U9–U10 practice: look up and choose a route

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

   Slalom with a decision

   Dribble through the cones, glance up, and leave through the gate the partner indicates. Change signals only before the player reaches the last cone.

   Open setup & variations ↗
3. 18–28minutes

   Scan and call before receiving

   The receiver glances behind, calls the number, then receives a ground pass and returns it. Change the number between repetitions and rotate roles.

   Open setup & variations ↗
4. 28–38minutes

   1v1 with a supporting passer

   The attacker may dribble past the defender or combine with the neutral to reach an end gate. Change all three roles every minute.

   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 scanning 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 a glance changes the player’s decision. Calling a color is only useful if it leads to finding a clear route.

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.