U9–U12
Help players look before the ball arrives
Separate a missed shoulder check from a difficult pass, then give the receiver a reason to look before taking a touch.
Read the guide →For youth football coaches
One coaching problem. A useful next step.
Find the cause, adjust the activity and decide what to repeat. Practical guides for U8–U12 coaches, with free observation sheets.
Receiving
U11–U12
Choose a first touch that opens the next action
Use the intended next pass to decide whether receiving across the body helps, instead of demanding the same first touch every time.
Read the guide →Passing
U8–U10
Adjust a ground pass to the receiver
Work out whether a pass misses because of direction, pace or timing, and help the passer make the next attempt easier to receive.
Read the guide →U9–U10
Give a passer a useful place to move next
Replace aimless movement after a pass with a new angle that the ball carrier can actually use.
Read the guide →U11–U12
Keep a receiver connected after switching play
Observe what happens after the cross-field pass and help teammates offer a second action on the new side.
Read the guide →Ball control
U8
Help a dribbler stop before the boundary
Distinguish late braking from a ball that is already too far away, then practise a stop with room for the next decision.
Read the guide →U8–U10
Help a dribbler notice open space
Make looking up reveal a usable route while keeping the ball easy enough to control.
Read the guide →U8–U10
Turn out of pressure without pushing
Use distance and an open exit to protect possession, keeping this introductory activity free of contact contests.
Read the guide →Defending
U11–U12
Teach a defender to delay from a safe gap
Give the defender an achievable space-protection task before introducing any attempt to regain possession.
Read the guide →U9–U12
Choose the first movement after losing the ball
Help a player identify the target they now protect and recover into a useful route instead of chasing from behind.
Read the guide →Team play
U11–U12
Give a ground restart two visible options
Use a practice restart to help the player on the ball see two different routes and choose one without a rushed kick.
Read the guide →Organisation
U8–U12
Include an odd player without creating a long queue
Choose between a rotating helper and small parallel groups, then check whether the extra player is actually involved.
Read the guide →Need a complete practice?
Choose a full session with maps, a timeline, player rotations and a coach timer.
Browse all practices