Scoring from a dribble: ready-made football practice for U8+

All U8+ practices

The ball does not need to go hard for a shot to work. This practice looks for a controlled touch before the shot and a place from which to score. Combining dribbling and shooting is tried first without a defender, then in a 1v1, and finally in a game.

U8+ is an indicative starting age. Shorten the shooting distance and give more time to a player who is still learning to hit the ball. A more experienced player can be challenged with a defender and with choosing where to score from.

U8+ · 60 min

From dribbling to scoring

Bring balls, cones, bibs and small goals or cone goals. Set up separate routes for shooting and keep waiting players away from behind the goals. Adjust distances so players can shoot with control. Form small groups and add similar practice spots as needed and as coaches allow. The times include instructions, breaks and transitions.

Open the complete plan without signing in. Adjust the timings and notes for your team.

Follow the leader · 10 min

Everyone has a ball. The leader of the small group chooses the direction of dribbling and the others follow. Change the leader often. Start calmly, then add stops and small changes of pace. Leave space between players. Focus this time: can you get the ball under control in front of you when you want to continue?

Shooting Rally · 15 min

Set up two separate dribbling routes towards opposite end goals, as in the drill diagram. The player dribbles and shoots at the latest at the cone gate. The next player goes when the previous one has shot and the route is clear. The shooter collects their ball and moves along the outer edge of the area to the other starting spot. Start without goalkeepers and without a speed competition. Shorten the distance if needed. Also try the other foot. Add a parallel lane if waiting gets longer.

1v1 to two goals · 15 min

Set up two goals at the attacker's end and a counterattack goal for the defender at the opposite end. In this version, play without goalkeepers. The defender passes the ball to the attacker and goes to stop them scoring. The attacker chooses which goal to go for. After winning the ball, the defender may score in the opposite end. After a goal or the ball crossing the boundary, swap roles and start again with a new pass. The player waiting for a turn rotates in after every attempt. Make it easier by giving the attacker more starting space or by widening the goals.

Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4) · 15 min

Play small-sided games, for example 2v2 or 3v3, to two end goals without goalkeepers. After a goal, the other team starts from their own end. After the ball goes out, restart by passing and the defenders give space. The player may pass or dribble before shooting. No required number of touches or passes. Watch whether the player notices the chance to shoot. Keep short drinks breaks between playing periods.

Team reflection · 5 min

Ask players where they noticed the shooting spot and what helped them aim the ball at the goal. Collect the equipment together. Note whether players needed more time for the shot or more challenge from the defender.

Instructions and editable plan: coachtruly.com/blog/u8-dribbling-and-finishing. CoachTruly plan. Background source: FIFA Training Centre, Developing shooting skills.

Start by moving with the ball

football drill: Follow the leader — Follow the leaderView Drill →

Each player dribbles their own ball in a small group. The leader shows the route and the way of dribbling, and the others follow. Change the leader often. Start calmly so players have time to look up and avoid each other.

Add small changes of pace and stops. Watch whether the player can get the ball back under control in front of them after a stop. The same skill helps later when preparing a shot.

Shooting rally without rushing

football drill: Shooting Rally — Shooting RallyView Drill →

Build separate dribbling routes as shown in the drill diagram. In this starting version the goals have no goalkeepers. The player dribbles towards the goal and shoots at the latest from the cone gate. After the shot they collect their own ball and return along the outer edge to the other starting spot. Show the return route before starting.

The next player goes only when the previous one has shot and the route is clear. Keep groups small or set up a parallel lane. If there are few goals, a cone gate can serve as a goal. Do not place the waiting group in the shooting direction.

Ask where the ball could be placed. Make it easier by shortening the distance. When the shots are hitting the target, ask players to try the other foot or a small change of direction before the shot. No speed competition is needed in this version.

Choose the free goal

football drill: 1v1 to two goals — 1v1 to two goalsView Drill →

The attacker has two goals to choose from. In this version, play without the goalkeepers shown in the diagram. The defender's pass starts the situation. The defender goes straight after the pass to stop the attacker scoring, and after winning the ball may try to score in their own counterattack goal.

Change roles after every attempt. A goal or the ball crossing the boundary ends the attempt. A long situation can be cut at about half a minute so the next pair can try. Parallel pitches reduce waiting.

Watch the first touch: does it open up a shooting spot or take the player towards the defender? Make it easier by giving the attacker more space to receive the pass. Make it harder by narrowing this space slightly.

Let the scoring chance arise in the game

football drill: Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4) — Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4)View Drill →

Play small-sided games to normal end goals. The purpose of this section is for players to find the shooting spot themselves. Let players also dribble and pass if the shooting lane is closed. Do not demand a shot from every touch.

Keep spare balls available and agree restarts before the game. During the drinks break, ask where they noticed a free shooting lane. Let players try their answer in the next period.

Adapt to your own group

If players do not split evenly into pairs, make one group of three and rotate the resting player in after every attempt. In the final small-sided game the extra player can help the team in possession. Change this role regularly.

If you coach alone, teach the group one task at a time and use the same task in parallel areas. Add difficulty only when the start, fetching the ball and changing roles run smoothly. The times in the plan can be changed according to the group's stamina.

Coaching background source

FIFA Training Centre's Developing shooting skills recommends starting from simple shooting situations and progressing to small-sided games. In this CoachTruly plan we use our own drill bank and progress from a free shot to a decision situation created by an opponent.

Choose another U8+ practice or print the plan above for the pitch.