Soccer practice plan for 10 and 11 year olds (60 minutes)

⚽ Soccer · ages 10–11 (U12) · 60 minutes · 12 players · 6 balls

1. 0:008 min

   Warm-up Warm-up

   Jog on the spot, Arm circles, Skipping, Gallop. About a minute each, easy first, then a little bigger.

2. 0:0812 min

   Drill 1-on-1 to a gate

   X playerO partner or defender— run- - pass∿ dribble

   Set up. Pairs face each other ten steps apart with a cone gate behind the defender. Gear: a ball a pair, two cones a pair. With your players that is 6 groups of about 2.

   1. The defender passes the ball to the attacker and steps in.
   2. The attacker tries to dribble through the gate.
   3. The defender stays on their feet, slows the attacker down, and waits for a heavy touch.
   4. No slide tackles. Swap every turn.

   Say: “Stay on your feet” · “Slow them down” · “Wait for it”

   Easier: The defender walks and only blocks the gate. Harder: Two gates: the attacker can go for either.

3. 0:2012 min

   Drill Triangle passing

   Set up. Three cones in a triangle six steps apart, a player at each. Gear: a ball a group, three cones a group. With your players that is 4 groups of about 3.

   1. Pass to the next player and follow your pass to their cone.
   2. Take the first touch across your body, away from where it came from.
   3. Change direction after a minute.

   Say: “Open your hips” · “Touch away” · “Pass and move”

   Easier: Two touches allowed, and walk after the pass. Harder: One touch, or a second ball going the other way.

4. 0:322 min

   Water Water break

   Everybody drinks, in the shade if there is some.

5. 0:3412 min

   Drill Shadow defending

   Set up. Partners in a box. One is the attacker, with no ball yet; one is the shadow. Gear: cones for a box. With your players that is 6 groups of about 2.

   1. The attacker jogs and turns anywhere in the box.
   2. The shadow stays an arm's length away, side-on, between the attacker and a goal you picked.
   3. On the whistle, freeze: is the shadow still in the way?
   4. Swap after thirty seconds.

   Say: “Side-on” · “Arm's length” · “Goal-side”

   Easier: Walk it, and the shadow holds a pinny to stay close. Harder: Give the attacker a ball. The shadow stays goal-side and never slides in.

6. 0:4610 min

   Game Small-sided game

   Set up. Games of 3v3 or 4v4 on a small field with cone goals and no goalkeepers. With more players, run two games side by side. Gear: a ball and two cone goals a game, pinnies. With your players that is 2 groups of about 8.

   1. Kick off from the middle; a goal is a ball through the cones along the ground.
   2. Out of bounds: the other team kicks it back in.
   3. Every three minutes, swap the teams round so everyone plays everyone.
   4. The score stays on the coach's paper, if it is kept at all.

   Say: “Spread out” · “Look up” · “Win it back together”

   Easier: Bigger goals, and two balls in play at once so everyone touches one. Harder: A goal only counts after three passes.

7. 0:564 min

   Cool-down Cool-down

   Reach for your toes, Butterfly, Calf stretch. About a minute each, easy first, then a little bigger.

Every plan here has a water break, two in practices over an hour (our rule). On hot days the CDC says to drink more water than usual without waiting to be thirsty, to start slowly and build up, and to practice when it is cooler. cdc.gov: Heat and Athletes. Head knocks and concussion: read CDC HEADS UP, the CDC's page for coaches and parents. cdc.gov/heads-up