Beginner Soccer Drills for Kids and Adults

Start with five beginner soccer drills: close dribbling, stopping and turning, passing, receiving, and controlled striking, adjusting the space and pace to the player. For kids and adults in Canada, these soccer training exercises offer a starting point for practising each movement separately before combining familiar actions, such as receiving a pass and moving the ball towards an open space. You will find instructions you can follow with your child or use for your own beginner practice.

In this guide: dribbling; stopping and turning; passing; first touch; striking and The Giro X’s Curl Master One.

Which Dribbling Drill Should Beginners Start With?

Start by moving the ball along a clear lane, keeping each touch close enough to follow comfortably. Use flat markers to show the beginning and end, then walk with the ball using the inside and outside of either foot. At the far marker, stop the ball before returning along the same route. Keep the initial task predictable: follow the lane and notice where each touch sends the ball. Add pace when the player wants another challenge.

For a child, make the far marker a destination they can name, such as the centre circle of an imaginary field. An adult beginner can follow the marked lane while noticing the difference between a gentle touch and a firmer push. In my opinion, the useful question is whether the player can reach the ball for their next touch without chasing it. Girls and boys can practise together, with each player choosing a comfortable pace rather than matching someone else.

How Do You Practise Stopping and Turning?

Practise stopping and turning by dribbling towards a marker, bringing the ball to rest, then taking it back in the opposite direction. Begin with a complete stop so the player has time to decide where to go next. Try stopping the ball with the sole, then moving it away with the inside of the foot. Keep the marker as a reference point rather than something the ball must touch, and leave enough room to turn comfortably.

Once stopping and turning feels familiar, choose a different direction after the stop instead of always returning along the lane. A parent or practice partner can point towards the next marker after the ball has stopped. Ask the player to look towards the chosen marker before moving again, giving the next touch a clear destination. Adult beginners can practise with a partner calling the direction, while children might enjoy choosing a destination for their parent to follow.

What Is a Simple Passing Drill for Beginners?

A simple passing drill is to send the ball through a wide gate towards a partner waiting beyond it. Make the gate with flat markers and begin at a distance where both players can reach each other comfortably. Place the standing foot beside the ball, turn the other foot outward and use its inside surface to pass. Ask the receiving player to stop the ball before returning it, giving both people time to prepare their next action.

Watch where the pass travels and how comfortably the partner receives it, then change the setup to match what happens. Widen the gate if you want a clearer target, or bring the players closer while they explore the movement. Parents who never played can help by returning the ball consistently and asking which foot the child wants to use next. This passing exercise also suits beginner soccer drills for adults, including friends learning before joining a recreational program.

How Can You Add First Touch Practice?

Add first touch practice by receiving a gentle pass and guiding the ball towards an open space beside you. Set a marker near the receiver to indicate the intended direction, leaving room for the ball to move past it. The receiver watches the incoming pass, meets it with the inside of the foot and directs it towards the space. Pause before passing back so the player can notice where the ball finished relative to their body.

Alternate the receiving side when the player is ready, keeping the incoming pass gentle and predictable. A useful question is, “Could you reach the ball for your next pass?” The answer gives a parent something concrete to discuss without needing a coaching vocabulary. For solo first touch practice, gently roll the ball ahead, move towards it and guide it sideways before stopping. Keep the intended direction clear, then reset the ball and try receiving towards the other side.

When Should Beginners Add Striking and Curl Master One?

Beginners can add controlled striking once they are comfortable setting the ball down and choosing a target. Start with a stationary ball and a broad target in a suitable practice area, using a measured approach and a comfortable swing. Pause between attempts to reset the ball and look at the target again. In my opinion, giving each strike a clear intention makes this exercise easier to discuss with a child than asking them to kick harder.

For dedicated contact and spin practice, The Giro X sells Curl Master One, which works with a standard ball and offers six speed settings. The device spins the ball at controlled speeds and is intended for players from around age eight through adulthood. Younger players start at the highest speed setting, then turn it down as technique develops. Players aged eight to twelve should train with an adult nearby. There is no app or subscription.

Product Recommendation: Curl Master One

In my opinion, Curl Master One deserves a regular place alongside these beginner exercises and coaching sessions because it gives contact and spin practice a dedicated focus. A coach can suggest a contact cue, and the player can carry that instruction into practice with Curl Master One. Keep the drill instructions nearby so each session has a clear purpose. Get Curl Master One for your striking practice, and ask your coach which contact cue to carry into your next session.

Practise With Curl Master One

Bring Curl Master One into your soccer practice for dedicated contact and spin exercises.

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