Soccer Drills for Tryouts: 12+ Drills That Impress Evaluators

Setup: Stand 8-10 feet from a wall with a cone placed 3 feet behind you.

Execution: Pass the ball firmly into the wall. As it returns, receive it with your first touch and turn around the cone in one motion. Alternate turning left and right. Use inside foot, outside foot, and sole to receive.

Reps: 4 sets of 20 (10 turning left, 10 turning right). Rest 30 seconds between sets.

Coaching Points: Check your shoulder before the ball arrives. Open your body to the direction you want to turn. The touch and the turn should be one fluid motion, not two separate actions.

What Evaluators Notice: Players who receive and turn in one touch show awareness and confidence. Players who stop the ball dead, look up, then turn — that's two extra seconds where a defender closes you down in a real game.

Setup: Open space with a ball. No equipment needed.

Execution: Toss the ball to different heights and control with different surfaces. Level 1: Thigh to foot. Level 2: Chest to thigh to foot. Level 3: Head to chest to foot. Each time, the ball must not bounce more than once after your final touch.

Reps: 15 successful attempts at each level. Move to the next level only after completing 15 clean controls.

Coaching Points: Cushion each surface by withdrawing as the ball makes contact. Keep your eyes on the ball during the aerial phase, then glance around during the ground phase. Balance comes from a low center of gravity — bend your knees.

What Evaluators Notice: Aerial control separates good technical players from complete technical players. Many kids can pass well on the ground but panic when the ball comes from the air. Showing composure on aerial balls is a major differentiator at tryouts.

Setup: Create a 5x5 yard box with cones. You stand in the center. A partner (or wall) sends passes from different angles.

Execution: Receive the ball and exit the box with your first or second touch. Vary the exit direction each time. If using a wall, pass and receive at different angles relative to your box. Add a passive defender in later progressions.

Reps: 3 sets of 12 receives. Rest 45 seconds between sets.

Coaching Points: Scan before the ball arrives. Decide your exit direction before you touch the ball. Keep your body low and balanced. Use the outside of your foot to escape laterally.

What Evaluators Notice: This mirrors the game pressure you'll face in small-sided tryout drills. Players who can receive, protect, and escape tight spaces demonstrate the composure coaches need to see.

Setup: Place 5 pairs of cones (gates) at varying distances from 10-25 yards, each gate about 2 feet wide. Stand at a starting cone.

Execution: Pass the ball through each gate in sequence. Track your success rate. Progress from stationary passing to one-touch passing with a wall return, then to passing while jogging.

Reps: 5 rounds through all 5 gates. Record your score out of 25. Target: 20/25 or better before tryouts.

Coaching Points: Plant foot pointing at the target. Strike through the center of the ball for ground passes. Follow through toward the gate. Lock your ankle — a floppy ankle kills accuracy.

What Evaluators Notice: Passing accuracy under fatigue reveals your true technical level. Coaches don't just want you to complete passes — they want to see that you can hit specific targets with the right weight consistently.

Setup: 3-4 cones in a diamond or triangle, 10-15 yards apart. Place a ball at the starting cone.

Execution: Dribble to the first cone, play a firm pass to an imaginary teammate (against a wall or to a partner), sprint to the next cone, receive the return pass, and repeat. The pattern mimics real passing sequences: pass and move, receive and redistribute.

Reps: 4 sets of 8 pattern completions. 60 seconds rest between sets.

Coaching Points: First touch sets up the pass. Pass then sprint immediately — don't admire your pass. Receive on the back foot (the foot furthest from the direction you came from) to maintain forward momentum.

What Evaluators Notice: Pass-and-move is the foundation of team play. Coaches eliminate players who pass and stand still. This drill builds the habit of moving after every pass, which is one of the biggest separators at tryouts.

Setup: Place two targets (cones, bags, or a partner) 30-40 yards apart. Stand at one end.

Execution: Drive the ball with your laces to the opposite target. Aim to land the ball within a 3-yard radius of the target. Alternate between driven passes (low, fast) and lofted passes (higher arc for switching play). Use both feet.

Reps: 20 with dominant foot, 15 with weak foot. Track accuracy percentage.

Coaching Points: Approach at a slight angle. Plant foot next to the ball, not behind it. For driven passes, lean over the ball. For lofted passes, lean slightly back and strike under the ball. Follow through completely.

What Evaluators Notice: Range of passing separates average players from high-level ones. If you can switch the field accurately at tryouts, you immediately look like a player who sees the whole pitch. This is especially important for center backs, midfielders, and outside backs.

Setup: Two cone gates (3 feet wide) placed 15 yards apart, facing each other. One attacker, one defender. The attacker starts with the ball at one gate.

Execution: The attacker must dribble through the defender's gate to score. The defender must win the ball or force the attacker wide. Play for 10 seconds max per rep. Alternate roles every 5 reps.

Reps: 10 reps as attacker, 10 reps as defender. Rest 20 seconds between reps.

Coaching Points: As attacker: attack at speed, commit the defender with a body feint, then accelerate past. Use changes of pace, not just direction. As defender: stay on your feet, show the attacker one way, time your challenge.

What Evaluators Notice: Coaches want attackers who are decisive — you commit to a move and accelerate through it. They also want defenders who stay balanced and don't dive in. Both sides of the 1v1 matter equally at tryouts.

Setup: Attacker starts with back to a small goal (or cone gate), 20 yards away. A server is 10 yards behind the attacker. A defender starts 5 yards from the attacker.

Execution: Server passes to the attacker. The attacker must receive, turn past the defender, and finish on goal. The defender activates on the server's pass. This simulates receiving in tight areas and having to create your own shot.

Reps: 8 reps. Alternate starting side (defender approaching from left and right). Rest between reps as you retrieve the ball.

Coaching Points: Check away from the defender before receiving (create separation). Use your body as a shield during the turn. Accelerate immediately after the turn — the first 2 steps are everything. Pick your finish early.

What Evaluators Notice: This drill tests three things at once: receiving quality, 1v1 ability, and finishing. Players who can do all three in sequence look like complete attackers. Coaches see this combination and think "game-ready."

Setup: Two cones 20 yards apart. Timer or phone with interval app.

Execution: Sprint from cone A to cone B, touch the line, sprint back. Start at a moderate pace (8 seconds per 20-yard shuttle). Every minute, reduce the allowed time by 0.5 seconds. Continue until you can't make the time.

Reps: Run until failure. Record your level. Repeat 2-3 times per week. Target improvement: 1-2 levels per week.

Coaching Points: Decelerate and change direction efficiently — don't run through the cone and waste time. Stay low through the turn. Breathe rhythmically. Mental toughness matters here: the last 3 levels are where most players quit.

What Evaluators Notice: Every club uses some version of a fitness test at tryouts. Players who finish in the top half demonstrate they've prepared. Players who quit early or walk during the test get crossed off immediately — not because of the score itself, but because of the attitude it signals.

Setup: Set up a T-shape with cones: one cone at the base, one cone 10 yards ahead (the center of the T), and two cones 5 yards to the left and right of the center cone. Place a ball at the base cone.

Execution: Dribble from the base to the center cone. Shuffle left to the left cone while dribbling. Shuffle right across to the right cone. Shuffle back to the center. Dribble backward to the start. Time each rep.

Reps: 6 timed reps. Rest 45 seconds between reps. Record your best time. Target: complete the full T in under 12 seconds with the ball.

Coaching Points: Keep the ball close during lateral movements. Use the outside of your foot when shuffling. Stay low through direction changes. Don't cross your feet during lateral movement — shuffle properly.

What Evaluators Notice: Agility with the ball is different from agility without it. Many players are fast in straight lines but slow and clumsy with direction changes. This drill builds the multi-directional speed that makes you look sharp in tryout drills.

Setup: Place 4 cones at different angles and distances from goal: 1) 12 yards central, 2) 16 yards slight angle left, 3) 10 yards tight angle right, 4) 20 yards central. A ball at each cone.

Execution: Sprint to each cone and shoot in sequence. At cone 1: side-foot finish, low and placed. At cone 2: driven shot with laces, far post. At cone 3: near-post finish with inside foot. At cone 4: hit with power, any technique. Collect balls and repeat.

Reps: 4 rounds through the circuit (16 total shots). Record goals scored. Target: 10/16 or better.

Coaching Points: Match the technique to the angle. Tight angles require placement, not power. Central positions allow more options. Set the ball with your first touch out of your feet, not under your body. Head over the ball for low shots.

What Evaluators Notice: Coaches see whether you choose the right finish for the situation. A side-foot finish from a tight angle shows intelligence. Blasting every shot with full power from every position shows a lack of awareness. Technique selection matters as much as conversion rate.

Setup: A server (or wall rebound) 15 yards from goal. You start on the edge of the penalty area, slightly offset from the server.

Execution: Server plays the ball across your body (simulating a cutback or cross). Finish first-time with one touch. Alternate between finishing with your right foot and left foot. Vary the server position to change the angle of the ball coming in.

Reps: 5 sets of 6 (3 right foot, 3 left foot). Rest between sets as you collect balls.

Coaching Points: Get your body set before the ball arrives — don't be reaching for it. Open your body to the goal. For first-time finishes, the backswing should be minimal. Focus on redirection and placement, not power. Hit the ball where the goalkeeper isn't, not where you hope it goes.

What Evaluators Notice: First-time finishing under pressure is a rare skill at the youth level. Most players want to take an extra touch. When you can consistently redirect balls into the goal with one touch, coaches see a player who can score in real games, not just in practice.

Setup: Start at the halfway line. A partner with a ball starts 10 yards ahead of you, facing goal.

Execution: On the whistle, sprint to close the gap. Once within pressing distance (2-3 yards), adopt a defensive stance: side-on, showing the attacker toward the sideline. Shadow the attacker for 5 seconds without diving in.

Reps: 8 recovery runs. Rest 30 seconds between reps. Alternate which side you show the attacker.

Coaching Points: Sprint to close the gap, then slow down and get into a defensive position. Don't sprint into the attacker — you'll overrun them. Stay on your toes, low center of gravity. Show the attacker one direction and force them there.

What Evaluators Notice: Recovery speed and defensive positioning reveal your tactical understanding. Coaches want players who sprint back, then defend intelligently — not players who either jog back lazily or sprint in and get beaten.

Setup: Two servers stand 20 yards apart. You position yourself between them, slightly off-center.

Execution: The servers pass the ball back and forth. Your job is to read the pass and intercept it. After intercepting, play a first-time pass to one of the servers and reset. Vary your starting position each rep — sometimes close to one server, sometimes central.

Reps: 3 sets of 2 minutes. Rest 60 seconds between sets. Count successful interceptions per set.

Coaching Points: Watch the passer's body shape to anticipate the direction. Time your run so you arrive as the ball does, not before (or the passer will change their mind). Stay on the balls of your feet. After intercepting, transition immediately — this is what separates great defenders from average ones.

What Evaluators Notice: Interceptions show game intelligence, not just athleticism. A player who reads the game and intercepts passes looks like a player who understands soccer. Coaches value this especially at the competitive and elite club levels.