Individual soccer drills are all about improving your dribbling, shooting, and passing skills, as well as helping you get in better condition for game play. One of the advantages to individual drills is you can do them any time you want, as long as you have a ball, and a place to kick it around.
Fake-Out Drills
Fake-out drills help you develop the skills you need to get past defenders, giving you a better chance to score a goal. A zig-zag drill is a perfect example. Start in a stationary position, and run in a diagonal line while dribbling the ball. When you reach a certain point, change directions quickly, and dribble the ball the opposite direction, also in a diagonal line. Practice switching directions quickly and keeping the ball in front of you.
Another effective fake-out drill is the reverse. Start by standing with your right foot on top of the ball. Roll your foot over the ball quickly several times. Quickly roll your foot off the ball so it moves behind you, turn around quickly and begin dribbling in the opposite direction.
Juggling
Juggling is one of the most common individual dribbling drills, and tests your ability to get and keep the ball in the air for an extended period of time using only your feet and legs. Start with the ball in front of you, roll it up on your toe, and flip it up in the air. Depending on the height of the ball, use either your toe, knee, upper leg, or head to keep the ball from hitting the ground. You can also practice using specific parts of the body in order. For instance, practice hitting the ball with your foot, then knee, then your head, then back to your foot.
Cone Drill
Dribbling through defenders then taking a shot at the goal is a skill you'll need to be a great soccer scorer. Practice this with a cone drill. Find a soccer goal at a local park, or a smaller version in your backyard, and set up a series of five to 10 cones in a straight line, about 10 yards in front of the goal. Space the cones four to five feet apart. Practice dribbling between the cones. When you reach the end of the line of cones, take a quick but accurate shot at the goal. This will simulate the real-game scenario of keeping control of the ball while dribbling through defenders and going for a quick goal.
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