5 Soccer Drills Your Kid Will Actually Want to Do This Summer
Backyard Goals to Keep Your Soccer Star Sharp!
2025 is shaping up to be the Summer of Soccer! ⚽ From the FIFA Club World Cup to the USWNT international friendlies, fans everywhere are ready to enjoy the world’s favorite sport.
And with so much soccer in the spotlight, don’t be surprised if your kids are suddenly very motivated to work on their footwork. Summer’s a great time to build confidence, sharpen skills, and get ahead before fall season kicks off again. After all, who doesn’t want to show up to practice in August and wow the coach with a slick new move?
If your player is fired up but unsure where to start, we’ve got you covered. These creative, kid-approved training ideas go beyond basic drills to make skill-building something they’ll actually look forward to.
Solo Summer Training Tips Beyond the Basics
These aren’t your average backyard drills. These ideas are designed to keep kids engaged while building real soccer skills—without feeling like homework.
1. Design a Signature Goal Celebration Routine
Scoring is fun—celebrating is even better. Challenge your player to come up with a custom goal celebration: a TikTok, handshake, or silly pose. It might sound goofy, but it helps boost confidence, creativity, and comfort in the spotlight. Bonus: you’ll know exactly what they’re doing when they score next season.
2. Create a Skills Obstacle Course Inspired by Pros
Have your kid pick their favorite pro player and build a mini course based on that player’s style. Does their fave use quick cuts? Lots of stepovers? Set up a short routine with challenges that reflect those moves. It gets them thinking strategically—and it’s way more fun than just cone dribbling.
3. Play “Beat the Bounce” with a Blanket Wall
Hang an old blanket over a fence or between two trees to create a soft rebound wall. Then, have your player practice one-touch passes against it—only touches that don’t make the blanket ripple count! It’s a playful way to master ball control and precision without needing a fancy rebounder.
4. Make a Move Challenge Chart
Create a checklist of 5–10 skill moves (think: scissors, Cruyff turn, Maradona spin). Each week, your child picks one move to master and performs it five times cleanly on each foot. By the end of summer, they'll have a personal highlight reel of go-to tricks for game day.
5. Host a Backyard “Mini Match” Tournament (no Opponents Needed)
Set up two small goals and have your kid rotate between attacker, defender, and goalkeeper—yes, all three! Use cones or plush toys as "opponents" and track how many goals your player can score in five minutes. This builds agility, spatial awareness, and decision-making, all in one mini-session.
No matter which ideas they try, the goal is the same: build skills, stay active, and most importantly—have fun doing it. Remember: a little practice over summer can go a long way once the season rolls back around.
Summer Stink = Solved
When school’s out and the cleats are in, you know it’s going to get smelly. Don’t wait until your car or hallway begs for mercy—toss those worn-out CleatMates in the compost and order a fresh set now. Your nose (and their soccer bag) will thank you.
Let the summer games—and clean cleats—begin! 💪🌞