Activity/Dimensions

Description

Diagram

Coaching Points

Warm Up: Lose

Your Shadow
15x15 yds
5 minutes

Partner players up with one ball between them .

Player without the ball is free to run all over s
occer city. The player with the ball m us t try to
s tay as close as poss ible to their partner. When
coach yells freeze!, the player with the ball
gets to try and s core through their
partners legs . Switch the ball.

2 MAJOR P OINTS OF DRIBBLING

Keep the ball close to your body b y
using lots of sm all touches on the ball.
Keep your head up while dribbling s o
you can s ee when your partner
changes directions .
Players s hould be pass ing through
their partners legs with the ins ide of
their feet.

Skill Builder:
Dribbling Gates
15x15 yds
15minutes

Set up sm all gates throughout your field. Players dribble in and out of the gates , changing
direction and s peed every tim e they pass a
gate. They m us t perform a tas k at ever y gate.
Dribble through m aking a circle around
the outside cone.
Perform a s top and go.
Turn and com e back out.
Eventually s plit players into partners and play
1v1 through the gates .

Turns they s hould be able to m as ter at this

level.
Sole Roll - Place foot on top of ball and roll
behind you in oppos ite direction.
Ca ptain Ho ok - With one touch (either
ins ide or outs ide of foot) players should be
able to change direction.
Stop-Hop-and Push - Stop the ball by
placing a foot on top, hop over it and pus h
it back in the direction you cam e.

Skill Game:
Den of Thieves
Boxes should be 8 yds
apart
10 minutes

Split players into 4 teams each with a hom e

bas e on the corners of the field
(15yds x15yds ). 8 balls in the middle. On the
coaches command players s end one player in
to s teal a ball. Firs t team to get 3 balls back at
their hom e bas e, wins .
Rules : They can only s teal a ball that is un
m anned. Only one pers on m ay s teal at a
tim e. There is no guarding of balls . Change
how they m us t bring back the balls each tim e.

Using sm all touches , with the ins ide of

their feet for bes t control
Players m us t s top the ball within their
hom e base.
2 MAJOR P OINTS OF DRIBBLING
Keep the ball close to your body.
Keep your head up while dribbling.

Tunnel Tag
10 yds
10 minutes

Ever y player has a ball and the coach is it.

The it players do not have a ball. If you tag a
player they m us t hold their ball over their
head, m ake a goal with their legs and yell for
help. The only way their teamm ates can free
them is if they pass their ball through the
frozen players legs . Eventually let players be
it. To increas e difficulty, m ake m ore players
it.

Lots of dribbling, lots of pass ing, lots

of fun.
Try to a void coaching too m uch in the
warm up.
Teamwork is crucial to keep the team
alive and not all frozen. Encourage
this by giving players points every tim e
they free s omeone.

Activity/Dimensions

Description

Diagram

Coaching Points

Warm Up: King of

the Castle
20x15yds
20 minutes

In a large area arrange gates all over the field.

Children get into pairs and begin the game
opposite each other on each gate. They
exchange a fixed num ber of pass es (e.g. 3)
before dribbling with the ball to another gate.
After they com plete the exercise s uccess fully at
a gate, they receive a ke y. The y m us t get the
key from ever y gate before they can open the
cas tle and win the game.

Skill Builder
Passing Gates
20x20yds
15 minutes

Passing Gates is a s eries of progressions .

Practice then play. Split players up into partners , one ball each, s tanding with a goal between them . Players practice the right technique us ing 2 touch only, but m ultiple s urfaces
of the foot (right to left, outs ide to ins ide of
s ame foot). Players m us t pass 3 tim es and go
to a new gate com peting for the bes t s core.
Players now practice m oving the ball with their
1s t touch by pass ing ins ide then outs ide of
gate. Outs ide to outs ide. Add a rollover...

Split your players into 2 teams , 1 with balls , 1

without. Players without balls mus t s tay within
the confined area and try to avoid getting hit
with any of the balls . Players with ball mus t try
to pass the ball into the opposing teams legs ,
knee and below. Tim e how long each team
takes to get every player out.

Divide players into the s am e sm all-s ided

gam es . We are going to replace the goal on
the end line with a player. The only wa y to
s core is to pass to the end line players feet.
End line players can not com e onto the field,
but can move s ide to s ide.

Skill Game
Foxes and Hunters
15x15yds
10 minutes

Conditioned Scrimmage
15x25yds
15 minutes

Castle

Pass with ins ide of foot and ankle

locked
Keep ball close whils t dribbling
Comm unication with partner.
Progress ions :
1) Player m us t pass inside the gate, then
outside the gate. Us ing their 1s t touch
to m ove the ball.
2) Outs ide to outside. Still only 2 touch.

Non-kicking foot next to ball.

Pass with the ins ide of foot.
Follow through in the direction of pass .
Firs t touch m oves the ball, does not
s top the ball.
1s t touch takes the ball 1)away from
press ure 2) towards next pass .
Watch for a decreas e in technique as
s oon as they s tart running around.

Stress knee and below to avoid players sm ashing the ball towards other
kids .
Sm all controlled pass es , otherwis e
players will s pend the m ajority of their
tim e chas ing balls .
Sm all controlled touches when dribControlled pass es that the end line
players can control.
Mo vem ent of end line players to get
their body in line with the ball.

Activity/Dimensions
4 Corners
6yds to ce nter cone
15 minutes

Technical:Into the Corners

8 yds between squares
15 minutes

Description

Diagram

Coaching Points

Set groups like diagram with about 6 yds to the

center cone. Start without the ball and talk
about 1) changing directions and 2) changing
s peeds . Introduce the ball and s tart with turns .
Eventually move into f orward facing (1v1)
moves.
U8-inside/outside cut, Drag back and G. Bes t
U9-Cruyff, Scis sors .
U10-Step over turns , Ronaldo
Turn into a gam e, each team competing.

Do not run into the center cone or any

other player.
Dribble with all parts of their feet.
Ball s hould be clos e to their body,
touching the ball with every s tep.
Change Direction, Change Speed

Split the group into 4 equal groups and des

ignate each group to a corner. Us ing different
parts of feet players m us t advance a s quare
to the right. Gi ve players different technical
tas ks in order to advance.
Com petition:
Players m us t now race into the next s quare.
1s t player into the s quare with the ball under
control gains a point.

Clos e control of ball.

Change of Speed/Change of Direction
Head up to avoid others .

Circles with outside/inside of f oot.

Stop n Go
Scissors

Technical Game:
Treasure Island
20x30yds
15 minutes

Blue players m us t get as many balls pas t

defenders to s core in one of the four goals . To
s core a goal Blue players m us t dribble through
the goals and s top the ball. If the Yellow
players s teal the ball they bring it back to the
center. However m any balls are beyond the
goals after 2 m inutes is the s core of the Blue
team . Switch roles and keep track of points .

Awareness of s pace and defenders .

Positive 1s t touch.
Attack goals with confidence and
s peed.
Control towards open goal.

Small Sided Game:

Dribble to Score
20x30yds
20 minutes

5v5 or 4v4. Goal is s cored by dribbling through

1 of each team s 3 gates .

Change of speed and direction.

Awareness of s pace.
Quick decis ion m aking.

End with unres tricted play.

Activity/Dimensions

Description

Diagram

Coaching Points

Split players into 4 teams each with a hom e bas e

on the corners of the field (15yds x15yds ). All of
the balls in the middle. On the coaches comm and
players m us t try to bring back as m uch treasure
as they can in 2 m inutes .
Rules : Players can s teal one ball at a time.
They can only s teal a ball that is un m anned.
There is no guarding of balls . No hands .
Progression: Gi ve them a tas k every tim e they
take a ball..5 toe touches /Make a circle

Skill Game: King of the

Castle
20x15 yds
20 minutes

In a large area arrange gates all over the field.

Children get into pairs and begin the game
opposite each other on each gate. They
exchange a fixed num ber of pass es (e.g. 3)
before dribbling with the ball to another gate.
After they com plete the exercise s uccess fully at a
gate, they receive a ke y. They m us t get the key
from every gate before they can open the cas tle
and win the gam e. Add defenders .

Survivor
3 10x10 bo xes
15 minutes

Set up your field like the diagram . All the players

s tart on one end with a ball. They m us t get
through all 3 boxes to s core a point. Yellows are
defenders (one per box) and can not leave their
s pecified box. If the players are not finding
s uccess make the boxes bigger. Players can
keep track of their own s core (1pt for s urviving all
3 boxes ), with the larges t s corers becoming
defenders next.

Half the group begins in the center with two balls

each (their treasure they have dis covered while
being on the is land). The other half is outs ide the
s quare and are octopi. On the coaches comm and
the children m us t get their treas ure to s afety by
dribbling pas t the octopus es and through one of
the gates . They then return to do the s ame with
any treas ure s till on the is land.

Treasure Hunt
10 minutes

Treasure Island
10 minutes

Castle

Using sm all touches , with the ins ide of

their feet for bes t control
Players m us t s top the ball within their
hom e base.
MAJOR P OINTS OF DRIBBLING
Keep the ball close to your body.
Keep your head up while dribbling.

Pass with ins ide of foot and ankle

locked
Keep ball close whils t dribbling
Comm unication with partner.
Progress ions :
1) Player m us t pass inside the gate, then
outside the gate. Us ing their 1s t touch
to m ove the ball.
Outs ide to outside. Still only 2 touch.

Players s hould keep the ball clos e to

change direction quickly.
Keep their head up while dribbling to
s ee where the defenders are.
Attack where the space is .

Keep the ball close when dribbling.

Keep head up to s ee opponents and
open gates .
Change direction and s peed in order
to beat opponent.
Rem ain in control of the ball.
Use of turns to change direction.

Activity/Dimensions
Free Dribble
10x10 yds
10 minutes
Shooting Progression
10 minutes

Shoot to Score
6x10 yds
15-20 minutes

Description

Diagram

Dribble with a ball each around area. Review

ball m as ter with added quick footwork. On
coaches command. Shoot! Stop ball, s tep back
then s tep on and freeze in s hooting pos ition.

Shooting Pos ition and Correct Application:

Arm s out for balance.

Ankle locked.

Strike with laces .

Knees and ches t over ball.

Toe pointed toward ground.

In pairs with one ball in between. Start off on

the ground practicing correct technique with
laces . One partner in the crab pos ition, the
other serving the ball. Players m us t play the
ball firs t time back to their partners hands .
Blues or yellows s tart with s tationary ball and
attem pt to s core pas t the GK. If the GK s aves
they turn and roll the ball to the players behind
who s tops the ball dead before s hooting.

Progress ion: 1) us e weaker foot. 2) 1s t tim e

s hot 3) If you s core on GK, s hooter trades pos ition with GK.

Superman Finish
10 yds out from goal
10 minutes

Steal the Bacon

30x20yds
10 minutes

Coaching Points

Split the players into two teams , lined up on

each s ide of you with balls in the m iddle. Players race agains t each other and s hoot on goal.
This s hould move ver y quickly with players
waiting in line for a very s hort am ount of time.
Now s tart to put players into funny s tarting pos itions . On their s tom achs , with their head touch
the ground, facing backwards , etc.

Split the players into 2 teams and give each

player a #. All the balls s hould be with you, the
coach. Start the gam e by throwing 2 balls out
and calling out a #. #1s from each team are
going to race out, collect a ball and try to s core
on their net. The firs t team to s core is the only
team to receive a point. If your players are enjoying the gam e progress it to only one ball and
let them compete. Rem em ber. Lots of goals ,
lots of fun.

#1!!

Strike the ball with the laces and ankle

locked.
Strike the center of the back of the
ball.
Approach at an angle.
Non-kicking foot to the side of the ball
and pointing towards target.
Weight over the ball.
Players love s coring goals , give ever y
player the chance to feel what its like.
No lines keep it m oving quickly.
Plant the seeds for future developm ent, but do not expect the players to
practice it.
Shooting Technique: With laces ,
locked ankle, non-kicking foot next to
ball.
An y s hooting exercise at this age
s hould be about fun, dont keep s core.
Stress s hooting as quickly as possible.

Activity/Dimensions
Ball Tag
15x15 yds
10 minutes

Description

Diagram

Select a player to be it, they are the only one

with a ball. The idea is to pass the ball below
knee height at another player. If they are hit
they collect a ball and becom e it also. The
winning player is the las t player not tagged. If
the it player needs help coach joins in. If players are not having s uccess , m ake the s quare

Coaching Points

sm aller.

Pass and Move

7 yds
10 minutes

Soccer Bowling
10 minutes

Team Breakout
30 x 20 yds
10 minutes

Players in pairs with a ball between them , they

have to pass back and fourth, using the ins ide
of their foot. When the coach calls out Go the
player with the ball mus t dribble around another
player who is s tanding s till and then return as
quick as possible to their partner. Challenge
players with a longer dis tance and conducting a
s kill (eg a turn before dribbling around another
player).

GO!!

Split the group into partners with one ball. Start

the pairs 5 yds apart and pass ing to one another.
Progression: Once players unders tand the
bas ic of pass ing turn the gam e into soccer
bowling by adding a cone in the middle that
now s erves as a target for each player. Each
player receives 1 point every tim e they knock
down the cone and should take 1 s tep back to
keep it interes ting.

Split the team in 2 and num ber the players .

Call a num ber and throw out a ball. Players
m us t control the ball and play 1v1. The y s core

a goal if they can get the ball across the other

teams line below knee height. Other team
m embers are allowed to defend the line. If they
block the ball they then enter the gam e and
play 2v1 to the other s ide. Players keep adding
until a goal is s cored, then we s tart over.

Ins ide foot pass ing only which is below

knee height to avoid players getting hit
in the face.
Weight of the pass is important s o
they are not collecting the ball after
each pass .
Lots of fun, rotate tag player to give
other players a go.

Encourage both feet for pass ing.

Use the s tanding foot to guide where
the pass is going and ens ure the pass
is along the ground.
Award a point for the pair who gets
back firs t. Make player dribble around
a different player each tim e.

Non-kicking foot next to ball.

Pass with the ins ide of foot.
Locked ankle.
Non-kicking toe will determ ine the
direction of pass .
Follow through in the direction of pass .

Control under press ure, us ing your

body to s hield.
Know where you want to take the ball
before it com es to you.
Attack the s pace.
Mus t be able to pick up your head
under press ure to find both, s pace and
holes in their defens e.

Activity/Dimensions

Description

Diagram

Coaching Points

Mirror, mirror
10x10yds
10 minutes

Players s tand opposite of each other. Player

Blue m us t try and fake out player Yellow and
get to the cone before them . Yellow mus t try
and react to the body s ignals and touch the
cone before the blue player.

Defending Posit ion

Knees bent, low center of gravity
Watch the hips , not the s houlders or
feet.

Touch Tight Drill

7x7yds
10 minutes

Blues dribble in sm all area while yellows

remains as clos e as possible.
Scoring: Yellow gain a point if within touching
dis tance when coach freezes play. Switch
roles .

Introducing AOA and S OA

10x7 yds
15 minutes

Introduce the s urf pos ition and how defenders

m ove. # 1 goal of defending is to keep the
player with the ball in front of them . Players
will have a race to the other s ide. Yellow mus t
keep the blue player a brooms ticks length in
front of them and beat the blue player to the
line. Add a ball Dribbling s lowly s ide to s ide
yellow mus t keep their dis tance and good body
pos ition while m oving backwards . Introduce
the block tackle and let players play 100%.

1) Keep the dis tance between players , light

on your toes , s taying low like the warm up.
Dont get caught with s quare hips .
2) Once a ball is introduced, they s hould
try to force the player to one s ide with good
body positioning. NO TACKLING
Block Tackle:
Non-kicking foot alongside the ball.
Weight over the ball.
Use ins ide of foot with ankle locked.

1v1 Defending
10x10yds
15 minutes.

On blues firs t touch yellow m ay leave his /her

cone to defend.
Scoring: Blue s cores by s topping the ball at
yellows cone. Yellow s cores if ball goes out of
area or by s tealing the ball and counter attacking to blues cone. Alternate who s tarts with the
ball.

3 Ps of Defending:
Pressure (SOA)
Position (AOA)
Patience

Make it fun b y turning it into a tournam ent

where players can advance bas ed on play.

2 v 2 Defending
20x20yds
20 minutes

Set players up like diagram . Coach has all the

balls in the middle. When coach rolls a ball out
the firs t player from each cone comes out to
m eet the ball.
Purpos ely roll the ball to one team s o the other
is the defending team .

Apply pres sure (touch tight)

Defend s ideways on.
Poke ball away with the front foot.

Angle of Approach:
The angle at with you s hut down a player
with poss ession of the ball. Not giving
them 2 options , but only 1.

Applying quick press ure on the ball.

Angle of body (where are they pus hing
the player with the ball)
Tim ing of challenge.
Getting their body behind the ball
quickly during trans ition of ball.

Murfreesboro Soccer Club Recreation League

Under 7 Practice Guide Recommendations

These exercises are just a compilation of many resources available on many

websites and are not the property of any single coach or coaches. Please adapt
as you see fit.