U9–U10 practice: find a target before finishing

Your practice, minute by minute

1. 0–8minutes

   Arrival game

   Let players join a small game as they arrive. Observe the theme before giving instructions. Use extra fields to keep teams small.

2. 8–18minutes

   Ground finishing through target gates

   Dribble forward, look at a chosen target, and send a controlled ground shot through it. Retrieve only when the lane is clear. Change targets each round.

   Open setup & variations ↗
3. 18–28minutes

   Pass, set, and finish

   The support sets a ground pass back into the attacker’s path. The attacker takes a useful first touch and finishes. Rotate the support frequently.

   Open setup & variations ↗
4. 28–38minutes

   2v1 to a finish

   Attack together. The ball carrier chooses to dribble, pass, or finish as the defender reacts. If possession changes, the defender counters to the start line.

   Open setup & variations ↗
5. 38–43minutes

   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.

6. 43–57minutes

   Final game

   Play a normal small-sided game. Look for finishing decisions without requiring a particular number of passes. Rotate teammates and roles.

7. 57–60minutes

   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

Notice whether players choose a reachable target and have room for their shooting action. Avoid turning each attempt into a technique lecture.

Adapt for U9–U10

Let players solve an initial round before intervening. Add one opponent or one decision at a time. Connect the theme to their small-sided match format without fixing children in one role.

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.