Free, practical football drills and session plans for grassroots coaches — every one with step-by-step instructions, coaching points, and a visual diagram. Built by an FA Level 2 coach.
Select the age group you coach — every drill and session is tagged to the right Future Fit format.
Finishing from crosses is a distinct skill from finishing from through-balls…
View drill →When teams press one side of the pitch, the answer is a switch — a 30-40 yar…
View drill →Before kids can dribble past defenders, they need ownership of the ball — th…
View drill → U11–U14Press-cover-shadow is the three-player defensive combination that underlies …
View drill →The modern goalkeeper at U14+ is expected to play with their feet as a ball-…
View drill → U11–adultThe kick-off happens at least twice per match, more after goals…
View drill →140 complete session plans with timings, blocks and coaching focus — print them or share to your team WhatsApp.
Browse sessions →147 in-depth guides on tactics, team management and the real problems grassroots coaches face.
Read the guides →Training doesn't stop because it's raining. But the drills you ran on Tuesda…
Read → CoachingMost parents are great. The 1-2 who aren't can derail a season for the kids …
Read → CoachingMost volunteer grassroots coaches quit within 3 seasons. The kids who lose t…
Read →The three things every grassroots coach ends up buying — picked from our full equipment guide.
Size-appropriate, match-weight balls — one per pair minimum. The single biggest session-quality upgrade.
Check Price →Two colours, fifty cones. Every drill on this site sets up with these. Buy once, use for years.
Check Price →Fold flat into the kit bag. Turns any patch of grass into a small-sided pitch in 60 seconds.
Check Price →Buying guides: Training balls · Cones · Bibs · GK gloves · Portable goals · Kids' boots · Coaching boards · Agility ladders
As an Amazon Associate, SimpleDrills earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. See the full kit list →
Is SimpleDrills actually free?
Yes — every drill, session plan, and coaching guide on the site is free to use, print, and share with your team. The site earns a small commission if you buy equipment through the links we recommend, but that never affects which drills or advice we publish.
Who writes the content on SimpleDrills?
SimpleDrills is built by James Whitlock, an FA Level 2 football coach, drawing on real grassroots coaching experience across age groups from U7 to adult.
How are the drills organised?
By category (passing, shooting, defending, dribbling, first touch, set pieces, goalkeeping, warm-up, fitness, small-sided games, pre-season) and by age group, tagged to the FA's Future Fit formats — 3v3 for U7, 5v5 for U8-U9, 7v7 for U10-U11, 9v9 for U12-U13, and 11v11 from U14 upward.
Does SimpleDrills cover futsal as well as football?
Yes — the site has a dedicated futsal section with its own drills, sessions, and age-group breakdowns, alongside the main football content.