Soccer Training Cards: A 30-Day Home Training Kit for Kids
Soccer training cards are the simplest way I know to get a kid training at home. I built this kit with my two boys in our basement: 12 drill cards, cones, a marker and a 30-day challenge that ends with a diploma. Your kid picks a few cards, plays for 10 to 20 minutes, and gets better without you needing to plan a thing.
- Ages 4 to 10
- 12 drill cards
- 10 to 20 minutes a day
- Made and tested at home with my boys
What Are SoccerManiak Training Cards?
They're laminated 4x6 drill cards that turn any open space into a training session. Each card is one drill: how to set it up, what to do, and three ways to play it so it grows with your kid. No app, no screen, no plan to print. Your kid picks a few cards and plays.
I made them because I kept seeing the same thing with parents: they want to help their kid get better at soccer, but they don't know what to do once they're in the backyard with a ball. The cards answer that question.
Not for Sale Yet: Be the First to Know
I'm putting the finishing touches on the kits. Send me a quick email and I'll let you know the moment they're ready.
Email Me When They're ReadyButton not opening your email? Write to CoachArmin@SoccerManiak.com with "Training Cards" in the subject.
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What's in the Soccer Training Cards Kit
| Item | What it's for |
|---|---|
| 12 drill cards | One drill per card, each with 3 levels |
| How to Play card | The simple rules: pick 3 to 6 cards, play 10 to 20 minutes, have fun |
| My 30-Day Soccer Goal card | Your kid writes their goal, the skills they want to work on, and how many days a week they'll train |
| 30 Day Soccer Star Challenge | A chart to check off every day they play |
| Soccer Star Diploma | Earned after 30 plays, signed by a parent or coach |
| Dry erase marker | The cards are laminated, so kids can write, wipe and start again |
| 4 cones | Flat cones that work indoors and out |
| Drawstring bag | Everything fits inside and goes to the park, the backyard or practice |
How the Soccer Training Cards Work
Every card follows the same format, so kids learn it fast and can run the session themselves:
- Setup: what space and how many cones you need.
- How: the drill in one sentence.
- Three levels: start easy, then move up when it gets too easy.
- Reps or time: how many runs, rounds or seconds.
- Why: the skill it builds, so kids know what they're working on.
Take the Straight Cone Slalom. Beginners dribble through wide-spaced cones. Ballers move the cones closer together. A Little SoccerManiak does it with their weaker foot. Same card, three challenges, and the drill keeps working as your kid gets better.
Beginner
Learn the drill and get comfortable with the ball.
Baller
Faster, tighter, more touches.
Little SoccerManiak
The hardest version: weaker foot, turns and speed changes.
The 12 Drills
- Agility and Speed Dribble
- Freestyle Fun
- Turning With the Ball
- Gates: Inside Touch Rhythm
- Happy Toe Taps
- Zig-Zag Cone Slalom
- Sole Rolls
- Stop the Ball
- Wall Pass
- Fast Feet
- Freeze Dribble
- Straight Cone Slalom
Together they cover dribbling, ball control, turning, passing, first touch and quick feet: the touches every young player needs.
The 30-Day Soccer Star Challenge
The cards come with a goal: 30 plays. Your kid sets a goal on the My 30-Day Soccer Goal card, checks off a box on the challenge chart every time they play, and earns the Soccer Star Diploma at the end.
Why 30 plays of 10 to 20 minutes? Short, regular sessions beat one long practice a week, and they fit into a busy family's day. The CDC recommends that kids ages 6 to 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, and that younger kids stay active throughout the day. You can read the CDC physical activity guidelines for children. A card session is an easy, fun piece of that.
Made With Kids, Played by Kids
Every drill on these cards has been played over and over in our basement by my two boys, and the dog has watched every session. If a drill was boring or confusing, it didn't make the kit. When the kits ship, my boys will help me pack them, with a little thank-you note from our family to yours.
I've been coaching kids for about 20 years, and the cards are built on the same thing I believe in on the field: lots of touches, fun first, and kids who keep coming back because they want to.
Who the Training Cards Are For
- Parents who want to help but don't know what drills to do.
- Kids ages 4 to 10, from first-time players to kids already on a team.
- Families with little space: a backyard, a basement, a garage or a living room works.
- Coaches who want simple stations for practice or homework for their team.
Want a Kit? Get on the List
The soccer training cards aren't for sale yet. Send me an email and you'll be the first to hear when they're ready.
Email Me When They're ReadyStart Training Today
- My 8-week at-home program, starting with Week 1
- Kids playing soccer at home: how my boys went from not interested to asking every day
- Ball control drills for kids
- Fun soccer drills that feel like games
Thanks for checking out the SoccerManiak soccer training cards. Until the kits are ready, grab a ball, pick a drill from the pages above, and keep your kid touching the ball every day. I'll email you as soon as the cards are ready.