dribbling U12 soccer drills

dribbling U12 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the dribbling aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.

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4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals

A very dynamic game that involves various cognitive aspects, it is ideal for working in a fun way through a possession exercise followed by progression with shooting on mini-goals.

Animation: 4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals
Mark out a field of about 30x30m and place 4 gates and 4 colored goals on each of the 4 sides of the field (see animation). Then form 2 teams of 4 players.

The exercise starts with a 4v4 opposition with the objective of making at least 3 passes before dribbling through one of the colored gates. This passage will then unlock the goal of the same color and will be followed by a 4v4 with the objective of scoring on the small goal.

If the opposing team recovers the ball, they will proceed in the same way and will have to unlock a mini-goal by dribbling through one of the colored gates.

Here are some possible progressions for this type of exercise:
  1. Limit the number of touches to 2 touches.
  2. Give a direction of passage within the gates (inside vs outside)
  3. Limit the number of passes to be able to score in one of the goals
  4. Allow passing through multiple gates to unlock multiple goals at once.

Progression 2: define a direction of passage in the gates
Progression 2: define a direction of passage in the gates

Categories

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Dribbling

Discover our dribbling U12 drills

Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1

Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1

10 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
U12
Series of 1v1 duels where the attacker must read the defender's choice by going through the same colored gate before going to shoot on goal....
Dribbling: imitation and sequence to be repeated by the team

Dribbling: imitation and sequence to be repeated by the team

15 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U12
Duel between two teams where one creates a sequence of dribbles through colored gates that the other must replicate without error to score points....
Dynamic Warm-up with Passing, Slalom, and Dribbling

Dynamic Warm-up with Passing, Slalom, and Dribbling

15 min
8-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U12
Used during a training session at FC Barcelona, this highly dynamic warm-up will allow your players to quickly increase their intensity....
Receiving on the half-turn and dribbling with the "escape from jail" drill

Receiving on the half-turn and dribbling with the "escape from jail" drill

12 min
6-18 joueurs
Technical
U12
Fun little station to set up in a youth academy that will allow your players to work on directional control and dribbling....
Passing Circuit with Triple One-Two Pass and Give-and-Go

Passing Circuit with Triple One-Two Pass and Give-and-Go

15 min
10-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U12
Used within youth teams at Bayern Munich, this passing circuit is an ideal warm-up to work on positioning and movement before and after receiving the ball....
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Unlocking mini-goals with gate passing in 4v4

Unlocking mini-goals with gate passing in 4v4

15 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U12
Very dynamic drill in the form of a 4v4 that will allow your players to work on different cognitive aspects such as perception, anticipation, and decision-making under pressure....
Diamond passing circuit with give and go variation

Diamond passing circuit with give and go variation

18 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
U12
Passing sequence in a diamond shape with off-the-ball run and dribbling, this drill will allow your players to primarily work on their passing quality and movements before and after receiving the ball. Numerous variations are possible....
Ball control and triangle play in youth academy

Ball control and triangle play in youth academy

12 min
8-16 joueurs
Warm-up
U12
Fun dribbling drill ideal for soccer school with triangular zones and defenders who will do everything to touch the attackers....
Triangle passing sequence and dribbling through gates

Triangle passing sequence and dribbling through gates

12 min
8-16 joueurs
Warm-up
U12
Drill in the form of a predetermined passing sequence and dribbling with various possible variations. Perfect for youth soccer or as a warm-up....
The 4-Step Clock: Passing and Dribbling

The 4-Step Clock: Passing and Dribbling

15 min
8-24 joueurs
Technical
U12
Fun exercise ideal for soccer school (from U11 to U13), it will allow your players to work on dribbling while keeping their heads up. Several variations are possible for this drill....
4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals

4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals

20 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U12
A very dynamic game that involves various cognitive aspects, it is ideal for working in a fun way through a possession exercise followed by progression with shooting on mini-goals....
Dribbling in figure 8 then 1v1 duel

Dribbling in figure 8 then 1v1 duel

15 min
4-14 joueurs
Technical
U12
This exercise is quite simple to set up and will allow your players to work on dribbling and improve their concentration level, while fostering a healthy competitive spirit....
The pickpocket game: dribbling and decision-making

The pickpocket game: dribbling and decision-making

12 min
12-24 joueurs
Technical
U12
Ideal animation game in soccer school to work on dribbling with decision-making. This exercise will allow your players to progress in a fun way....
The hourglass: passing game and dribbling

The hourglass: passing game and dribbling

15 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U12
Perfect for youth soccer training, the hourglass drill will help your players develop their passing and dribbling skills while varying the angles and surfaces of the foot used....
Fun Warm-up: Dribbling and Ball Control in Tight Spaces

Fun Warm-up: Dribbling and Ball Control in Tight Spaces

10 min
5-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U12
A very simple drill to set up that will allow young players to maximize their touches on the ball in a small space and under pressure. Perfect for the start of a session....
Drop-off and ball control

Drop-off and ball control

15 min
12-14 joueurs
Technical
U12
Ideal exercise to practice the back-pedal technique (defense) and dribbling (attack) with a point system to instill a good competitive spirit....
Motor skills and ball control to improve footwork and balance

Motor skills and ball control to improve footwork and balance

12 min
8-10 joueurs
Technical
U12
Excellent exercise to improve footwork and balance for U11 or U13 players. Use the competitive spirit to create enthusiasm....
Ball control in varied situations and combined shooting

Ball control in varied situations and combined shooting

12 min
8-10 joueurs
Technical
U12
By requiring your players to use both feet and different contact surfaces in various situations, this drill is ideal for working on dribbling and ball control, as well as shooting in succession....
Warm-up: sequence, control, dribbling, and passing

Warm-up: sequence, control, dribbling, and passing

10 min
10-12 joueurs
Warm-up
U12
Through a simple sequence of control-dribble-pass, this exercise, ideal for warm-up, allows players to work on the basics while staying in motion....
Dribbling then cross: right foot, left foot

Dribbling then cross: right foot, left foot

15 min
8-14 joueurs
Technical
U12
Practice crosses with this easy-to-set-up drill that allows for good rotation when you have a large number of players....

Other sub-theme U12 soccer drills

U12 Agility soccer drills

  1. Small-sided games in 2v2 with goalkeeper in promotion relegation format
  2. Receiving on the half-turn and dribbling with the "escape from jail" drill
  3. Cognitive ability with agility work and color play
See all

U12 Attacking transition soccer drills

  1. 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
  2. Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
  3. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
See all

U12 Build-up play soccer drills

  1. 4v3 back to goal with build-up play for the defenders
  2. Preventing the build-up play: high press and shooting in 2v1
  3. One-two pass drill against a diamond formation
See all

U12 Circuit soccer drills

  1. Information Gathering on a Sequence of Passes in 4v4
  2. Passing Circuit with Triple One-Two Pass and Give-and-Go
  3. Positioning in a "Y", creating space, and shooting
See all

U12 Cognitive soccer drills

  1. Diamond passing circuit with give and go variation
  2. Cognitive ability with agility work and color play
  3. Ball control and triangle play in youth academy
See all

U12 Counterattack soccer drills

  1. Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
See all

U12 Counter-pressing soccer drills

  1. 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
  2. Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
  3. Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
See all

U12 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills

  1. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
  2. 2v1 Rondo in two zones
  3. 1v1 Duel with Chasing Defender
See all

U12 Defensive transition soccer drills

  1. Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
  2. Dynamic 360° Opposition with 3 Teams of 3
  3. Interception and forward ball control in 4v3
See all

U12 Dribbling soccer drills

  1. Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
  2. Dribble and immediate follow-up
  3. The pickpocket game: dribbling and decision-making
See all

U12 Duels soccer drills

  1. Working on Duels: Offensive and Defensive Techniques (Version 3)
  2. Drop-off and ball control
  3. Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
See all

U12 Endurance soccer drills

  1. 3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
See all

U12 Explosive strength soccer drills

  1. Tic-Tac-Toe possession game with overload
  2. Dynamic Warm-up with Passing, Slalom, and Dribbling
  3. 1v1 duels with neutral support and quick finishing on close goals
See all

U12 Fun Game soccer drills

  1. Hunter game with perception and coordination work (youth academy)
  2. The 4-Step Clock: Passing and Dribbling
  3. Juggling, retrieving pinnies, and shooting run
See all

U12 Gaps soccer drills

  1. 3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
  2. Playing between the lines and following up the action (2)
  3. Creating space through movement in 5v5
See all

U12 Motor skills soccer drills

  1. Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball
  2. Drop-off and ball control
  3. 1v1 and agility: support and change of direction
See all

U12 Offensive combinations soccer drills

  1. One-two pass combinations with 2 teams then shooting
  2. Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals
  3. Combination and shooting in front of the goal followed by a 2v2
See all

U12 Overload soccer drills

  1. Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
  2. 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
  3. Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals
See all

U12 Passes soccer drills

  1. Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
  2. Dynamic Warm-up with Passing, Slalom, and Dribbling
  3. Give-and-go, dribble, and shooting from different angles
See all

U12 Positional play soccer drills

  1. Combining offensively using a pivot in 5v5
  2. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
  3. Collective ball retention through the short passing game
See all

U12 Possession soccer drills

  1. 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
  2. 4v4 Possession Game with 2 Final Third Zones
  3. 4v4 Possession Game with Central Square
See all

U12 Pressing soccer drills

  1. 4vs4+1: corner-to-corner possession with fixed support players
  2. Training on Long Balls and Off-the-ball Movement
  3. Preventing the build-up play: high press and shooting in 2v1
See all

U12 Rondos soccer drills

  1. 5v5 opposition with "4 corner jokers"
  2. Tiki Taka: passing game with 2 central players
  3. 2v1 Rondo in two zones
See all

U12 Scanning soccer drills

  1. Creating space through movement in 5v5
  2. Right foot, left foot passing and directional control work
  3. 4-player passing sequence with scanning
See all

U12 Shooting soccer drills

  1. Off-the-ball run with a change of direction in a passing circuit with a shot on goal
  2. Dribbling then cross: right foot, left foot
  3. 1v1 with goalkeeper – back-to-goal duel and chasing defense
See all

U12 Support soccer drills

  1. 3v3 (+4) with support players and position change
  2. Quick ball movement in 6v6 with deep support
  3. Warm-up with neutral support in the wide areas
See all

U12 Transition soccer drills

  1. Continuation of 1v1 duels with back to goal and mini-goals on opposite ends
  2. Combination and shooting in front of the goal followed by a 2v2
  3. Dynamic 360° Opposition with 3 Teams of 3
See all

U12 Using width soccer drills

  1. Play in Space and Switches of Play
  2. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
  3. 4v4 and off-the-ball runs into space
See all

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