GOAL: Improve building up from own half in order to move the ball to the opponent's half U11–U12 / 9 v 9 / 16 players PLAYER ACTIONS: Pass or dribble forward, create passing options, spread out MOMENT: Attacking KEY QUALITIES: Decision-making, reading the game, initiative, technical execution DURATION: 90:00 min
1ST PLAY PHASE: Intentional Free Play
OBJECTIVE: To build a solid attack, move the ball forward and score.
ORGANIZATION: Mark out two 36 x 24-yard fields. Divide players into four teams of four. Free play: Teams play 4 v 4 on 8-yard goal lines without goalkeepers (pass on the ground to score). Play for 30 minutes with two breaks.
KEY WORDS: Use space, pass, dribble, be open
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How do you create the space you need to build a solid attack? 2) What’s a good formation to use for that? 3) What are the central defender’s options for building the attack?
ANSWERS: 1) Make the field as big as possible; push forward (no offside rule) and try to tie up individual opponents; use the full width of the field. 2) A 1–2–1 diamond formation. 3) Dribbling, square pass, forward pass.
NOTES: First break: Coach asks questions, players continue playing to discover answers. Second break: Players share answers with coach and each other.
PRACTICE (Core Activity): 2 v 1 on End Zone
OBJECTIVE: To move the ball forward by dribbling or passing.
ORGANIZATION: Mark out two 24 x 20-yard fields with end zones. Choose four defenders (Red) and 12 attackers (Blue) and position them as shown. Player A passes to B, who dribbles onto the field. B and C attack 2 v 1 on the end zone. The defender tries to win the ball and score on the goal line. Afterward, the attackers rotate counterclockwise. Play for 30 minutes with two breaks.
KEY WORDS: Pass, dribble, be open
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How do you handle a 2 v 1 when you’ve got the ball? 2) What should your teammate do? 3) What else can you do when you have the ball?
ANSWERS: 1) Quickly dribble forward to tie up the defender, then pass the ball off to my teammate. 2) Stay open, show for passes beside the defender and take the ball directly forward. 3) Dribble past the defender on the outside.
PRACTICE (Less Challenging): 3 v 1 on End Zone
OBJECTIVE: To move the ball forward by dribbling or passing.
ORGANIZATION: Same as Core Activity, except players play 3 v 1.
KEY WORDS: Pass, dribble, be open
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How do you handle a 2 v 1 when you’ve got the ball? 2) What should your teammate do? 3) What else can you do when you have the ball?
ANSWERS: 1) Quickly dribble forward to tie up the defender, then pass the ball off to my teammate. 2) Stay open, show for passes beside the defender and take the ball directly forward. 3) Dribble past the defender on the outside.
NOTES: Start with the Core Activity and decide whether the level of challenge is appropriate for the players. Switch to this Less Challenging activity if the Core Activity is too difficult. Spend a total of 30 minutes in the Practice Phase. PRACTICE (More Challenging): 2 v 1 on End Zone
OBJECTIVE: To move the ball forward by dribbling or passing.
ORGANIZATION: Same as Core Activity, except on a 24 x 12-yard field.
KEY WORDS: Pass, dribble, be open
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How do you handle a 2 v 1 when you’ve got the ball? 2) What should your teammate do? 3) What else can you do when you have the ball?
ANSWERS: 1) Quickly dribble forward to tie up the defender, then pass the ball off to my teammate. 2) Stay open, show for passes beside the defender and take the ball directly forward. 3) Dribble past the defender on the outside.
NOTES: Start with the Core Activity and decide whether the level of challenge is appropriate for the players. Switch to this More Challenging Activity if the Core Activity is too easy. Spend a total of 30 minutes in the Practice Phase.
2ND PLAY PHASE: The Game
OBJECTIVE: To build a solid attack, move the ball forward and score.
ORGANIZATION: Mark out a 60 x 55-yard field. Teams play 8 v 8. Each plays a 1–3–3–1 and tries to disrupt the other’s buildup as quickly as possible. Play according to the Laws of the Game and the standards of play found in the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives. Play for 30 minutes including one “halftime” (5 minutes max).
KEY WORDS: Use space, pass, dribble, be open
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How do you create the space you need to build a solid attack? 2) How do you handle a 2 v 1 when you’ve got the ball? 3) What do the receivers need to do?
ANSWERS: 1) Make the field as big as possible; push forward and try to tie up individual opponents; use the full width of the field. 2) Quickly dribble forward to tie up the defender, then pass the ball off to my teammate. 3) Stay open, show for passes and take the ball directly forward.
Five Elements of a Training Activity Training Session Self-Reflection Questions
1. Organized: Is the activity organized in the right way? 1. How did you do in achieving the goals of the training session?
2. Game-like: Is the activity game-like?
3. Repetition: Is there repetition, when looking at the overall goal of the
session?
4. Challenging: Are the players being challenged? (Is there the right 2. What did you do well? balance between being successful and unsuccessful?)
5. Coaching: Is there effective coaching, based on the age and level of
