1v1 Attacking and Reaction Drill
This 1v1 soccer attacking drill focuses on the attacker making quick faints, a change of direction, and a burst of speed while causing the defender to react quickly to the attacker's movements.
Browse U9, U10, U11, & U12 Soccer Drills and Soccer Practice Sessions
When coaching Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, and Under 12, the player's motor skills are becoming more refined. Most players can stay on task at a greater length allowing you to extend your practices to an hour and a half or, in some instances, competitive team environments, two hours. You will notice skills starting to emerge, and the repetition of technique is essential. Coaches should continue positive reinforcement as peer pressure is starting to become an issue.
With the player's technique learned at an earlier age is now time to refine these skills with an introduction to basic tactics. Small-sided games will become your primary teaching means. With small-sided games such as 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4, players will receive tons of touches while focusing on less complicated tactics than a 11v11 match.
My #1 piece of advice is to play small-sided games and put an emphasis on creating a competitive environment as much as possible. This will keep the small-sided games fun for the players and teach the game itself.
The soccer drills listed below are age specific soccer drills for Under 9 (U9, U-9, 9 and Under), Under 10 (U10, U-10, 10 and Under), Under 11 (U11, U-11, and 11 and Under), Under 12 (U12, U-12, 12 and Under).
This 1v1 soccer attacking drill focuses on the attacker making quick faints, a change of direction, and a burst of speed while causing the defender to react quickly to the attacker's movements.
This 4v2 game will focus on building an attack near the penalty area and getting shots on goal. Forwards will have to make a decision to turn and score or lay the ball off to the mid-fielder. The focus of this drill is score, score, score!
This drill teaches players how to build attacks from the back in an organized way that mirrors real game structure. The pyramid shape represents how teams naturally position themselves with defenders deep, midfielders in the middle, and forwards high. Players learn to connect passes through different lines of the team while maintaining proper spacing and support angles. The progression from back to front develops patience in possession and helps players understand their role in the build up phase. When opponents enter to apply pressure, players must make quicker decisions while staying calm and trusting their teammates. Using the full width of the area teaches players not to bunch up in the middle where defending is easier. This drill builds the foundation for how your team will play out from the back in actual games.
This drill sharpens possession skills while teaching players to quickly switch between attacking and defending roles. Players learn to recognize when they win or lose the ball and immediately adjust their positioning and mindset. The team of three works on keeping possession against one defender, then must quickly transition to defense when they lose it. The single player learns to pressure and transition to attack when winning the ball. Outside players develop awareness of when to support and how to maintain possession in tight spaces. This constant switching builds mental quickness and helps players stay focused during the transitions that occur in real games.
A 7v7 scrimmage is a great way to end most of your training sessions. The 7 vs 7 allows players to focus on team tactics in realistic training situations and respond to problems presented in the full-sided game.
The Cristiano Ronaldo Speed Test is an individual assessment of ones ability to dribble the ball at pace while maintaining control.
This goalkeeper footwork exercise is a great warm-up or training drill to focus on goalkeeper footwork and scooping ground balls.
This drill improves quick passing, spatial awareness, and teamwork by encouraging players to use both central and corner support players to maintain possession. Players develop composure under pressure and transition awareness.
This drill focuses on teaching players how to open up their body, scan the field, and play accurate passes while moving continuously. It helps reinforce technical habits that translate directly to in-game situations.
This rondo soccer drill is the rondo at its simplest. This rondo game is great as a warm-up drill to a game, or a drill for your practice session.
This 1v1 drill focuses on a passing combination with movement off the ball and finishes with a one vs. one to goal. If players miss they become the keeper and the game continues. Players love the fun, competitive twist of being able to make a player become a goalkeeper.
That is a fast paced 1v1 transition game mean to focus on beating the defender and getting it into your teammate, or quickly transition to defense if the ball is lost.