Fun Soccer Drills for 5-Year-Olds

Getting 5-year-olds to develop real soccer skills comes down to one thing: making practice feel like play. At this age, fun and skill development aren’t competing priorities — the best drills deliver both at the same time.

These are coach-tested drills that build the foundational skills 5-year-olds need, from dribbling and passing to shooting and defending. Bookmark this page for your next practice plan.

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Soccer Dribbling Drills

Dribbling is where it all starts. At 5 years old, the goal is simple: get kids comfortable moving the ball in different directions using all parts of their foot. Encourage both left and right feet throughout every drill.

Red Light, Green Light

A classic that works every time. Players each start with a ball inside a coned area.

Green light: players dribble in any direction they choose. They’ll naturally run into each other and the edges of the area, forcing direction changes.

Red light: everyone stops their ball as quickly as possible.

This builds reaction time, footwork dexterity, and confidence on the ball. Kids love the competition of stopping fastest — and you can increase the challenge by picking up the pace on green.

Soccer Passing Drills

Starting passing early gives kids a big advantage. Focus on using the inside of the foot and hitting the target — not too far ahead, not behind.

Soccer Obstacle Passing

Place players 5–7 yards apart with two cones creating a small gate between them. Players try to pass the ball through the gate without hitting either cone.

If they get it through twice successfully, move the cones closer together. The challenge increases as accuracy improves.

Coaching points:

• Plant foot next to the ball, toe pointing toward the target
• Use the inside of the foot to pass
• Repetition is the key to improvement here

Soccer Defending Drills

Most of the time in soccer, your team doesn’t have the ball. Teaching kids to win it back — even at 5 — builds habits that pay off for years.

Go Get the Ball

Set up two lines of players facing a mini goal. The coach stands in the middle with 10 balls.

The coach rolls a ball toward the goal and calls “go!” The first player from each line sprints for it. Whoever gets there first is the attacker — the other drops back to defend the goal.

Coaching points for defenders:

• Keep a staggered stance
• Stay goal-side and keep the attacker in front of you
• Don’t dive in

This drill replicates real 1v1 situations and generates a lot of energy — kids love racing to the ball.

Soccer Finishing Drills

Scoring goals is one of the great joys of the game. These drills introduce movement combined with shooting — not just standing still and striking.

The Diamond

Set up 4 players at the points of a diamond. Remaining players queue behind player 1.

Player 1 passes across to player 2, then runs to player 2’s spot. Player 4 fills Player 1’s spot. Player 2 controls and passes to player 3, then sprints to player 3’s position. Player 3 passes to player 4 and moves to player 4’s position. Player 4 takes a touch and goes 1v1 against the goalkeeper.

The twist: if player 4 doesn’t score, they become the keeper. If they do score, the keeper stays in net.

This drill naturally combines passing, movement, and finishing in a format that keeps everyone engaged and rotating.

Soccer Attacking Drills

Attacking soccer is exciting soccer. These drills channel that energy into first touch and decision-making skills.

Steal the Bacon

Assign each player a number. When the coach calls a number, those two players sprint around their respective goals, receive a pass from the coach, and try to score in the other team’s goal. The player who gets around their goal first receives the pass.

The coach calls the next number as soon as the ball goes out, a goal is scored, or play lasts more than 8 seconds.

Coaching points:

• Dynamic first touch — attack right away
• Keep the ball tight
• Change direction to create separation

This drill is excellent for teaching kids how important that first touch really is.

Soccer Goalkeeping Drills

You won’t know who your keeper is for years — so everyone should get a turn between the posts. Time in goal builds reflexes, reading the play, and anticipation that helps at every position.

Beat the Keeper, Be the Keeper

One player starts as the attacker, one starts in goal. The rest wait in line.

The attacker approaches and shoots. After the shot — regardless of result — the shooter becomes the new keeper and the outgoing keeper goes to the back of the line.

Coaching points for keepers:

• Ready position: hands up, knees bent, on the balls of the feet
• Keep moving and rotating to keep the drill flowing

Coaches should start as the keeper until players get comfortable with the rotation.

Soccer Games for 5-Year-Olds

These small-sided games are perfect for 5, 6, and even U8 players. They’re built around fun but quietly develop real skills.

Sharks and Minnows

Two players are sharks in the middle of the field without balls. Everyone else is a minnow with a ball on the end line.

Minnows dribble to the far end line while sharks try to win their ball or knock it out of the area. If a minnow loses their ball, they become a shark. Play ends when the last minnow is caught.

Coaching points:

• Move to open space
• Use changes of direction to keep the ball
• Work on shielding and bursting into space

Knockout

Players dribble inside a grid using different techniques called out by the coach: pull-backs, scissors, feints, step-overs. When the coach yells “knockout,” players try to knock everyone else’s ball out of the grid while keeping their own in.

If a ball goes out, the player completes 10 toe touches before rejoining.

Coaching points:

• Use your body to shield the ball
• Keep your eyes up and scan the grid
• Keep moving

4 Goal Shooting

Set up 4 small goals: 2 on each end of the field. Players split into 2 lines on the sideline. The coach plays a ball onto the field and the first player from each line runs to get it. Whoever wins it can shoot on any of the 4 goals. Then the next two go.

Coaching points:

• Take a good first touch
• Be decisive when you get in shooting range

Soccer Freeze Tag

The coach dribbles around trying to tag players. If tagged, a player does a step trap until unfrozen. To unfreeze a teammate, another player dribbles over and gives them a high five.

After the first round, the coach must knock a player’s ball away to freeze them instead. Play continues until 1–2 players are left active, or for a set time.

Younger players love this one — expect lots of smiles.

Build Skills and Confidence with TOCA Soccer Classes

These drills work because they’re fun, active, and full of touches on the ball — the three things that matter most at this age. They build the foundational skills that players will build on for years.

If you’re looking for a program that brings this kind of coaching to your child every week, TOCA Soccer Classes are designed for players ages 1–13. Sessions are led by coaches who know how to connect with kids, develop their skills, and make sure they leave every class wanting to come back.

Sign up for a free first class at a TOCA center near you →

About TOCA Soccer: TOCA serves local communities throughout the United States and Canada, welcoming players and families to find their best through classes, training sessions, camps, leagues, and more. Soccer classes for ages 1–13 are engaging and educational, while individual or group training sessions for ages 7+ offer progressive levels of development for players looking to challenge themselves and have fun.