent and stand on the ball at the...
Gauntlet
A pair of two players try and get to the end of the gauntlet (a la Gladiators). Where one ...
Scanning shoulder drill
We've done this a couple of times. Three receivers in the middle. Two pressers. The re...
Finishing / Shooting Football Drills
2 vs 1 finishing drill
A simple 2 v 1 shooting drill. Player 1 passes to player 2. A third player then comes in a...
1-2 Jinking Shooting Drill
Simple jink, 1-2 then shoot.
Cone dribbling & shooting practice
Dribble round cones away from goal, then turn around final cone, drive towards goal and fi...
3rd Man Runs
Pairs of players start at each end of the pitch. There are two central players. The pairs ...
Defending Football Drills
2 vs 1 finishing drill
A simple 2 v 1 shooting drill. Player 1 passes to player 2. A third player then comes in a...
Tig gates
Set up some cone gates. 1v1 player has to lose opponent and get through gates.
Endzone Game - 2 Directions Version
Teams have to get the ball from one side to the other. Basically the endzone game but with...
Touchdown football (endzones)
Small sided game. 3 vs 3 (or similar numbers). Pass to a teammate in the endzone and touch...
Pivot & Winger Build Out
Build out from the back. The defensive players have to play a bounce pass with a pivot in ...
Defender Mirroring
Defender has to mirror the position of the attacker, as they move around the outside of th...
1 v 1 Transition Box
Two teams try and carry the ball in opposing directions. One team has possession and tries...
1 v 1 (numbered players)
Kids number themselves 1 to 7 Played on a shortened pitch and the kids line up to the sid...
Basic 1 v 1s (touchdown)
Pair up the players. They have to dribble past their opponent and stand on the ball at the...
Free Football & Soccer Training Drills
This "2 v 1 with gates" football training drill will work on your players' goalkeeper practice, pass and move, dribbling, finishing / shooting, defending and 2 v 1.
If you want any other football training drills that work on goalkeeper practice, pass and move, dribbling, finishing / shooting, defending and 2 v 1, then check out the scroll selections above.
Register for a free Pitch1 account to save your favourite football drills, shortlist ideas for your next training night and build full training sessions using our planner.