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Archie's Drills

Football drills, one skill at a time

Short, practical drills you can do with a ball and some space. Each one has a short video, the coaching points to focus on, and a one-page sheet to print and take outside.

Train somewhere safe and flat, and younger players should have an adult nearby.

Technical & Tactical 9 drills

S1E01 · First touch
First touch through the gate

1 player · Age 9+ · Video length 0:35

Watch: First touch through the gate PDF drill sheet for First touch through the gate, 948 KB
S1E03 · Ball mastery
Sole rolls and tick-tock

1 player · Age 8+ · Video length 0:50

Watch: Sole rolls and tick-tock PDF drill sheet for Sole rolls and tick-tock, 956 KB
S1E05 · Weak foot
Weak-foot wall passing

1 player · Age 8+ · Video length 0:48

Watch: Weak-foot wall passing PDF drill sheet for Weak-foot wall passing, 961 KB
S1E07 · Ball mastery
The 100-touch box

1 player · Age 8+ · Video length 0:45

Watch: The 100-touch box PDF drill sheet for The 100-touch box, 962 KB
S1E09 · Finishing
Weak-foot finishing

1 player · Age 8+ · Video length 0:43

Watch: Weak-foot finishing PDF drill sheet for Weak-foot finishing, 966 KB
S1E17 · Ball mastery
Pull-push: roll back, push out

1 player · Age 8+ · Video length 0:46

Watch: Pull-push: roll back, push out PDF drill sheet for Pull-push: roll back, push out, 950 KB
S1E18 · Turning
Cruyff turn through a gate

1 player · Age 8+ · Video length 0:51

Watch: Cruyff turn through a gate PDF drill sheet for Cruyff turn through a gate, 949 KB
S1E20 · First touch
Receive on the half-turn

2 players (you and a partner) · Age 10+ · Video length 0:43

Watch: Receive on the half-turn PDF drill sheet for Receive on the half-turn, 972 KB
S1E21 · Scanning
Scan before it arrives

3 players (you, a passer and a caller) · Age 9+ · Video length 0:45

Watch: Scan before it arrives PDF drill sheet for Scan before it arrives, 982 KB

Physical 12 drills

S1E02 · Injury-prevention warm-up
The FIFA 11+ warm-up

1 player or a whole team · Age 14+ (ages 7-13: FIFA 11+ Kids) · Video length 0:53

Watch: The FIFA 11+ warm-up PDF drill sheet for The FIFA 11+ warm-up, 952 KB
S1E04 · Speed
The sprint session

1 player · Age 12+ (later developers 14+) · Video length 0:47

Watch: The sprint session PDF drill sheet for The sprint session, 954 KB
S1E08 · Agility
Change direction, then react

2 players (you and a partner) · Age 10+ · Video length 0:51

Watch: Change direction, then react PDF drill sheet for Change direction, then react, 961 KB
S1E10 · Bodyweight strength
Press-ups and planks

1 player, with a coach or parent watching · Age 12+ · Video length 0:44

Watch: Press-ups and planks PDF drill sheet for Press-ups and planks, 946 KB
S1E11 · Strength and knee control
Squats and single-leg control

1 player, with a coach or parent watching · Age 12+ · Video length 0:49

Watch: Squats and single-leg control PDF drill sheet for Squats and single-leg control, 956 KB
S1E12 · Conditioning
Intervals that feel like football

4 to 8 players (3 v 3 shown), or 1 player aged 16+ · Age 8+ (games), 16+ (solo track) · Video length 0:55

Watch: Intervals that feel like football PDF drill sheet for Intervals that feel like football, 1 MB
S1E13 · Test: 30 m sprint
Test yourself: 30 m sprint

1 player + an adult to time · Age 11+ · Video length 0:49

Watch: Test yourself: 30 m sprint PDF drill sheet for Test yourself: 30 m sprint, 959 KB
S1E14 · Test: countermovement jump
Test yourself: jump height

1 player + 1 adult · Age 11+ · Video length 0:48

Watch: Test yourself: jump height PDF drill sheet for Test yourself: jump height, 948 KB
S1E15 · Test: 20 m multi-stage fitness
Test yourself: the bleep test

1 player + 1 adult helper · Age 10+ · Video length 0:57

Watch: Test yourself: the bleep test PDF drill sheet for Test yourself: the bleep test, 994 KB
S1E16 · Test day: the four measured tests
Test day rules

1 player + 1 adult · Age 11+ · Video length 0:54

Watch: Test day rules PDF drill sheet for Test day rules, 1015 KB
S1E19 · Warm-up running drills
A-march to A-skip

1 player, or a squad in a line · Age 8+ (A-skip from 10) · Video length 0:51

Watch: A-march to A-skip PDF drill sheet for A-march to A-skip, 928 KB
S1E22 · Landing control
Jump and stick

1 player, with a coach or parent watching · Age 8+ · Video length 0:46

Watch: Jump and stick PDF drill sheet for Jump and stick, 944 KB

Psychological 2 drills

S1E06 · Composure
The penalty routine

1 player + a friend or parent in goal · Age 9+ · Video length 0:44

Watch: The penalty routine PDF drill sheet for The penalty routine, 955 KB
S1E23 · Composure
1v1: beat the defender

2 players (you and a partner) · Age 8+ · Video length 0:39

Watch: 1v1: beat the defender PDF drill sheet for 1v1: beat the defender, 981 KB

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