You don’t always need a coach, a team, or even a field to improve your soccer skills! In fact, practicing soccer drills at home can be as effective as training on the field if you have a plan and the right motivation. Doing drills by yourself might not have the same energy as being with your teammates, but this guide will help you improve your game effectively and have fun while doing it! Soccer might be a team sport, but some of the best improvements happen when you’re on your own. Whether you’re working on dribbling, passing, or ball control in general, these drills will help you reach your goals and you may even discover some new ones that can take your game to the next level. Keep reading for our list of soccer drills you can practice at home that will make you more confident next time you hit the field!

1.   Soccer Ball Juggling

One of the best drills you can commit some time to working on is juggling. Juggling a soccer ball is one of the best ways to develop your ball control skills. To start, juggle the ball with each foot, then back and forth between both feet. The goal is to keep control over the ball for as long as possible. Once comfortable with this technique, incorporate the thighs and chest. Set a goal for how many juggles you can do consecutively and try to beat your own record!

2.   Cone Dribbling

Cone dribbling is another valuable skill to learn for ball control and endurance! There are so many ways you can do this, but we recommend starting off by placing the cones about three feet apart and weaving through them. Once you get the hang of that, try inside-only touches, then outside-only touches. If you’ve mastered this variation of cone dribbling, you can move onto spacing the cones farther apart (20 to 30 feet) and dribbling quickly between them, circling back after each cone. This will work on building your stamina!

3.   Push-Pull

Soccer isn’t only about speed; it also requires enough endurance to run for long periods of time. The push-pull drill is a great way to gain agility and endurance while having fun! With the sole of your feet, push the ball forward, then pull it back. Repeat with both feet until it feels comfortable. Then alternate feet to take it to the next level!

4.   Toe Taps

Toe taps are a classic drill for foot speed and control that you’ve probably heard of before – but it's considered a staple for a reason! Tap the top of the ball lightly with the bottom of your feet, alternating left and right. This exercise can be as complex or as simple as you’d like. Either stay stationary, incorporate patterns, or move around the ball, tapping as you go!

5.   Wall Work

If you don’t have anyone around to practice with, the wall will become your best training partner! Try these drill variations:

Direct Touches: Kick the ball at the wall; when it comes back, push back with the inside of the foot.

Give and Go: The give and go will simulate live passes from one player to the other as they move down the field. The goal is to aim at the wall at an angle, so it bounces and comes out further down from where you started. Continue moving up and down the wall, practicing your aim and control over the ball.

Hard Stop: With strength and precision, kick the ball at the wall. Instead of directing it back to the wall, try to stop the ball on contact and then maneuver it in the opposite direction before doubling back and doing it again.

6.   Goal Shots

You don’t need a goalie to practice your shooting skills! Aim for different areas of the net or create your own targets on a wall. Practice shooting while standing still, then while running towards the goal to imitate real-life game scenarios.

7.   Conditioning Drills

Building a strong core and stamina is essential for overall soccer performance. Core exercises like planks, side planks and twists work on building stability. Try holding each plank for 30 seconds to one minute and gradually increase the duration as your strength improves. While plyometric training moves like box jumps and burpees build explosive power. Ensure proper form to avoid injury and incorporate these exercises two to three times a week!

8.   Ladder Drills

No ladder? No problem! Tape, rope, or chalk will work just as well. To set up the drill, create a ladder pattern on the ground and run through footwork exercises like in-and-outs, lateral steps, or hopscotch. Ladder drills improve your foot speed, coordination and agility!

9.   Target Passing

Target passing is one of the most famous and successful drills to master. Mark spots on a wall or use cones as targets, then aim your passes to hit them consistently, working on your kicking power and accuracy. It’s important to start with larger targets and gradually make them smaller, using both feet to pass and aim.

10. Closed Space Dribbling

Lastly on our list of top soccer drills to master at home is closed-space dribbling. This drill helps improve your ability to control confined spaces, simulating real-game situations where space is limited. Start off by setting up a small square with cones or random items you find around the house. Then practice your dribbling without leaving the boundary. Use different dribbling techniques like inside cuts, outside cuts, and step-overs.

Now that you have a better idea of what drills you should incorporate into your next at-home training session, the key is sticking to a strict routine! Plan your week ahead of time with a mixture of ball control, dribbling, passing, shooting, and conditioning. Set clear goals for yourself and keep track of your progress using tools like a notebook, app, or tracker!