| Session length | 75 minutes, breaks included |
|---|---|
| Suggested group | 10–16 players |
| Space | Several 25 × 20 yard areas |
| Equipment | Balls, bibs, flat cones; secure any goals before use |
Your practice, minute by minute
- 0–10minutes
Arrival game
Let players join a small game as they arrive. Observe the theme before giving instructions. Use extra fields to keep teams small.
- 10–22minutes
Receive across the body
Receive the server’s ground pass across the body into the next passing lane, then pass to the target. Rotate after four passes and change direction.
Open setup & variations ↗ - 22–34minutes
Keep the ball after kickoff
Take the kickoff and use the first two passes to find space. Play normally for a short period, then reset with different starters and roles.
Open setup & variations ↗ - 34–46minutes
Four-goal transition game
After winning the ball, look for the less protected gate. After losing it, the nearest player delays while teammates recover. Use normal scoring rather than a mandatory first pass.
Open setup & variations ↗ - 46–52minutes
Drinks and transitions
Distribute this time between activities. Add further breaks whenever players or conditions require; shorten activities to keep the session within its planned length.
- 52–72minutes
Final game
Play a normal small-sided game. Look for organization decisions without requiring a particular number of passes. Rotate teammates and roles.
- 72–75minutes
Player reflection
Ask each pair to share one useful decision and one thing to try next time. Gather equipment together and follow the team’s pickup procedure.
Your coaching focus
Choose the next practice theme from what happens in the final game. Do not add a new formation and several new rules on the same day.
Adapt for U11–U12
Ask players to explain the options they saw. Build pressure gradually, rotate responsibilities, and finish with a game in which the coaching theme can appear without a forced passing rule.
If attendance or space changes
- With fewer players, keep the same theme and use pairs or 2v2 instead of waiting for a full team.
- With more players, duplicate a field or station rather than adding a long queue.
- If an activity is too hard, use its easier variation before changing the entire session.
- Treat these timings as a plan, not a requirement to continue when conditions are unsuitable.
After practice
Write down one example of the theme appearing in the final game and one obstacle players encountered. Repeat the useful activity next week with a small adjustment. A familiar game can reveal progress more clearly than a completely new session.
KEEP IT SIMPLERehearse a small set of familiar actions and finish with a game that belongs to the players.
Practical suggestions to adapt to your players. This resource has not received independent coach or referee review. How our content is prepared.