Midfield drills
Midfield drills train receiving on the half-turn, scanning, passing angles and keeping the ball under pressure. Rondos and possession games are a midfielder's best friend.
4v1 rondo
U8 to adult · 5 (or groups of 5)
5v2 rondo
U10 to adult · 7
Rondo with transition (U11 to U13)
U11 to U13 · 9 to 12
Possession with neutrals (4v4+2)
U9 to adult · 10
3v1 triangle rondo
U7 to U10 · 4 (or groups of 4)
4v2 rondo
U10 to adult · 6 (or groups of 6)
4-3-3 midfield triangle rondo (6v3)
U13 to adult · 9
4-4-2 box rondo with a switch
U12 to adult · 10 to 12
Wing-back rondo for 3-5-2 and 3-4-3
U13 to adult · 11 to 13
7v7 diamond rondo (2-3-1 and 2-1-2-1)
U9 to U11 · 7 to 8
Positional rondo 5v5 + 3
U14 to adult · 13
Directional rondo: play through the lines
U11 to adult · 9 to 11
3-5-2 wing-back switch of play
U13 to adult · 10 to 14 plus a keeper
4-2-3-1: finding the number 10 between the lines
U13 to adult · 12 to 14
Five-second counter-press box
U11 to adult · 8 to 12
Switching play: 4v4 + 2 across three zones
U11 to adult · 10
Receiving on the half-turn
U9 to adult · 6 to 12
Scanning game: colour cones
U8 to U14 · 6 to 16
4v4 with four corner goals
U8 to U14 · 8 to 10
End-to-end possession (target players)
U10 to adult · 10 to 16
Three-team possession
U11 to adult · 9 to 15 (three teams)
Keep-ball with overloads (5v2 to 5v5)
U9 to adult · 7 to 12
Possession to score through gates
U8 to U14 · 8 to 14
Possession with wall (bounce) players
U10 to adult · 10 to 14
Split the defenders pass
U9 to adult · 6 to 12
Pass through the lines
U11 to adult · 8 to 14
Piggy in the middle (first rondo)
U6 to U9 · Groups of 3
Split-pass rondo (5v2)
U10 to adult · 7 per group
Double box rondo (transfer)
U11 to adult · 12 to 16
Big circle rondo (8v3)
U10 to adult · 11 to 14
Rondo race
U9 to adult · 10 to 16
Rondo with an inside player (4+1v2)
U11 to adult · 7 per group
Keeper rondo (5v2 with the keeper)
U10 to adult · 7 to 8
Long rondo: switch the play (6v2)
U11 to adult · 8 per group
Rondo with defender goals
U10 to adult · 7 to 8 per group
10-pass game
U8 to adult · 8 to 16
Two-zone possession switch
U11 to adult · 10 to 16
Colour-sequence possession
U10 to adult · 9 to 15 (three colours)
Mixed-touch possession
U10 to adult · 8 to 16
Long thin pitch possession
U10 to adult · 8 to 14
Positional game 3v3+3
U12 to adult · 9
Tight 4v4 with counter goals
U11 to adult · 8 plus keepers optional
Corner-zone possession
U10 to adult · 8 to 14
Third-man possession game
U12 to adult · 8 to 14
Possession with the keeper as sweeper
U10 to adult · 11 to 15 with keepers
Team keep-ball in shape
U12 to adult · 14 to 20
Five passes then score
U8 to U14 · 8 to 14
Beat the clock possession
U9 to adult · 8 to 14
Pass-and-move rule possession
U9 to adult · 8 to 14
5v5 with two floaters
U9 to adult · 12
Futsal-style 5v5
U8 to adult · 10 plus subs
4-4-2 switch through the central pair
U12 to adult · 8 to 12
Find the free player
U10 to adult · 9 to 13 plus a keeper
Escape the wide trap
U12 to adult · 6 to 9 plus a keeper
Hunt in packs 4v4 (+2)
U10 to adult · 10
Overload transfer: two halves
U10 to adult · 9 to 12
Rotating neutrals keep-ball
U10 to adult · 9 to 11
Safe squares game
U8 to U14 · 6 to 10
Break out to the end zone
U10 to adult · 8 to 10
Five mini-goal game
U9 to adult · 8 to 10
Middle player must touch it
U10 to adult · 7 to 10
Switch the play: three channels
U11 to adult · 10 to 14
Find the target, keep it
U9 to adult · 8 to 10
4v4 plus wall players
U9 to adult · 8 to 12
By position: Goalkeeping · Defending · Midfield · Attacking · Football positions explained
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