Fun Soccer Drills for 5 & 6 Year Olds That Are Just Starting to Learn the Game

If you’re coaching soccer to 5 and 6 year olds, you’re at the very beginning of a fun, rewarding soccer journey. At this age, it’s all about introducing the game in a way that builds confidence, coordination, and excitement. Drills don’t need to be complicated, they just need to keep kids moving, smiling, and learning the basics one kick at a time.

Whether you're a first-time coach, a volunteer parent, or just someone trying to keep ten 5-year-olds from chasing butterflies mid-drill, this guide is for you. Below are some of the best soccer drills for 5 year olds and 6 year olds that focus on building basic skills while making the game exciting.

1. Red Light, Green Light (with a Ball)

This is a fantastic beginner drill that helps young soccer players work on ball control while having a blast!

To get started, have players dribble toward you. When you shout “green light,” they dribble forward and when you yell “red light,” they stop and freeze with their foot on the ball. It teaches basic dribbling, listening skills, and control.

This stop-and-go challenge will certainly be a hit at your next practice!

(Tip: Make it silly—throw in a “yellow light” to have them walk, or “purple light” for a funny dance break.)

2. Sharks and Minnows

One of the most popular soccer drills for 5 and 6 year olds, this game teaches dribbling under pressure in a playful way.

How this soccer drill works is one player, known as the shark, stands in the middle while the rest, the minnows, try to dribble their balls from one side of the field to the other without getting their ball stolen by the shark. When a kid gets “caught,” they become a shark, which keeps everyone moving and engaged.

Sharks and Minnows is the perfect game for improving dribbling, awareness, and decision-making.

3. Follow the Leader

This simple drill is ideal for beginners who are just learning how to control the ball while moving.

Line up players behind a “leader” (usually a coach or confident player). Everyone dribbles in a line, mimicking the leader’s movements, which can be left turns, stops, small circles, or anything else they want to do to challenge the “followers”.

This soccer drill is meant to build basic dribbling technique and introduces directional changes in a stress-free and fun way.

Bonus tip: Let kids take turns being the leader, it helps build confidence and keeps every player engaged!

4. Cone Dribble Maze

A great way to focus on ball control without needing any fancy equipment, just a few cones or markers, is a cone dribble maze.

Set up cones in a zigzag or random pattern. Have kids dribble their ball through the maze, trying not to touch the cones in the process. Add in an extra challenge by having cones that players need to do a certain task at, such as dribbling around a cone twice or switch to their non-dominant foot for a portion of the maze.

This is a beneficial soccer exercise for 5 and 6 year olds that helps strengthen foot-eye coordination and maneuvering in tight spaces, key skills to learn in this stage of their soccer journey.

Keep it light-hearted and cheer on every effort, whether they zig, zag, or zig-zag into a cone!

5. Goalie Monster

Goalie Monster is a drill that brings a little storytelling to your soccer practice and helps young players increase their shooting accuracy.

First, set up a small goal and have a coach or parent play the “monster” goalie, using exaggerated moves and silly noises. Players then take turns trying to score on the monster.

This drill makes practicing shots fun while encouraging kids to aim and shoot with intention (and not just toe-poke the ball randomly).

6. Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt is designed for short attention spans and wild imaginations! This soccer drill blends running, dribbling, and just the right amount of chaos.

Scatter cones, bean bags, or small items (the “treasure”) all around the field. Players dribble to collect the items and bring them back to their “home base”. 

This drill is a good way to reinforce dribbling with purpose and keeps energy levels high. Treasure Hunt also introduces players to dribbling in small spaces as they look to avoid their teammates around them. You can also add challenges like using only their left foot or racing the clock.

7. Tunnel Tag

This one combines teamwork with movement and it gets kids laughing the entire time.

How it works is that one or two players have the role of “taggers.” When a player is tagged, they freeze with legs apart (like a tunnel). To free them, another player has to crawl through the tunnel.

While not a traditional soccer drill, it’s great for warming up and keeping kids active between technical drills. However, feel free to have players dribble balls during this game and unfreeze someone by having the ball go through the “tunnel”.

The exercise is ideal for building teamwork, agility, and laughter, all crucial at this age.

Final Thoughts

Coaching 5 and 6 year olds doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to be fun and educational. These soccer exercises for 5 and 6 year olds help build foundational skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting while keeping practices engaging and full of energy.

Remember, at this stage the goal is participation, not perfection. Keep drills short, celebrate effort over results, and always, always end with a water break and a smile.