Indoor football training for kids: 2 ready-made sessions

• The teams line up one behind the other at their position in front of their wall, each team has a ball.
• On the coach's whistle the first player plays through the target goal against the wall and then joins the back of the queue.
• Then the next player passes through the target goal against the wall, and so on. In the basic format the number of touches is free.

Scoring: Scored as a team competition: which team hits the wall most often in the time set, for example 2 minutes? If the target goal or the wall is missed, one hit is deducted.

Variations:

• Adjust the running time.
• Allow one-touch passing only.
• Play with two touches only.
• Set a strict change, that is, pass with the right and receive with the left.
• Pass with the weaker foot only.
• Move closer to the wall and play against the wall with the foot only or with the head.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

• The player starts with the ball and, after two touches, plays a ground pass with the inside of the left foot against the first board, then controls the ball.
• Next the player plays against the following board with the right foot and controls the ball as well.
• The sequence continues in this way up to the finish on goal.
• To finish, the player first plays the ball low with the inside of the foot against the board and finishes the returning ball on goal with the laces over the board.
• After that the player dribbles back around the outside to the starting position.

Note: Drill idea by Holger Enger.

• A passes to B via the bench.
• B passes on first time to C via the bench.
• C plays on to D.
• D controls the ball, goes through the dribbling course and finishes on goal.
• D then joins the queue at the start again, the other players each move on one station after their pass.

Variations:

• If the first-time pass does not work yet, control the ball briefly and then pass it on.
• Depending on the space available, the set-up can be made longer or shorter.
• The players go through the whole course themselves and collect their own balls again.

Note: The drill is particularly suitable for training in the sports hall. Drill idea by Silvio Hellige.

Player A of Team Yellow starts with a pass to Player B of Team Red standing opposite.

1. Player B takes the ball with the first touch and dribbles at top speed through the first red cone goal and then to the red cone goal diagonally opposite.
2. At the same time Player A runs through the two yellow cone goals without a ball.
3. Player A tries to confront Player B in the 1 vs 1 before the finishing line, to win the ball or to prevent the shot.
4. Player B tries to dribble through the cone goals as quickly as possible, to win the 1 vs 1 and to score a goal.

To begin with Team Red has the right to attack for a few rounds, then Team Yellow. It is played as a team competition: which team scores more goals?

Variations:

• If no goalkeeper or no indoor goal is available, play on two mini goals.
• Players A and B pass the ball back and forth until the coach gives the starting signal.
• Run it without a ball as a pure speed competition.
• The defender also receives a point for winning the ball in the 1 vs 1.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Position A:

1. The player dribbles to the three cones and dribbles around them in a slalom.
2. The player picks the ball up in the hands and goes through the agility ladder with double contacts.
3. At the end of the ladder the player puts the ball down and passes against the bench lying on the floor.
4. The player takes the rebounding ball with the first touch and finishes at the goal.

Position B:

1. The player dribbles up to the mini hurdles, plays the ball past them and jumps over them with two-footed jumps.
2. The player passes the ball underneath the large hurdle and jumps over the hurdle.
3. The player picks the ball up in the hands and jumps through the hoops.
4. At the end of the hoops the player puts the ball down and passes onto the bench next to the goal.
5. The player takes the rebounding ball with the first touch and finishes at the goal.

After the shot the player collects the ball and joins the queue at the other position.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Rules:

• Play is without boards.
• The coach decides before the game whether it is played with or without offside.
• After a set number of minutes the goalkeeper is changed: a substitute goes in goal, so that a rotation is created and nobody plays longer or shorter than the others.
• The ball may only be played up to hip height.
• Goals may only be scored when all outfield players are over the halfway line.
• The goalkeeper may leave the penalty area.
• Play is with throw-ins.
• Three corners make a penalty, with every shot that goes past the goal counting as a corner.

Aim: Quick pushing up in support, balls in behind to gain ground and closing the opponent down early, so that no pass in behind is possible. A ball in behind is normally followed by a lay-off, or the receiving player holds the ball up so that the team can push up. As a last option, the 1 vs 1 to finish remains.