7 Soccer Rebounder Drills Kids Can Do at Home
Share
If you have a soccer rebounder at home, you already have one of the best tools for improving passing, first touch and ball control without needing a full team session. The key is knowing what to do with it.
That is why simple rebounder drills work so well. They make it easier for kids to get more touches on the ball, practise on their own, and turn a small garden, estate park or open patch of grass into a useful training space. For South African families, that matters a lot because not every child has access to a full field or formal training every day.
The NET PLAYZ Soccer Rebounder is built for exactly this kind of practice. It is designed for different passing and trapping angles, which means one product can support a wide range of drills at home. And if you want a setup that also includes finishing practice, the NET PLAYZ Soccer Goal & Rebounder Set gives you even more options.
Quick answer: what is a soccer rebounder best for?
A soccer rebounder is best for drills that improve passing, first touch, control, reaction speed and solo repetition. It is one of the easiest ways for kids to train at home because the ball comes back quickly, which means more repetitions in less time. That makes it ideal for after-school sessions, short practice blocks in the garden, or skill work before club and school football.
If a child already has a goal at home, a rebounder is one of the best next-step products to add. And if you want both in one setup, the Goal & Rebounder Set gives you both finishing and control work in the same station.
What these drills help improve
Learning to hit the target area cleanly and consistently.
Receiving the ball cleanly and setting up the next action.
Managing rebounds with feet, thighs, chest and movement.
Adjusting quickly and staying ready for the next touch.
Before you start: how to set up the rebounder properly
Before doing any drill, make sure the rebounder is set up on a stable surface with enough room around it to move safely. In a small garden, that may mean shorter passing distances and more control-focused work. In an estate park or open field, you can create a bit more space and intensity.
The easiest way to get started is to keep sessions short and focused. Even 10 to 20 minutes of repeat touches can be very useful if the drills are clear and the intensity stays high enough.
If the child is still fairly young, keep the angles easier and the distances shorter. If they are older or already play school or club football, you can make the drills more demanding by increasing speed, decreasing rest, or combining the rebounder with a goal or agility tool.
1. One-touch passing drill
This is the best place to start because it teaches rhythm, clean passing and quick reactions. The player stands a few metres from the rebounder and tries to pass the ball back first time as it returns.
How to do it
- Stand 2 to 4 metres from the rebounder
- Pass the ball firmly into the net
- As it returns, pass it back first time
- Repeat for 20 to 30 reps, then rest
What it improves
- Passing rhythm
- Accuracy
- Quick feet
- Reaction speed
Start with the stronger foot, then switch to the weaker foot. Older or more advanced players can alternate feet every rep.
2. Two-touch receive and pass drill
This is one of the most useful all-round drills for younger kids and growing players because it slows things down slightly and teaches better control. Instead of hitting the ball first time, the player uses one touch to control and one touch to pass back.
How to do it
- Pass the ball into the rebounder
- Use the first touch to control the return
- Use the second touch to pass it back
- Repeat for 10 to 15 reps per foot
What it improves
- First touch
- Composure
- Control under movement
- Passing technique
This is a great beginner-to-intermediate drill because it teaches kids not to panic when the ball comes back quickly.
3. Open-body first touch drill
This drill teaches players to receive the ball slightly across the body instead of always stopping it dead in front of them. That is a very useful habit because it sets up the next action more naturally.
How to do it
- Pass the ball into the rebounder
- As it returns, receive it slightly to the left or right of your body
- Take the ball out of your feet
- Pass it back in with the next touch
What it improves
- Body shape when receiving
- First touch into space
- Movement after the pass
- More realistic game-style control
This is especially useful for school and club players who need to get better at setting up the next pass or shot quickly.
4. Right foot and left foot alternating drill
This drill is simple but very effective. The goal is to stop kids relying too much on one side. The player alternates between right-foot and left-foot passes into the rebounder.
How to do it
- Pass with the right foot
- Receive and pass with the left foot
- Keep alternating sides
- Do 20 to 40 total reps depending on age and level
What it improves
- Weak-foot confidence
- Balance between both sides
- Coordination
- Comfort under repetition
This is one of the easiest drills to add into every session because it builds a very useful habit over time.
5. Chest, thigh and foot control drill
The NET PLAYZ Soccer Rebounder is specifically positioned around adjustable angles for ground, knee, chest and foot trapping, which makes this kind of control drill a very natural fit. Adjust the angle so the ball returns at a more awkward height, then challenge the player to control it cleanly before the next pass.
How to do it
- Set the rebounder to a steeper angle
- Pass the ball in so it returns higher
- Control it with chest, thigh or foot
- Bring it down cleanly and pass again
What it improves
- Upper-body and mid-body control
- Touch under awkward rebounds
- Confidence when the ball is not flat on the ground
- General ball mastery
This is a brilliant drill for making kids more comfortable with different types of rebounds instead of only neat ground passes.
6. Turn and shoot drill
If you have the NET PLAYZ Soccer Goal & Rebounder Set, this is one of the best combination drills to do at home. The rebounder gives the return, the player controls, turns and then finishes into the goal.
How to do it
- Start facing the rebounder with the goal behind you at an angle
- Pass into the rebounder
- Control the return with one touch
- Turn quickly
- Shoot into the goal
What it improves
- First touch under pressure
- Turning speed
- Decision-making
- Finishing after control
This drill is especially useful for players who are starting to move beyond pure technique and into more realistic football actions.
7. Reaction circuit drill
This is the most advanced drill in the list, but it is also one of the most fun. The idea is to combine the rebounder with movement. If you have the NET PLAYZ Triangle Agility Hurdle, place it between the player and the rebounder or slightly off to one side. If you have the NET PLAYZ Free Standing Speed Radar, you can also use it to measure shot speed in the final action.
How to do it
- Shuffle or step over the hurdle
- Move quickly into position
- Pass into the rebounder
- Control the return
- Finish with a strong pass or shot
What it improves
- Foot speed
- Reaction time
- Coordination before contact
- Game-like movement into technical action
This is an excellent drill for older kids or more serious players because it turns a simple rebounder session into a more complete football movement challenge.
How often should kids do rebounder drills?
For most kids, 2 to 4 short sessions per week is more than enough. A good session can be as short as 10 to 20 minutes if the touches are focused and the effort stays high. You do not need huge sessions to get value from a rebounder. Consistency matters more than length.
A simple structure works well:
- 1 easy warm-up drill
- 2 control or passing drills
- 1 more challenging drill to finish
That is usually enough to keep sessions productive without making them feel too heavy or too repetitive.
Best drill by player type
Start with the two-touch receive and pass drill.
Use one-touch passing and open-body first touch drills.
Add turn-and-shoot and reaction circuit drills.
Use the right-foot and left-foot alternating drill every session.
Common mistakes kids make with rebounder drills
Standing too flat and waiting for the ball
Players should stay light on their feet and ready, not rooted to one spot.
Passing too softly
If the pass into the rebounder has no quality, the drill becomes less realistic and less useful.
Only using the stronger foot
Weak-foot development is one of the biggest long-term wins from rebounder work.
Trying to do too much too early
It is better to do simple drills cleanly than advanced drills badly.
Final thoughts
A soccer rebounder is one of the best tools kids can use at home because it creates quick, repeatable touches without needing a team session or a full field. That makes it ideal for South African homes, where a garden, estate park or local field often has to double as the training ground.
If you want the best place to start, begin with the one-touch passing drill, the two-touch receive and pass drill, and the weak-foot alternating drill. Once that foundation is there, move into more advanced work like chest control, turn-and-shoot, and reaction circuits.
If you are still building the setup, start with the NET PLAYZ Soccer Rebounder. If you want a more complete station, the Goal & Rebounder Set is the smarter step up.
Build your rebounder training setup at 360 Leisure
Ready to make home football training more useful?
- Shop the NET PLAYZ Soccer Rebounder
- Shop the Goal & Rebounder Set
- Browse Soccer Rebounders
- Browse Soccer Goals
- Shop the Triangle Agility Hurdle
- Shop the Free Standing Speed Radar
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a soccer rebounder good for? ▾
A soccer rebounder is great for passing, first touch, ball control and reaction drills because it creates quick return touches and allows useful solo practice.
How often should kids do rebounder drills? ▾
For most kids, 2 to 4 short sessions per week works very well. Even 10 to 20 focused minutes can be useful if the repetitions are clean and consistent.
Can kids use a soccer rebounder in a small garden? ▾
Yes. A rebounder can work very well in a small garden as long as there is enough room to pass and receive safely. Shorter control-based drills usually work best in tighter spaces.
What is the best first rebounder drill for beginners? ▾
The two-touch receive and pass drill is one of the best beginner options because it teaches control and passing without forcing the player to move too fast too early.
Do I need a goal as well as a rebounder? ▾
Not always. A rebounder on its own is already very useful for technical work. But if you want finishing drills as well, a goal-and-rebounder combo setup is a great next step.