Soccer practice plans

Defending for U12s

Warm Up

For these exercises, PLEASE ENSURE each player has shinguards on! Give all players a ball.

Get players to dribble in a 20 x 15 yard grid. The grid can also be made larger depending on the ability of the players. On command ‘CHANGE’ players have to leave their own football and find another to continue dribbling. This gets kids to be aware of what is going on around them.

Various stretches- Stretch hamstring and calf muscles. Dribble again. Stretch calf and Achilles tendon. Get a partner to put pressure on the ball with the ball of the foot, with their heel on the ground. Dribble again. Lift inside of foot to groin to stretch the glutemous maximus (butt!)

Play 6 v l with 6 balls. Player without a ball has to try and steal one. Players stay within the grid.

After 1 minute or so, the player without the ball gets a quick exercise. Then take one more ball out so it is 5 v 2 with 5 balls. At end of a minute, 2 players will be without a ball and get an exercise.

Then take one more ball out so it is 4v3 with 4 balls. At end of a minute, 3 players will be without a ball and get an exercise. This helps players to dribble keeping their the ball within the frame of their body, and to hold off an opponent.

In this period there has been no official instruction on how to defend the ball!

Fundamental – Tackling

Coach may want to introduce the block tackle at this point, for timing, rhythm etc. Coaching points include-. Low center of balance, knees bent. May want to start with players with a hand on their partner’s shoulder. Develop rhythm, 3, 2, 1 go. Then develop to take a step in.

Restricted Tackling – In a rectangle of 15 x 25 yards, play 4 v 4 and create a small goal on each end line. Number each team 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each number can only tackle his opposing number. This allows plenty of, chances to dribble, as rarely are similar numbers close to each other, at least at the beginning!

Match Related

In same 20 x l5 grid area, play l v l to small goals (same as ‘Get out of here’ game above). The Coach has the supply of balls on the mid-line and plays the ball in. Let players go through once each without any instruction.

Then introduce the Coaching points:

> Curve defensive run to get between ball and goal (so they can’t shoot on empty net!)

> Defender must pressure ball quickly, but then 2 – 3 yards away slow down and get under control.

> Get correct stance, (one foot in front of other) not square like basketball! Tell kids why!

> Do not have to win ball, just keep between the attacker, ball and goal – block shot on goal.

> If defender manages to turn the attacker, get in tight & don’t let turn and face you again!

Award goals if not quick enough pressure on the ball. Then demonstrate how easy it is for the attacker to turn the defender if too tight. Get distances correct with regard to the speed of the opponent. First of all passive defending. Then let the defender tackle. If they win the ball, go for opponent’s goal. Teams keep scores. Play for five minutes or so. Coach defender in the game.

Ask other players to keep concentrating on what the on-field defender is doing well and doing poorly. This way they have the opportunity to learn from each other. Disallow goals if rest of team are not paying attention to what is going on the field.

Once concepts have been determined, introduce 2 v 2. Coach the defensive shape and concept of keeping 2 players at angle goal-side to support. Let the first defender know that the way he/she approaches the ball will determine what position the second defender takes up.

There is no offside! If attackers run goal-side of the last defender award a goal. The supporting defender must have both opponents in front of him at all times.

Match Conditions (no restrictions)

Then develop to play 4v4 to targets in a 20 x 30 yard grid. Have to score by chipping the ball into a semi-circular end zone. Then play 4v4 on field with both teams also having a goalkeeper. In this stage it is best to let the game flow and not stop it every time a mistake occurs. A coach can call out what to do next time as the game continues!

Summary

Work defending session once every 3-4 practices at the age groups U-10 through U-14.

Defending for U9s

Age group: U9

Equipment: 1 ball per player, cones, pennies

Warm up

Link Tag – Create pairs of players and have them link arms, break one of the pairs apart and give one of them a penny, the player with the penny is it and will chase the other player until they link up with one of the pairs, the player on the other side of the link must now leave the link and run.

Pressure – Groups of three, one ball per group. Player A rolls the ball (receiving ground balls) or tosses the ball (receiving air balls) to either player B or player C. In this example, player C must control the ball and get a completed pass to player B. While this is occurring, player A immediately challenges player C and tries to win the ball back. After successful pass, player C would then pick up the ball and repeat the activity as the defender. The defender is awarded a point for winning the ball back and gets to throw again.

Coaching Points: Encourage defender to pressure quickly after the toss. Defender needs to work hard at closing down the space while the ball is in flight. Receiving player’s first touch should be away from the pressuring defender. Player receiving the pass should move to create a clear passing lane. Do not allow the receiving player to one touch the incoming toss. This is a receiving drill, as well as a drill that serves as a good warm-up for practices dealing with defenders.

Body of session

Pressure / Cover Defending – 2 v. 2, with goals marked out in the corner of the grid. Have a regular game with periods of about 2 – 3 minutes in duration. Have plenty of extra balls ready to keep the game flowing.

Coaching Points: Pressure on the ball, do not let the attacker’s head to come up. Second defender must cover the goal as well as be aware of the other attacker. First defender tries to channel the attacker into the sideline and away from the second attacker. This is easier to do since the goals are in the corners of the grid, the sidelines come up quicker.) When first defender has made the play predictable, second defender tries to double team.

Two Sided Goal Game – A 2 v. 2 game played to a two sided goal. Goals can be scored from either side. The game is a continuous flow game that is best played for 2 – 3 minutes.

Application

Four Goals – (End Line) 4 v. 4. Each team defends two goals and attacks two goals. Having the goals on the end lines makes this game more realistic as it forces the attacking team to have more of a direction to their attack.yards, two players without the ball are ghosts, the ghosts object is to get as many balls out of the grid as possible in two minutes, if a player has their ball kicked out of the grid they retrieve their ball and re-enter the grid

Praise the players that work together to trap a player and take the ball away

Team Knockout – 15 minutes, 20×30 yards, half the players with balls, the other half need to be around the outside of the grid, the players outside the grid will come into the grid and work together to steal balls away from the dribblers and dribble the outside of the grid, once a player loses their ball they can help their team mates out by passing with them, time the team that started with out with the ball on how long it takes to get the ball out of the grid

Application

End Zone – 20 minutes, two 20×30 yard grids, create two games of 3v3 or 4v4, players score by dribbling over the endline with the ball

Scrimmage – 15-20 minutes, two 20×30 yard grids, create small goals on either endline and allow the players to play without any coaching

Defending for U10s

Age group: U10

Equipment

1 ball per player, cones, pennies

Link Tag – Create pairs of players and have them link arms, break one of the pairs apart and give one of them a penny, the player with the penny is it and will chase the other player until they link up with one of the pairs, the player on the other side of the link must now leave the link and run

Pac Man – 15 minutes, 20×30 yards, two players without the ball are ghosts, the ghosts object is to get as many balls out of the grid as possible in two minutes, if a player has their ball kicked out of the grid they retrieve their ball and re-enter the grid

Praise the players that work together to trap a player and take the ball away

Team Knockout – 15 minutes, 20×30 yards, half the players with balls, the other half need to be around the outside of the grid, the players outside the grid will come into the grid and work together to steal balls away from the dribblers and dribble the outside of the grid, once a player loses their ball they can help their team mates out by passing with them, time the team that started with out with the ball on how long it takes to get the ball out of the grid

End Zone – 20 minutes, two 20×30 yard grids, create two games of 3v3 or 4v4, players score by dribbling over the endline with the ball

Scrimmage – 15-20 mintues, two 20×30 yard grids, create small goals on either endline and allow the players to play without any coaching

Ball control and team work

Equipment required: cones, bibs, 2 balls

Objectives: to improve ball control/team work

Warm up	Group: ALL	Duration: 15 mins
Set up: four cones marking out a rectangle 20×40	Zipper drill

Notes: Two teams. Players start on cone A1 and run to cone B1 (see next activity) doing what is asked of them (skipping, jogging, heading, two left two right, high knees, heel flicks etc.) then diagonally across to cone A2, then down to B2 etc.

Followed by a few stretches.

First activity	Group: ALL	Duration: 15 mins
Set up: as above	Passing drill

A1	A2

B1	B2

Notes: Start with short passes (A1-B1, A2-B2) then long passes (A1-B2, B1-A2 etc), follow pass or move to end of row on your left/right. Two touch/one touch. Then try long pass followed by short pass. Call names.

Second activity	Group: my team	Duration: 10 mins
Set up: half of practice area, one ball, bibs.	Soccer netball

Notes: Play with two 1m wide goals on a grid about 50×60. Split players into two teams. Play normal netball rules (no running with the ball etc) but score by throwing the ball into goal (1 point), kick it in (2 points), head it in (3 points) or five consecutive passes (1 point). Emphasise communication, running off the ball, play the quick and easy pass.

Final activity	Group: my team	Duration: 15 mins
Set up: half of practice area, one ball, bibs.	4-goal mini-game

Notes: Allow three touches only. Award one ‘goal’ for three consecutive passes.

Ball control and ‘vision’

The focus of this U7 (girls) practice was ball control and vision.

Soccer Simon Says
All of the girls dribble around in a box and on command from “Soccer Simon” do various ball control/moves (pull backs etc), leave their ball and collect another, pass to the nearest player, sit on the ball etc. (be inventive!). Throughout the game, the girls are instructed to keep looking up so that they don’t run into anyone else or touch anyone else’s ball. If they are caught by “Soccer Simon”, they have to put their hands over their head, bend over shaking their head and say “oh no, you got me Soccer Simon”.

Stop with body parts
Continue in the box and have the girls stop the ball with various body parts, ie. knee, elbow, nose, hand. Rather than a voice command, the assistant coach or I would touch the body part that we wanted the kids to use. This way, they have to keep looking back and forth between both coaches who are moving around in the box for the commands. All while keeping control of their own ball and avoiding their team mates.

Nutmeg soccer
Split the kids into two groups. One group spreads out within the box and stands still with their legs apart. Each of these players are given different coloured bibs. Each of the players in the other group has a ball. On the coach’s signal, the players with balls try to score by “nutmeging” as many of the other kids as possible within a minute or so. After they have been going for a little while, tell them that they can only score on “nutmegs” with red bibs. Keep changing the instructions as to where they can score… for example blue bibs, white socks, blonde hair, glasses, coaches etc. This keeps them looking up to see where they have to go next. Have the kids keep track of how many scores they get within the allotted time period and do a couple of rounds so that they can try to beat their record. If the kids are moving too slow, add a shark without a ball that runs around and tries to kick the other kids balls away.

4 Goal 3v3 scrimmage
Divide your team into 3v3 or 4v4 games with two goals at each end. Let them play for a while. Pick a point in the game when everyone is clustered around one goal and freeze them. Ask them to take a look at the open goal and ask them which goal would be easier to score on – the one they are currently trying to blast through or the open one on the other side of the field. They will usually see the light. Let them play some more.

Conclusion
Have the kids pick up all of the cones. Review the focus of the practice very quickly, congratulate anyone who did particularly well and send them home (providing someone you know is there top pick them up, of course).

Passing and keeping possession

Age range: About eight to 12.

Objectives: To improve passing, support play and keeping possession as a team.

Measure of success

At the end of the session your players will be able to:

Understand why and how to move into a place where they can receive a pass.
Work together to keep the ball away from opposition.

Pre-requisites

Before taking part in this session your players need to be able to:

a) Pass the ball reasonably accurately over a short distance using any part of the foot.

b) Catch a ball using both hands.

Number of players: Whole squad.

Equipment required: Three different coloured training vests, some flat cones, two small goals (or poles to use as goal posts) and several balls.

Timing

Each activity should last between five and 10 minutes. The whole session (including drinks breaks and the warm-down at the end) will last approximately one hour.

Warm-up: Netball/basketball

Why play this game? It’s not football!

Allowing your players to carry the ball but limiting the number of steps they can take with the ball in their hands encourages them to look for a team mate to pass to.

It also encourages players not in possession of the ball to move to place where they an receive a pass – an essential element of “real” football.

Netball/basketball is also a great way to get your players moving, warm and ready to take part in the session ahead.

Set-up

Mark out a 20-yard square with flat cones with a small goal on each end line.

Divide your players into teams of between four and six.

If you have more than 12 players, set up two playing areas and play two games alongside each other.

How to play

Players can score points by throwing the ball into the goal (or to a target player standing on an end line).

The number of steps that can be taken with ball in hand should be limited according to the age/skill of your players. Two or three steps is usually about right.

Variation

Older players can play “tag handball”, in which possession is lost if the player with the ball is tagged by an opponent.

Game 1 – 3v1 Keepaway

How to play: four players are positioned within a small area (three attackers and one defender). The defender can be identified by using a coloured vest or by holding a cone.

The attackers must try to keep possession from the defender using two balls.
The three players in possession may move anywhere within the area.
The defender’s goal is to “tag” (not tackle) the players in possession.
Once a player is tagged by the defender they switch roles.
A goal is scored for every 10 passes the attackers can make.

Try to get your players to think: “If she goes there, then I’d better go over here.”

Game 2 – Three Colour Keepaway

Set-up: Divide your players into three teams of between four and six, wearing different coloured training vests.

How to play: Using the same playing area(s), two of the teams try to keep the ball away from the third team, the defenders.

If a player gives the ball away or the ball goes out of play, the team that lost the ball becomes the defenders.

Teams in possession earn a point for every five passes they can put together without the defenders touching the ball.

Play for 10 minutes. The team with the most points wins.

Variations

1. To improve movement and encourage your players to get their heads up, tell the team in possession it can’t pass to its own colour – if the teams in possession are wearing red and yellow vests they must pass red to yellow to red, etc.

2. The defending team earns a point if it can intercept a pass.

3. To make the game more like “proper” football, place a small goal at each end of the playing area. Now the teams in possession can shoot and score when they have made X number of passes. For young players, “three passes and shoot” is about right. Older players can be set a target more appropriate to their skill level.

Game 3. SSG – no tackling

Set up a 30×20 yards playing area with a goal at each end and play a SSG (small-sided game) with the condition that tackling is not allowed.

The only way the ball can be won is to intercept a pass or force the player in possession to make an error.

Play for five or 10 minutes. At the end of that time, the team with the most goals wins. If no goals have been scored, the team in possession when you call “time” is the winner.

Finish the session with small-sided games of football. No coaching!

A complete passing practice plan

I’ve used this practice with my U11 girls’ team with some success. It really builds confidence and skill levels as you progress through the different games.

Warm Up 5 – 10 minutes. Activity level – Mild. Space: General. 1 – 2 Players per group.

Numbers Passing

Players pass the ball to the player with the number one higher than their own. (eg. 5 passes to 6, 11 to 1). Ball travels through the entire team. First, allow unlimited touches, then two touches, not allowing the ball to stop, then one touch. Try playing with left foot only, outside of foot only, without talking.

Coaching Points

Eye contact.
Good passing technique.
Angles of support.
Proper weight of passes.
Keep body open to the field of play

Pass and Defend

The Game

Groups of three, one ball per group. Player A rolls the ball (receiving ground balls) or tosses the ball (receiving air balls) to either player B or player C. In this example, player C must control the ball and get a completed pass to player B. While this is occurring, player A immediately challenges player C and tries to win the ball back. After successful pass, player C would then pick up the ball and repeat the activity as the defender. The defender is awarded a point for winning the ball back and gets to throw again.

Coaching Points

Encourage defender to pressure quickly after the toss. Defender needs to work hard at closing down the space while the ball is in flight.
Receiving player’s first touch should be away from the pressuring defender.
Player receiving the pass should move to create a clear passing lane.
Do not allow the receiving player to one touch the incoming toss. This is a receiving drill, as well as a drill that serves as a good warm-up for practices dealing with defenders.

Small Game: 20 – 25 Minutes. Activity level: Medium progression to high. Space: Defined space “smaller”. 3 – 5 players per group.

Numbers Up Keep Away

The Game

A basic keep away game. One team tries to keep the ball from the other team. Because the one team has an advantage, the amount of reps of the skill (ie. passing and receiving) is increased. There are many variations; lose the ball and go in the middle, play for a time limit, if you “split” the two defenders with a pass, you get a goal, play 3 v. 1, 5 v. 2, 6 v. 3.

Coaching Points

Angle and distance of support must be good.
Keep hips facing the play.
Weight and accuracy of passes.
Good passing technique.
Team shape, wide support and at height.
Defending – make play predictable by being patient.

Targets Passing

The Game

Start with three teams of equal numbers. The space should be rectangular in shape. Team A starts as free target players on all sides of space. Teams B and C play a game of keepaway. Passes can be made to the A players (they must return the ball to the the passer’s team). Count the number of consecutive passes. Ten equals one goal. After a specified time period, or a goal, rotate teams. Let the scoring team make the decision whether to become “targets” or stay in the grid.

Coaching Points

Encourage good pace and accuracy of passes.
Pace should be fast enough so defenders can not intercept, and comfortable for the receiver to control.
Accuracy – Ball should be played to players feet.
Players need to make good decision on how to utilize targets to retain possession.

Variations

Targets can only one touch the ball.

Field players must have 1, 2 or 3 touches, depending on skill level.

Award a goal if player can make a wall pass with target players.

Team Game 30 Minutes plus. Activity level: High. Space: half – full size pitch. 7 – 11 players per team.

8 v. 8 with Corner Goals

The Game

8 v. 8 played on half a field. Set up 10 yard squares in each corner of the field. These act as goals. A goal is scored when the ball is passed into the square and then out to a teammate. Each team can attack any of the four goals.

Coaching Points

Keep the team balanced in attack and defence. Don’t bunch up around one goal.
Look to attack the goal that is open. See if players can recognize where the pressure is.
It should be easy to keep possession since the defence has so many goals to defend. Be patient in attack and don’t take unnecessary risks.
In defence, look to create opportunities to double team.

Variations

Play with two balls to open game up.

Allow a goal if player dribbles in and out of square.

Insist that passing goals require three players.

Limit players to 2 touches

End Zone Game

The Game

Set up field as shown with a seven yard “Endzone” at each end. Score a goal by getting the ball from one “Endzone” to the other by passing or dribbling. Once a goal is scored, immediately attack going in the other direction. The end zones are “free”. Only the attacking team can enter this area.

Coaching Points

Attacking and defending principles
Counter attack
Passing and receiving

Keeper to Keeper

The Game

This is a possession game that uses the keepers. Instead of trying to score, each team tries to pass the ball from one keeper to another. Keepers can play the ball with their hands.

Coaching Points

In attack: Attacking principles of play. Always look to get the ball forward and to the keeper. especially, right when you get it from the keeper. Counter attack often. Since the flow of play changes quickly, players get practice in the back and front.
In defence: Must have pressure on the ball. Quickly get behind the ball when possession is lost. Prohibit counter attacks.
Good, quick keeper distribution.

Warm Down 5 – 10 Minutes. Activity level: Low ramping down. Space: General, No specific boundaries. 1 – 2 players per group.

Triangle Passing Drill

The Game

The triangle has sides of one yard in length. Player A passes the ball to player B. Player B receives the ball at position 2, after it has come out of the triangle. B then touches the ball to the side and returns it to A making sure the ball does not travel through the side of the triangle which it came from. The diagram shows 2 options for the return pass. Try to keep the game going as long as possible without making a mistake.

Coaching Points

Passing and receiving warm-ups.
Preparing the surface before reception, keeping feet active.
Keep body facing the play. Use good technique.

Progression

Allow unlimited touches to develop a feel for the game.

Restrict players to 2 touches, one to prepare ball, one to return it.

Ask the players to determine if there is an easier way to bring their first touch. (This should be towards the nearest cone – the cut becomes determined)

Nearest Cone forces player to take his eyes off the ball and look at the “field” in front of him.

Make the triangle 2 yards apart and see what happens.

Playing as a team

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