Everything You Need to Know About Soccer Training Equipment

Choose, use, and manage soccer training equipment to elevate sessions, improve outcomes, and signal professionalism.

August 8, 2025 · Skill Foundry

Whether you're a new coach building your gear stash or a seasoned trainer looking to upgrade, the right soccer training equipment can take your sessions from average to elite. Great equipment makes your drills more engaging, helps improve technical execution, and signals to clients that you’re a pro.

Here’s everything you need to know about choosing, using, and managing soccer gear as a private coach or academy owner.

The Must-Have Essentials

If you’re starting from scratch, here’s your core list:

  • Cones: Versatile, cheap, and essential for nearly every drill.
  • Pinnies (bibs): For organizing players quickly into teams or levels.
  • Training balls: Size 4 or 5 depending on age group. Always have extras.
  • Agility ladders: Improve foot speed, coordination, and balance.
  • Mini goals or pop-up nets: Crucial for shooting drills and small-sided games.
  • Whistle & stopwatch: For structure, transitions, and timing.

This is your baseline. With just these items, you can run high-quality technical sessions.

Advanced & Specialty Equipment

As your coaching business grows, you might consider upgrading to:

  • Rebounders: Great for first touch, volleys, and passing under pressure.
  • Hurdles & resistance bands: Build explosiveness and leg strength.
  • Training mannequins or poles: Perfect for free kicks, dribbling, and passing patterns.
  • Goalkeeper gloves: If you're training goalkeepers.
  • Weighted balls: Great for improving strength and technique.

This level of gear opens up more advanced drills and adds variety to keep players engaged.

Tech Tools for Modern Coaches

The best soccer coaches blend tradition with technology. A few tools to consider:

  • Tripod + smartphone: Film drills and review technique with players.
  • GPS trackers or fitness bands: For measuring performance over time.
  • Coaching apps (like Skill Foundry): Upload drills, assign training plans, and share gear lists.

Remember — you don’t need to break the bank. Start small, reinvest from your earnings, and build a pro-level kit over time.

Storage, Organization & Maintenance

Having great gear is one thing — managing it is another. Here’s how to keep things under control:

  • Use labeled bins or bags for each type of equipment.
  • Sanitize pinnies and balls weekly, especially in group settings.
  • Create an inventory checklist in your coaching CRM.
  • Rotate gear seasonally and check for wear-and-tear.
  • Label your gear — especially when coaching at shared spaces like parks or turf fields.

Skill Foundry lets you track gear usage per session and attach notes or checklists to your training plans, making this easy to manage.

Pro Tip: Match Your Gear to Your Clients

Not every player needs pro-level tools. Youth players respond well to colorful cones, fun drills, and games. Older or more serious players expect structure, equipment, and feedback.

Think of your gear as part of your branding and experience. When players show up and see a clean setup, they’re immediately more invested.

Conclusion

You don’t need to spend thousands to offer elite training — but smart investments in soccer training equipment can elevate your sessions, improve player outcomes, and grow your business. Combine the right gear with a strong coaching system like Skill Foundry, and you’ll stand out from the crowd.