Excellent site with easy to navigate pages.
Hi all, I've just started coaching a soccer team of 4 and 5 year olds and would like to discuss with my fellow coaches any drills which you have found to be safe, fun and valuable to the younger age group. I have my level 1 course under my belt and have difficulty in applying what I've learnt to the small kids. They get bored very quickly and are only interested in playing a match at the end of the session. They have no interest in passing the ball or shooting at goal whilst doing drills. Running with the ball is no problem as they are keeping active and all have a ball at their feet. As soon as they line up or have to share a ball, there are problems. I have a variety of drills which I run through with them, traffic lights, robin hood, alamo, sharks and fishes to name a few with variations of each but I crave more as everywhere I search caters for U6 upwards. I coach an U8 side midweek and have no problem with these lads as they are that bit older and have a greater level of concentration. (not by much mind). So I'm asking for advice from anyone who has coached 4 and 5 YOs and would like to know what has worked for you. PM replies welcome. Marc
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
ihave to coach a football topic over 4 , 1 hour linked sessions, what and how could i do this
Basically, we had a fantastic performance last weekend, and on Saturday we've got training then a team meal straight afterwards, so I need a session where everyone will be included, everyone will enjoy, and everyone will leave with smiles on their faces. The lads love shooting and dribbling, so a session based on fun games including those techniques will be ideal.
Hello All,I will be coaching my daughter's U16 Div 2 team this year, I just wanted to ask fellow coaches and mangers what to expect. I'm not new to the game, in fact I currently play in the state league myself, but there is a difference between playing the game and actually managing the team. I guess my questions lie around team management techniques and what should I look out for or what should I be aware of? The season starts in a month and training commences next week, so what is the best way to get the kids in shape fast? Thank you.
hi to allmy club has signed up to a Queensland miniroo's program to introduce children to football it is to be both fun and show discipline. This is from age's 4 to 11 it runs for 6 weeks, there will then be the chance for the children to join the club after this or as a club we can continue to run for the 2016 session , fitness isn't the main objective,just skills and enjoyment.Would you like to give some advise on the kind of drills that you would run in this kind of environment remembering that its only a introduction. I have detailed drills that we currently run for are established players.Thank you karl
I need some drills to show my team how t keep their head up when dribbling with the ball without the drill being boring for them because when I try the traffic lights drill or something like that they switch off really quickly but I'm also trying to teach them that when someone passes the ball to them they always look what's around them before they get the ball and I want to know if their is any drills I can use
what would you recommend as a suitable drill for younger children 9-15
Has anyone any advice on how to instil a level of commitment, intensity in u10s. We have a couple of players who don't press, or tackle as a few others on the team. It means that the burden of winning the ball back falls to a few, rather than all, and I'd like to see if there's any techniques to instil this.
A lot of my mates ainât as committed as me, was wondering if there is much I can do to improve my skills alone? Asked using Sportplan on Mobile
I am looking for a session or drills that improve players first touch. Our biggest issues are First Touch so we need to work on this, another issue is the 'second ball' we always win the first header but never get to the second ball quick enough so any help with these issuse would be great!
Hi, I'm a 16 year old hoping to get into coaching in the future, I currently coach an u8s grassroots team, I'd like to know how I could stop all of them running after the ball and teach them to stay in their positions, while also passing the ball across and making more room and options. Am I asking too much from 8 year olds?
hi my named jamie i am currently going through the process of stepping into my first coaching roll with an under 12s boys team. i have no experience in coaching i will be joining the team alongside 2 other experienced coaches i am very excited about this opportunity i have been given also want be a great addition to the team and be the best coach i can. any tips on how to first settle in and also how to get the boys i will be coaching to believe im good enough to develop them or any other tips in general you may think will come in handy on my coaching journey. thank you
session plan for shooting and finishing
how do u proggress the drill
how can I win 1v1s when a def is square footed as a inverted left winger
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?
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
Hi, I coach u13 team and most of them really have poor shoot power. I tried to show them proper way to shoot the ball, we worked on approaching the ball with small steps, and now after few months their shoot technique is mostly satisfying, but they simply lack power. There are 3 or 4 players who can shoot the ball well, but others can't shoot on goal from 15 or 20 metres out which is really worrying because in other teams we play against almost all players can shoot the ball much further than my players. I think 13 years old is too early to start with any serious strength trainings. Any ideas?
Hi guys, I've got one of my best players come to me with his father and ask if I could hold a 1hr30mins session for just him to improve his football overall. He's got good ability, so does anyone have session ideas I could implement aswell as techniques to use when coaching one on one, as I've not done it before?
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.