On the Field
Practice Plans
Ready-to-use session templates, age-specific activities, and the Play–Practice–Play framework so you can walk onto the field confident and prepared.
⚽ Play – Practice – Play (PPP)
P1
Play
Start with a small-sided game. Diagnose skills while they have fun. ~25% of session.
P2
Practice
Focused activities on what you saw in P1. Small groups, high reps, no lines. ~50% of session.
P3
Play
Return to game. Players apply skills just practiced. Celebrate effort. ~25% of session.
Golden rule: Every player should be active, with a ball, for the maximum possible proportion of your session.
⚽ 6U & 8U — The Fun Foundation
Key principle: Every session should feel like play. Focus on touching the ball as many times as possible. Smiling is the metric.
Session 1 — Dribbling Fun (45 min)
Theme: Getting comfortable with the ball at your feet
• P1 (10 min): Free dribble in a grid — slowly shrink the space
• P2a (8 min): Traffic lights — Red (stop), Yellow (slow), Green (go fast)
• P2b (10 min): Sharks & minnows — 2 coaches are sharks, players dribble to safety
• P3 (15 min): 2v2 or 3v3 with small goals, no goalkeeper
• Wrap-up (2 min): Ask players their favourite moment. High-fives all around.
• P1 (10 min): Free dribble in a grid — slowly shrink the space
• P2a (8 min): Traffic lights — Red (stop), Yellow (slow), Green (go fast)
• P2b (10 min): Sharks & minnows — 2 coaches are sharks, players dribble to safety
• P3 (15 min): 2v2 or 3v3 with small goals, no goalkeeper
• Wrap-up (2 min): Ask players their favourite moment. High-fives all around.
Session 2 — Kicking & Striking (45 min)
Theme: Striking the ball with intent and accuracy
• P1 (10 min): Free shooting on cones from various angles — kick and chase, no lines
• P2a (8 min): Kick the cone — dribble and try to knock over a cone with a shot
• P2b (10 min): Score the goal — pairs take turns passing and shooting, no goalkeeper
• P3 (15 min): 3v3 with small goals. Celebrate every goal from both teams.
• P1 (10 min): Free shooting on cones from various angles — kick and chase, no lines
• P2a (8 min): Kick the cone — dribble and try to knock over a cone with a shot
• P2b (10 min): Score the goal — pairs take turns passing and shooting, no goalkeeper
• P3 (15 min): 3v3 with small goals. Celebrate every goal from both teams.
Session 3 — Teamwork & Passing (45 min)
Theme: The joy of working together
• P1 (10 min): 2v2 — emphasise "find your teammate"
• P2a (8 min): Pass & follow — Player A passes to B then runs to B's spot
• P2b (10 min): Keep away — 3 players keep ball from 1 defender, rotate every 90 sec
• P3 (15 min): 4v4 — coach encourages "look up, find a friend"
• P1 (10 min): 2v2 — emphasise "find your teammate"
• P2a (8 min): Pass & follow — Player A passes to B then runs to B's spot
• P2b (10 min): Keep away — 3 players keep ball from 1 defender, rotate every 90 sec
• P3 (15 min): 4v4 — coach encourages "look up, find a friend"
End-of-Season Celebration Session (45 min)
• Favourite activities chosen by the players (vote before session)
• Coach vs. Players game (let the kids win)
• Skill showcase — each player demonstrates something they're proud of
• Circle: each player shares one thing they learned this season
• Coach vs. Players game (let the kids win)
• Skill showcase — each player demonstrates something they're proud of
• Circle: each player shares one thing they learned this season
⚽ 10U — Building the Game
Key principle: Players are ready to understand the "why." Introduce simple tactics always through games, never through lectures.
Session 1 — Turning & Changing Direction (60 min)
Theme: Escaping pressure with quick turns
• P1 (12 min): 4v4 — notice who turns away from pressure naturally
• P2a (10 min): Colour turns — dribble freely, coach calls a colour cone — must turn and go to it
• P2b (12 min): 1v1 turn and escape — defender pressures, attacker must turn and reach safety cone
• P2c (10 min): Rondo 4v2 — outside players keep the ball; intercepted passer joins the middle
• P3 (14 min): 5v5 with focus question: "How many times did you turn away from pressure?"
• P1 (12 min): 4v4 — notice who turns away from pressure naturally
• P2a (10 min): Colour turns — dribble freely, coach calls a colour cone — must turn and go to it
• P2b (12 min): 1v1 turn and escape — defender pressures, attacker must turn and reach safety cone
• P2c (10 min): Rondo 4v2 — outside players keep the ball; intercepted passer joins the middle
• P3 (14 min): 5v5 with focus question: "How many times did you turn away from pressure?"
Session 2 — Receiving & First Touch (60 min)
Theme: Controlling the ball to create time and space
• P1 (12 min): 4v4 — watch for heavy first touches giving possession away
• P2a (10 min): Wall pass pairs — 1 touch to control, 1 touch to pass
• P2b (12 min): Diamond passing — 4 players in diamond shape, pass and move to next cone
• P3 (14 min): 5v5 — bonus point for a goal after a clean first touch that beats a defender
• P1 (12 min): 4v4 — watch for heavy first touches giving possession away
• P2a (10 min): Wall pass pairs — 1 touch to control, 1 touch to pass
• P2b (12 min): Diamond passing — 4 players in diamond shape, pass and move to next cone
• P3 (14 min): 5v5 — bonus point for a goal after a clean first touch that beats a defender
⚽ 12U & Above — Developing the Full Player
Key principle: Introduce team shape and positional awareness through game situations. Use short freeze moments, then return to play immediately.
Session 1 — Pressing & Defensive Shape (75 min)
Theme: When and how to press as a unit
• P1 (15 min): 7v7 — observe defensive organisation naturally
• P2a (15 min): 2v1 + 1 pressing — forward presses, second player covers the pass lane
• P2b (20 min): Transition game — win ball, play to target player within 5 seconds
• P3 (20 min): 7v7 with coach freeze moments to highlight pressing triggers
• Debrief (5 min): "What was the trigger for your press?" Discussion, not lecture.
• P1 (15 min): 7v7 — observe defensive organisation naturally
• P2a (15 min): 2v1 + 1 pressing — forward presses, second player covers the pass lane
• P2b (20 min): Transition game — win ball, play to target player within 5 seconds
• P3 (20 min): 7v7 with coach freeze moments to highlight pressing triggers
• Debrief (5 min): "What was the trigger for your press?" Discussion, not lecture.
Session 2 — Combination Play & Third Man Runs (75 min)
Theme: Breaking lines with combination play
• P1 (15 min): 7v7 — observe who plays simple pass vs who finds the third player
• P2a (15 min): 3-player combinations — wall pass, overlap, third man run
• P2b (20 min): 4v3 to goal — attackers must use a combination before shooting
• P3 (20 min): 7v7 — bonus goal for a third-man run resulting in a shot
• P1 (15 min): 7v7 — observe who plays simple pass vs who finds the third player
• P2a (15 min): 3-player combinations — wall pass, overlap, third man run
• P2b (20 min): 4v3 to goal — attackers must use a combination before shooting
• P3 (20 min): 7v7 — bonus goal for a third-man run resulting in a shot
AYSO U has full session plans for every age group and theme — completely free. Sign in to ayso206.org and select AYSOU from the left menu.