U8 is a magical age for football development. Players are moving beyond the chaos of U7, starting to understand basic concepts, and ready to develop real technical foundations.
But they are still children who need fun, variety, and success to stay engaged.
These 25 drills build technical skills while keeping sessions enjoyable. Use them to create players who love football and have the foundations to keep improving.
The U8 Development Window
At U8, players are in what experts call the “golden age of motor learning.” Their brains are wired to pick up movement patterns quickly, and they have the coordination to execute more complex skills than a year ago.
What U8s Can Learn:
- Multi-directional dribbling
- Basic passing and receiving technique
- Simple combinations (give and go)
- Shooting with power and accuracy
- 1v1 attacking moves
- Basic defending positioning
What is Still Developing:
- Weak foot proficiency
- Long-range passing
- Complex tactical concepts
- Sustained concentration
- Consistent decision-making
Your job is maximising ball contact in every activity while gradually introducing decision-making elements.
Section 1: Ball Mastery (Drills 1-5)
Start every session with ball mastery. The more touches at this age, the better.
Drill 1: Sole Rolls
Setup: Each player with a ball, scattered in area.
Activity: Roll ball back and forth under sole of foot. Left, right, switch feet. Add forwards and backwards rolls.
Progression: Move while rolling, include turns, add challenges (how many rolls in 30 seconds?).
Coaching Focus: Light touches, ball close to feet, head up when comfortable.
Drill 2: Inside-Outside Dribbling
Setup: Players dribbling in a 20x20 yard area.
Activity: Touch ball with inside of foot, then outside of same foot. Repeat alternating feet. Create a rhythm.
Progression: Add direction changes on whistle, race from one line to another, combine with turns.
Coaching Focus: Soft touches, ball always within reach, smooth transitions between surfaces.
Drill 3: Drag Back and Turn
Setup: Players with balls, cones scattered as obstacles.
Activity: Dribble towards cone, stop ball with sole, drag back, turn, dribble away. Repeat at different cones.
Progression: Add a chase (player behind tries to tag before turn), time challenges.
Coaching Focus: Full drag back before turning, change direction quickly, accelerate away.
Drill 4: Foundation Footwork
Setup: Balls at feet, players stationary.
Activity: Sequence: toe taps (20), side-to-side (20), pulls (10 each foot), rolls (10 each direction).
Progression: Increase speed, add movement across area, compete for cleanest execution.
Coaching Focus: Rhythm over speed initially, quality touches, building muscle memory.
Drill 5: Circle Dribbling
Setup: Large circle of cones. Players with balls on the circle.
Activity: Dribble around circle. On whistle, cut through middle to opposite side and continue.
Progression: Add direction changes, require specific moves when cutting through middle.
Coaching Focus: Keeping ball close in tight spaces, head up to avoid collisions.
Section 2: Dribbling Games (Drills 6-10)
Dribbling should dominate U8 training. These games develop it through play.
Drill 6: Cops and Robbers
Setup: 25x25 yard area. Two “cops” (bibs, no ball). Everyone else has a ball (robbers).
Activity: Cops chase robbers. Tagged robbers do 5 ball taps, then rejoin. Change cops every 90 seconds.
Progression: Add more cops, shrink the space, robbers must dribble through a gate to be “safe.”
Coaching Focus: Head up awareness, dribbling under pressure, quick direction changes.
Drill 7: Treasure Island
Setup: Small central area (the island) with lots of balls. Players start outside a larger area.
Activity: On “Go!” players run to island, collect one ball, dribble back to start. First team to collect 5 balls wins.
Progression: Add defenders protecting the island, require specific dribbling moves.
Coaching Focus: Speed with the ball, keeping control while racing.
Drill 8: Dribblers vs Defenders
Setup: 10x20 yard channel. Dribbler at one end, defender at the other.
Activity: Dribbler tries to reach the far line. Defender tries to kick ball out. Swap after each attempt.
Progression: Add time limits, narrow the channel, give dribblers specific moves to attempt.
Coaching Focus: Using body to protect ball, change of pace, committing the defender.
Drill 9: Gates Galore
Setup: 20 small gates (cone pairs) scattered in 30x30 yard area. Players with balls.
Activity: Players dribble through as many gates as possible in 2 minutes. Count your gates. Beat your record.
Progression: Gates worth different points (colours), require alternating feet through gates.
Coaching Focus: Head up to find gates, close control through gates, planning ahead.
Drill 10: King of the Ring
Setup: Large circle (15 yard diameter). All players dribbling inside.
Activity: Protect your ball while trying to knock others’ balls out. If your ball leaves, retrieve it and return.
Progression: Make circle smaller over time, add team element (colour bibs help each other).
Coaching Focus: Shielding, awareness of others, decision-making (when to defend, when to attack).
Section 3: Passing Introduction (Drills 11-15)
U8s are ready for basic passing. Keep distances short and expectations realistic.
Drill 11: Partner Gates
Setup: Pairs with one ball. Gate (2 cones) between them, 8 yards apart.
Activity: Pass through gate to partner. Count successful passes in 60 seconds. Beat your record.
Progression: Narrow gate, increase distance slightly, add movement (pass and swap positions).
Coaching Focus: Inside of foot, accuracy before power, body shape towards target.
Drill 12: Triangle Passing
Setup: Groups of 3 in triangle shape (5 yards between players).
Activity: Pass around the triangle. After passing, follow your pass to the next position.
Progression: Add direction changes, introduce one defender in the middle.
Coaching Focus: Open body position, receiving to play forward, pass and move.
Drill 13: Passing Races
Setup: Two teams in parallel lines facing partners (6 yards apart).
Activity: First pair passes back and forth 5 times, then sits. Next pair goes. First team finished wins.
Progression: Increase pass count, add one-touch requirement, extend distance.
Coaching Focus: Quality over speed (bad passes slow you down), team encouragement.
Drill 14: Give and Go Introduction
Setup: Player A with ball, Player B as wall passer, cone as defender.
Activity: A passes to B, runs around the cone, B returns pass ahead of A. Swap roles.
Progression: Add real defender (passive first), increase speed, add finishing at end.
Coaching Focus: Pass quality, movement after passing, timing the return.
Drill 15: 3v1 Keep Ball
Setup: 3 attackers around 8x8 yard square. 1 defender in middle.
Activity: Attackers keep the ball. 5 passes = 1 point. Defender wins ball or it goes out = swap with player who lost it.
Progression: Limit touches, shrink space, add second defender (4v2).
Coaching Focus: Support positions, playing quickly, simple decisions.
Section 4: Shooting Fun (Drills 16-20)
U8s love shooting. Let them shoot often while building technique.
Drill 16: Target Practice
Setup: Cones as targets inside a goal. Players with balls 8 yards out.
Activity: Knock down targets for points. Different targets = different points.
Progression: Add a goalkeeper, move further back, time challenges.
Coaching Focus: Accuracy over power, head down at contact, follow through.
Drill 17: 1v1 to Goal
Setup: Attacker with ball facing a goal. Defender starts behind attacker.
Activity: Coach says “Go!” Attacker dribbles towards goal to score. Defender chases to stop them.
Progression: Defender starts closer, add time limit, add goalkeeper.
Coaching Focus: Speed with ball, when to shoot, finishing under pressure.
Drill 18: Finishing Races
Setup: Two lines of players facing two goals. Balls in the middle.
Activity: First player from each line races to middle, collects ball, shoots at goal. First to score wins.
Progression: Add goalkeeper, require specific technique, increase distance.
Coaching Focus: Speed, composure when finishing, competing with good spirit.
Drill 19: Pass and Shoot
Setup: Coach with balls at edge of box. Players line up on wing.
Activity: Coach passes, player controls and shoots. Quick returns to line.
Progression: One-touch finishing, add defender, vary pass angles.
Coaching Focus: First touch sets up shot, shooting across body, quick release.
Drill 20: The Numbers Shooting Game
Setup: Two teams behind opposite goals. Players numbered. Balls at halfway.
Activity: Coach calls a number. Those players race to ball and compete 1v1 to score.
Progression: Call multiple numbers (2v2), add passing requirement before shooting.
Coaching Focus: Competitive instinct, decision-making, finishing in game context.
Section 5: Game Time (Drills 21-25)
Every session should end with games. These develop skills in match context.
Drill 21: 2v2 Mini Games
Setup: 15x10 yard pitches with mini goals. Teams of 2.
Activity: Short games (3 minutes). Winners stay, losers rotate.
Progression: Add specific challenges (goals from combinations worth double).
Coaching Focus: Lots of touches, natural decision-making, winning mentality.
Drill 22: 3v3 Football
Setup: 20x15 yard pitch with small goals. Teams of 3.
Activity: Normal football rules. 4-minute halves. Rotate opponents.
Coaching Focus: This is real football at appropriate scale. Let them play and learn.
Drill 23: End Zone Game
Setup: 25x20 yard pitch. End zones (5 yards deep) instead of goals.
Activity: Score by stopping ball in opponent’s end zone with foot on ball.
Progression: Require pass into end zone (cannot dribble in), add neutral players.
Coaching Focus: Teamwork to score, spatial awareness, valuing possession.
Drill 24: Four Goal Game
Setup: 25x25 yard square. Small goals on each side. Teams attack two opposite goals, defend two opposite goals.
Activity: Normal game but with multiple targets. Switch play when one side is blocked.
Coaching Focus: Head up to see options, switching play, attacking space.
Drill 25: Golden Goal Game
Setup: Any small-sided format with regular goals.
Activity: Each goal is celebrated massively. Games to 3 goals, then new teams.
Coaching Focus: The joy of scoring, celebrating teammates, ending on a high.
Building Your U8 Session
A balanced 60-minute U8 session:
0-8 mins: Ball mastery activity (Drills 1-5) 8-18 mins: Dribbling game (Drills 6-10) 18-28 mins: Passing practice (Drills 11-15) 28-38 mins: Shooting fun (Drills 16-20) 38-58 mins: Game time (Drills 21-25) 58-60 mins: Quick cool down and chat
Adjust based on your players. If they are loving an activity, extend it. If attention is wandering, move on quickly.
The U8 Coaching Approach
Lots of praise. Find reasons to celebrate every player.
Keep it moving. Long explanations lose them. Show, do not tell.
Embrace chaos. Perfect organisation matters less than lots of touches.
End with fun. Games should finish every session on a high.
Individual focus. Help each player improve one thing, not everything.
Want complete season planning for U8? The 328 Training Sessions includes progressive programmes designed specifically for how U8 players develop.
Join 1,600+ coaches sharing U8 session ideas in the Football Coaching Academy. Try it for $1.
Need fresh drill ideas instantly? FootballGPT generates age-appropriate activities in seconds.