Excellent site with easy to navigate pages.
Disciplining for misbehaviour? 8-11 year olds, they dont really get bored because i know that sometimes that can be the cause. How or what can i apply a bit of strictness into the team.
Hi, My team plays in a mini soccer league which is 7v7. Whats the best formation to play in the environment. We have played 2-3-1 all season but i was looking at 3-1-2 this season using the left and right backs as wingers aswell. Any one got any thoughts? Cheers
Hi has anyone got a good warm up routine for a under 18 team before a match?
Hi, My team plays in a mini soccer league which is 7v7. Whats the best formation to play in the environment. We have played 2-3-1 all season but i was looking at 3-1-2 this season using the left and right backs as wingers aswell. Any one got any thoughts? Cheers
Hi I have quite a large squad (11) for my U9s team. Sometimes not all of them turn up but when they do managing the substitutions can be a nightmare. Have tried planning it out and making 3 subs on a rotation every 6 or 7 minutes. This works OK, just wondered how others do it? Thanks! Asked using Sportplan Mobile App
I am coaching 11 7 to 8 year olds what is the best way to teach them about positioning
How do I teach players about positioning in a 7 a side game
Some 11 year olds are joining our team and are moving from 7-a-side to 11-a-side. What should I practice with them to help this transition?
Hello all! My kids aged 9 and 7 are very slow when compared to their peers of the same age. They don't seem to fight for the ball and get and watch others play their game. They seem to lack the urgency (heart) needed for the game. (They LOVE football). How can make them move around and react faster. Any help you are able to provide is greatly appreciated. Thanks O
Disciplining for misbehaviour? 8-11 year olds, they dont really get bored because i know that sometimes that can be the cause. How or what can i apply a bit of strictness into the team.
i run a under 11s football team and they really need to work on pass and move do u know any good drills that will be able to help there young boys and girls out....many thanks gary ives - submitted via email
I've got a player who is commanding, brilliant at spreading the play, and is no doubt my best player in my under 8's 5 a-side team. I've decided most times that he's going to be captain. The question is, whether or not you think it's right to give the captaincy to just one player? How do you guys organise yours? Rotate it? Have just one? Give it to the best trainer that week?
Team keep getting thrashed every week - where to start? Having been the sole coach/manager of a little league team for the past two years, this year I lost all my senior players. I was therefore presented with 10 brand new lads, some of whom have never played competitive football. We are 8 games in and my lads are getting thrashed every week. The main problems are that they cannot get the ball out of their half, positions are usually a mess, finishing and chance creation are non-existent, and they don't apply any pressure or are unable to tackle. The main problems are keeping the ball as a team, getting it in the opponents half and staying there, and creating/finishing chances. I only have 1 and a half hours a week with them. I don't really know what to do, and I'm a little desperate. Does anybody have any advice? Thanks for literally anything.
I have a player who i would describe as being "Alpha male" he is very disruptive at training and constantly having niggles with other players and challenging for the us the coaches.We have tonight stopped them having game time at end of training due to their behavior as a team and also reinforced the "Respect" values and that if they are not well behaved in training and preparation on match day they will not make the starting line up and in extreme cases will be asked to miss games.I have tried yellow/red card system and sending to side lines for a few minutes.Should we start to reward good behavior with some kind of sticker/merit and league table and prize for first one to reach target ?It has all come to a head at training tonight and looking for any ideas or if anyone has had or got similar situation.
Hello, I am currently coaching an u9's boys team and a majority of them are well behaved and want to play football, but the odd 1or2 tend to mess around at training which distracts the others. I have sat them out in training and spoken to the parents but still this goes on. Do I decide to kick them out of the team altogether or does anyone know the miracle cure to stop this happening?
How can I fairly do up a roster for 14 kids including
I am taking over a team next season who will be under 10's and I am wanting to bring in a few new players but don't know what will be the best way to trail them and how long I would trail them for. There are many tournaments pre season would that be a good idea. Also what is the best approach with the lads who are not good enough, how do you break it to them
We have three teams of U8 that play in different leagues all with different skill levels. Is it better to train the three teams seperately so they bond and play as a team or would you swap players around each week.which could mean a league 5 player playing in league 2. Could this knock his confidence?
What is the best warm up routine for U9 boys before a game? Thanks Coach Heath
hello ive got a under 10s team im trying to make them pass and move and get the player who has the ball support we are playing seven a side at the moment i play 3-2-1
in more ways than one
Four Halloween-themed games sneak a full warm-up, finishing, rondo and small-sided game into one junior football session this week.
Deliberate heading is now out of U11 grassroots matches. Here is how to coach chest, thigh and foot control so your players still win the ball in the air.
Long-range goals doubled at the 2026 World Cup as teams sat deep. Here is how to coach when to shoot from distance, the technique, and the follow-up.
Coaches from around the world look to Sportplan for coaching confidence.