At 6 years old players are really starting to explore soccer and develop different skills. These soccer drills for 6 year olds have a huge focus on developing dribbling and the introduction of passing skills. All the drills focus on creating a fun, engaging, learning environment to promote these skills
10 best soccer drills and games for 6 year olds
Making your soccer drills for 6 year olds fun, is incredibly important too!
These are 10 tips to make your soccer practices fun.
Zombies
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 2 goals
- 20 x 15-yard area
How the drill works:
Every player will have a soccer ball and they will act as a human, apart from 1 player who will start off as a zombie.
The player acting as the zombie must try to steal the soccer balls from the humans and score other goals.
If this happens the human will turn into a zombie.
This will continue until there is only 1 player (human) with a soccer ball and they will be the winner.
Coaching points:
- Take small touches to keep the ball close
- Dribble with your head up so you can see where the zombie is and so you don’t bump into other players
Steal the treasure
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- Pinnies
- 15 x 20 -ard area
- 2 x 2-yard area in the larger area
- Cones to mark out the island
How the drill works:
Every player will start with a soccer ball on their part of the island, they will act as the pirates.
The pirates will try to steal the pinnies (treasure) on the opposite island, however, the coaches acting as sailors are trying to stop them.
If a coach (sailor) tags a player (pirate) they must go to the jail (2×2-yard area).
A pirate can be freed from jail if another pirate who is not in jail is able to give them a high-five.
The game will end once all of the treasure has been collected by the pirates and brought back onto their island.
Coaching points:
- Use small touches to keep control of the soccer ball
- Dribble with your head up
- Run away fast with the soccer ball if you are being chased by a sailor
Bib tag
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 5 pinnies (bibs)
- 15 – 20-yard area
How the drill works:
Every player will have a soccer ball and 5 players will start off with a bib.
If a player has a bib they must try to throw the bib at another player.
The player that just got hit will now have the bib and they must continue the process.
When time runs out the players still holding a bib will lose a life (players can start with 10 lives).
The players with the most lives left at the end of all the rounds will be the winners.
Coaching points:
- While dribbling keep your head up to see where everyone is
- Keep the ball close so you can easily change direction to get away from the player throwing the bib
Bumper cars
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 15 x 20-yard area
How the drill works:
Every player will have a soccer ball and they will get a point if they are able to pass their soccer ball and hit someone else’s soccer.
The player with the most points at the end of the round is the winner.
Here are some different rules you can add to the game:
- Golden cars
Give 2 or three players a pinnie and they will become the golden cars.
If a player is able to hit one of the golden cars they will get 5 points instead of 1 point
- Car crusher
Give a different color pinnie to these 2 or 3 players.
As a car crusher if they hit someone else soccer ball that player’s score will go to 0.
Coaching points:
- Keep your soccer ball close by taking little touches
- Protect your soccer ball by standing in between your soccer ball and another player
- Use the inside of your foot to pass the ball
Hulk smash
Equipment:
- 15 x 20-yard area
- 1 Soccer ball per player
How the drill works:
Every player will start off in the area with a soccer ball at their feet.
1 player will be asked to start off as the hulk and hold their soccer ball in their hands.
If the hulk is able to throw their soccer ball to hit or tap another player’s soccer ball, then that player will also become a hulk.
This process will continue until there is only 1 soccer player left and they will be the winner of the game.
Coaching points:
- Take small touches to make it easier to turn and get away from the hulk
- Keep your head up and try to dribble into the spaces away from the hulks
Netflix Game
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 15 x 20-yard
How the drill works:
This is an instruction style of game, where players will follow the instructions of the coach in playing.
The theme of this will be Netflix, here are the instructions:
- Play = Dribble the soccer ball
- Pause = Stop and stand still with the soccer ball
- Fast forward = Players dribble as fast as they can with the ball
- Rewind = Players will attempt to dribble backward with their soccer ball
- Skip = Players will pick up their soccer ball and throw it up in the air and try to control it
You can also introduce different shows, for example, an animal program or a racing program.
Players will then have to dribble acting as their favorite animal or impersonate a race car while dribbling.
Coaching points:
- Keep your head out and try to dribble into the space
- Keep the ball close so it is easier to dribble and stop the ball
Fox tails
Equipment:
- 2 pinnies (bibs) per player
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 15 x 20-yard area
How the game works:
Each of the players will have a soccer ball and 2 pinnies each.
The players will tuck the pinnies into either side of their shorts to act as the fox tails.
Once the game starts the players will have to try to pull and collect as many of the other player’s fox tails as possible.
Even if a player has both of their tails pulled they can still try to collect other players’ tails.
The game will come to an end when all the tails have been pulled, with the player collecting the most tails winning the round.
Coaching points:
- Keep the ball close to quickly get away from players trying to pull your tail
- Take small touches to help keep the ball under control
Snowball wars
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- Pinnies
- 15 x 20-yard area
- 4, 2 x 2-yard areas
How the drill works:
Divide your players into teams of 4 and give them a 2 x 2-yard area each in the corners of the larger area.
The pinnies will act as snowballs.
The players will have to dribble and throw the snowballs into other players’ areas.
They can only pick up snowballs that are in their area.
At the end of the round, the team with the least amount of snowballs in their area will be the winner.
Coaching points:
- Use small touches to keep the ball under control while dribbling
- Dribble with your head up
Goal rush
Equipment:
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 4 goals
- 15 x 20-yard area
- 4, 2 x 2-yard areas
How the drill works:
Each player will have a soccer ball part from the 4 defending players.
The defending players will have to protect their goal from the other players scoring on them.
However, they are not allowed inside the smaller areas.
Once a player has scored a goal they should dribble and try to score in a different
The player that scores the most goals will be the winner.
After each round swap, the defenders round to make sure everyone has a chance to be the defender.
Coaching points:
- Dribble with your head up to see where the other players and defenders are
- Use the inside of your foot to try and accurately pass the ball into the goal
Hit the pinata
Equipment:
- 15 x 20-yard area
- 1 soccer ball per player
- Pinnies
How the drill works:
All the players will have a soccer ball and will try to pass the ball to hit the coach (pinata).
If hit the pinata, then they will drop a pinnie (candy) for the player to collect.
The game will end when coaches have no more candy left, with the player that is able to collect the most pieces of candy being the winner.
Coaching points:
- Use the inside of your foot when you are passing the ball to hit the coach.
- Keep your head up while dribbling so you can see where the coaches are
- Use small touches so it is easier to change direction.
Frequently asked questions about coaching 6 year olds
What should a 6 year old learn in soccer?
In soccer, a 6 year old should learn how to keep a soccer ball under close control, trying to use both feet and different parts of the foot.
They should also start learning how to properly pass the ball using the inside of the foot.
How do I teach my 6 year old to pass soccer?
The best way to teach your 6 year old to pass in soccer is to encourage them to dribble with their head up so they can see what is going on around them and recognize when a teammate is in space to pass to.
Avoid shouting at them to pass because this actually has the opposite effect what you are trying to do.
Instead, wait till after and praise them for something they did good and let them know when would have been a good chance to pass.
You should teach your 6 year old to pass with the inside of their foot for better passing accuracy.
How do I teach my 6 year old to dribble a soccer ball?
The best way to teach your 6 year old how to dribble in soccer is to encourage them to take small touches and keep their head up.
When they take small touches it is easier for them to keep the soccer ball under control and change direction to get away from the defender.
You should also encourage them to use both feet and different parts of the foot, while dribbling.
What size ball should a 6 year old play with?
A 6 year old should be playing with a size 3 soccer ball.
Things to think about while coaching 6 year old soccer drills
These are the 10 best soccer drills for 6 year olds that I use when I am coaching them.
The focus of these games is to be fun and provide them with different ways to interact with each other and their surroundings.
I would also recommend having a least 2 of 3 coaches while coaching this age group because they can be quite challenging at times.
If you are a parent then these are some great solo soccer drills you can do with your 6 year olds at home
Here are some more soccer games for older kids, that you can progress to.
If you found these soccer drills for 6 year olds helpful then please share them!
Thank you for reading and sharing,
Toby
The Youth Soccer Coaching Handbook
Take the stress out of coaching youth soccer with 250+ pre-made soccer sessions and drills, just turn up and coach!
Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll find inside:
- 35 Defending Drills
- 35 Dribbling and 1v1 Drills
- 21 SAQ Drills
- 47 Passing, Control, and Possession drills
- 31 Goalkeeper drills
- 36 Shooting and Finishing drills
- 30 Soccer Games U4 – U8
- 20 Pre-made soccer sessions (90 minutes in length each)
