Broture U8U9 Training Guide Final 1

U8 / U9 Coaching Guide

Created for LNYSA Boys & Girls Coaches

Questions?

Contact Heather Biondolillo
heather.biondolillo@lnysa.org

Printing generously donated by Structures, Inc.
http://www.structureseng.com

LNYSA Season Coaching Goal:

To have all of your players register
to play soccer again next season.

How to Meet Our Goal:

1) Practice age/developmentally appropriate activities
2) Create a safe environment for all players
3) Build a positive and supportive community around the team

Guiding Principles:

1. The “Three L” philosophy
a. No Lines
b. No Laps
c. No Lectures

2. Be positive
a. Look for ways to provide positive feedback to all of your players during
each practice and game. The more encouragement they get the better they
will feel about themselves and their confidence in the game will grow. Your
parents should follow this same principle.

3. Games over drills
a. No one enjoys drills, but that doesn’t mean we don’t teach the basic skills
required to develop our young players. Adding an element of game or fun to
each activity will keep kids engaged and learning.

Characteristics of Games Characteristics of Drills
Dynamic Static
Free movement Standing in lines
Requires decision making No/little thought required
FUN BORING

*Some materials, images and lessons were pulled from US Soccer www.usyouthsoccer.org,
Sports Session www.sportsessionplanner.com, and soccerdrillsapp.com.
4. Be organized
a. Have a written practice plan (always plan 1 extra activity)
b. Set up your field before practice begins
c. Have pinnies/bibs laid out so children can grab easily

What is age appropriate for a 8U/9U player?
● Attention span is a bit longer than 6U/7U player. (8-9 mins)
● Very sensitive (dislikes personal failure in front of peers); ridicule from a coach in
front of teammates is very destructive.
● Boys and girls are still similar in physical and psychological development.
● Loves to run, jump, climb, and roll.
● Enjoys imitating sports heroes.
● Lacks a sense of pace; will run until they drop.

Ways to train a 8U/9U player:
● Give brief direction; repeat when necessary
● Various short activities (12-15 mins)
● Frequent water breaks
● 60 min training session maximum
● Warm up session, activities, and finish with small sided game(s)
● Teach mostly technical skills (dribbling, shooting, passing, throw-ins, goal kicks,
corner kicks), and some BASIC tactical (positioning on kickoffs, flow of game,
corner kicks, and goal kicks)

We are going this way and that

Activities Checklist:
We’ve provided recommended activities for each week of practice below, but if you come
up with your own drills or activities, ask yourself:

● Are they fun?
● Are they organized?
● Is there a clear objective?
● Are all the players involved with maximum participation?
● Do players have the opportunity for decision making and creativity?
● Is there positive, age-appropriate feedback?

The following pages provide direction for 10 weeks of practice

Week 1 Training
Objective: Dribbling with the head up
● To improve dribbling and ball familiarity.
● To work on dribbling with the head up.

I. Warm-up: Cars

ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes
DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Players each have a ball to dribble.
(drive their car) If the coach calls out “first gear”
then the players dribble the ball slowly. If the
coach calls out “second gear”, the players dribble a
little faster. “Third gear” the players dribble as fast
as they can in control. A) Can add “red light” and
players have to stop the ball with their foot.
B) “Gas Station” players must keep the ball
between their feet as best as possible (tick
tock/popcorn)
C) “Reverse” players must change direction by
doing a pull back turn. (step on ball and pull back)

Coaching Points / Key Concepts:
Dribbling with the head up.
Change direction and speed.
II. Main Part: Gates

ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes
DURATION: 12 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Make small gates. Players dribble
their ball around and try to make it though as many
gates as possible within a minute.
A) Have a coach/parent move to various gates and
block them.
B) Add more parents and block more gates

Change direction and speed

III. Main Part:2v2 / 3v3 to an end zone

ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute
REPETITIONS: 6

Organization: Create two end zones and put a ball
in each. There is also one game ball. Play 2v2 or
3v3. The objective is to dribble the ball into the
other team’s endzone. When a team is successful,
they retrieve another ball from their defending end
zone and try again. The first team to get all three
balls in the other team’s end zone wins.

Introducing how to dribble around an opponent.
Ask players to show you how they go around
someone.
IV. Game:

REPETITIONS: 3

Organization: Play to small goals. At first play “NEW
BALL.” Whenever a ball goes out of bounds the
players will receive a new ball from the coach. Play
until one ball is left. When one ball is left, play like a
normal game and rules.

Play and enjoy!

Week 2 Training
Objective: Push Pass
● To improve passing the ball. Specifically the push pass.
● To develop working with a teammate.

I. Warm-up: Back to Coach - Pairs

DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Players are in pairs. Coach tosses ball
and each pair brings the ball back to the coach by
passing it back to each other.
A) Get it back to coach
B) make a specific amount of passes
C) Coach walks away. Now can they find the coach?

Passing the ball with the biggest part of the foot,
which is the inside.

II. Main Part: Gates

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Each pair has a ball. Make small gates.
Progression: A) Players pass ball back and forth
through gate. See how many they can get in 20
seconds, B) Pass through gate and go to a new one.
C) Pass through gate two times then go to a new one.
D) Coach and assistants walk around and block a
gate. E) Challenge them to make a longer pass. Can
they pass the ball through two gates?

Push pass. What part of the foot do you use to pass
the ball? (Inside, instep, or outside).

III. Main Part: 2v2, 3v3 to a target

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Play 2v2, 3v3 with a parent or assistant
coach inside each endzone. The object is to try and
pass the ball to one of the coaches in the endzone.

What part of the foot do you use to score?
What if you can’t pass? Then what? (pass the ball to a
teammate)

IV. Game:

REPETITIONS: 2

Organization Play small-sided game to goals.

Play and enjoy!

Week 3 Training
Objective: Positioning on Field
● To learn positioning.
● To stay in positions.

I. Warm-up: Paint the Grass- Dribbling

DURATION: 12-15 minutes
REPETITIONS: 5

Organization: All players dribble around the area
with their soccer ball.
A) Encourage them to dribble around (paint) the entire
marked area.
B) Teach them the scissor move. Use foot to step
over the ball (from inside to out) and then use
opposite foot to push the ball out and sideways to
slightly change direction. Player should end up
dribbling in the same basic direction.
c) Pull-back turn: Players use the ball of their foot to
drag the ball back behind them. Players should be
dribbling in opposite direction as they started.

Dribbling with head up
Finding space on field
Changing directions
II. Main Part: Sharks and Minnows

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: The coach is the shark and the players
are the minnows. Minnows must try and get from one
Island (the end zones) to another, without the shark
getting their soccer ball. When coach says go players
must try and dribble their soccer balls from one end
zone to another without getting caught by the shark. If
a player loses their ball to the shark then they become
a shark and help catch the other minnows. A shark
cannot catch a minnow when they are in the Islands.
Whichever swimmer is left last is the winner.
A) If a player performs a scissor move then they get
an extra life and have to be caught twice before they
have to become a shark.

To dribble with your head up
Change directions
Use a scissor move to beat defender.
III. Main Part: Positioning
*** this is a walk thru lesson. Make it as short and
thorough as possible. It is difficult, but players WILL
understand it.

ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minute
DURATION: 8- 10 minutes
REPETITIONS: 5

Organization: Field is divided into 3 sections. Players
stand 6v6 or 7v7 team.
A) Coach has the ball and walks around to different
parts of the field. Players adjust their positioning
based on the location of the ball. Main concepts:
Players must stay together in the organized shape.
Wings (outside midfielders) must stay in outer
sections. Cannot cross line. The forward(s) may not
go behind the midfielders. Midfielders should not go
behind defenders.
B) Coach passes the ball to a player who traps ball.
All other players adjust accordingly.
C) If you play with a GK or 6v6 take a forward out

Paying attention
Staying organized
Movement on field
IV. Game: 5v5 or 6v6

REPETITIONS: 2

Organization: Play small-sided game to goals. Players
must stay in shape of airplane.

Play and enjoy!


Week 4 Training
Objective: Throw ins
● To improve throw-in technique.
● To make a good throw in that leads to movement towards the goal.

Warm-up: Shopping Spree

REPETITIONS: 8-10

Organization: Make a 20x30 yard grid. Mark off a
square “ store” in each corner. Have players name
the stores. All players are dribbling around the
grid/mall. Using different parts of the foot, different
speeds and any other moves that have been taught.
When the coach yells out a particular store, all players
must dribble to that store as quickly as possible. The
last person to reach store becomes the mall cop and
is then “it” Continuing playing until everyone is
tagged.

Coaching Points/ Key Concepts:
Close touches to get through pressure.
Big touches to get away from pressure.
Keeping head up to find space.
Keeping head up to find mall cop.
Protect the ball.
II.Main Part: Throw-ins

REPETITIONS: 4
Organization: 1 channel= 16x8 yd. Blue cones 8 yd
apart and 8 yd from tall cone. 1 ball per pair.
Players are throwing their ball over the 2 tall cones
and to their partner on the other side.
A) Ball is thrown in from A to B and B then does a
throw in to A.
B). Ball is thrown in from A to B, B receives with their
feet and passes back. Switch after 8.
C) Ball is thrown in from A to B, B receives and
dribbles across. Players switch places, repeat.

Coaching Points/ Key Concepts:
Both feet must stay on the ground.
Ball in two hands start behind the head.
Throw straight forward and follow through the hands
at the target.
III. Main Part: Throw-in with Ball Control

REPETITIONS: 6
Organization: Create an area 40 x 30 yard (red) with a
12 x 10 yard smaller area inside (blue).
4/5 players on the outside with a ball and 4/5 players
inside the inner grid without a ball. The aim of this
activity is to develop the players skills of receiving a
ball from a throw, unopposed. The players inside the
grid are to make quick movements to the outside of
this grid in order to receive the ball. The players on
the outside have a ball in their hands, serve the ball
under arm to begin with and then progress to a
behind head throw.
Player from the inner area controls the ball and
returns it to the player on the outside, before returning
to the inner area.
Rotate players after 2 minute each.

Coaching Points/ Key Concepts
Movement required to receive ball
Communication between players.
Technique of a throw in.

REPETITIONS: 2

Organization: Play small-sided game to goals. Players
must stay in shape of airplane.

Play and enjoy!


Week 5 Training
Objective: Receiving the ball
● To improve how to redirect or receive the ball. “Take it somewhere new.”
● To develop how to work with a teammate.

I. Warm-up: The Triangle

DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Players are in pairs and share one ball.
Each pair makes a triangle with cones. Triangles
should be around 2 yards apart. The player with the
ball passes the ball through the triangle. The player
receiving the ball tries to redirect the ball around a
cone and then pass the ball back through.
A) See how many times they can pass the ball back
through the triangle without hitting the cones.
B) See which pair can make the most passes back
through the triangle without touching the cones.

Coaching Points / Key Concepts: Redirect the ball
with the inside of the foot. Can they do it with the
outside of the foot? First touch sets up their next
touch.
II. Main Part: 2v1 4 goal game

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Divide the field in half. Two players from
the attacking team each go to a half. They stay in that
half. The object is to receive the ball from a pair in the
back half and score in one of the two side goals. One
player from the defending team also goes into a half.
They stay in their half. If they win the ball they try to
score in one of the other two side goals. If they win
the ball they can go into either half. Rotate the players
around each round.

Focus on how they redirect the ball.
What part of the foot do you use to redirect the ball?
Can they take it somewhere new?

III. Main Part: 3v3 / 4v4 Game to 4 goals

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Play 3v3 / 4v4 to 4 goals. Each team
attacks two goals and defends two. Rotate the
players to a new role and let them experience
redirecting the ball in a different part of the field.

What part of the foot do you use to redirect the ball?
Where should you redirect the ball if the opponent is
coming at you? (away from pressure)

IV. Game:

REPETITIONS: 2

Organization: Play small-sided game to goals.

Play and enjoy!

Week 6 Training
Objective: Dribbling with control and beating defender
● To improve dribbling and ball familiarity.
● To work on dribbling around a defender.

I. Warm-up: Four Lines & Turn

DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Put 2/3 players on each side of the
25x25 grid. Place 1 cone in the middle of field.
Players dribble to the middle cone, turn and dribble
back to their line. One player from each line goes at
a time.
A) Vary the type of turn: pull back, inside/outside of
foot.
B) Set a time and see how many times a team can
make it to the center cone.

Speed dribbling
Turning away from defender
Ball control
II. Main Part: Circle Dribbling

REPETITIONS: 6

Organization: Use the center circle of the field. Mark
a triangle in the center of circle. Players are paired
up and they spread out around the edge of the circle.
One player is number 1 and the other player is
number 2. All players stand with their partner on
outside of the circle. Number 1 has a ball and
number 2 does not. Number 1 dribbles into the
middle of the circle and through the small triangle.
They then dribble to a different number 2 player.
When they get there they give the player the ball and
stand in their space. The number 2 player then
dribbles into small triangle and then out to a different
number 1 player. The game keeps going for 2
minutes.
A) Dribble with left foot only
B) Dribble with right foot only

Dribbling with speed and control.
III. Main Part: 1v1 to Goal

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Mark out a 30 yard long by 20 yard
wide field. Place a 2 yard wide goal at each end of
the field. Coach divides the group into two teams.
One team is placed in one color pinnies and the
other group is given different color pinnies. Coach
has one team stand on one side of the field in a line
one behind each other and the other team stands on
the other side of the field. Coach passes a ball into
the middle of the field, the first player in each line
runs onto the field and compete to score on either
goal in a 1v1 battle. Once a player scores or the ball
goes out of bounds then the go is over and the
players return to the back of their line. Then the next
teams play.
A) Players get a point for scoring in either goal or by
doing an inside of the foot turn.
B) Players can only score a goal after they perform a
pull back turn

Encourage players to turn and go to the goal that is
not being covered by the defender.
IV. Game:

REPETITIONS: 2


Play and enjoy!

Week 7 Training
Objective: Defending
● To improve defensive positioning.

I. Warm-up: Shadowing

REPETITIONS: 8-10

Organization: In a 30x30 grid have players stand
next to a partner. One player is offensive and the
other is the defender. When coach says “go”
attacker runs away. Defenders try to stay close to
their partner. When coach yells “stop” the players
freeze. If the defender can touch their partner with
1 step, they earn a point. Switch roles.

Staying with one player
II. Main Part: Shadowing #2

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Coach marks out a 30 yard square
with cones. All players stand in the square, in
pairs, with one player as the attacker and one
player as the defender. Attacker has a ball,
defender does not. When coach say go the player
with the ball tries to lose the player without a ball.
The player without a ball must try to keep up with
the attacker and stay with them. When coach says
'freeze' players must stop. If defender is within 2
steps of attacker then they get a point. Switch
roles and play again.

This game will work well on improving players
attacking skills, but focus on talking about the
defensive side of the game. This game will
introduce player to the idea of sticking with a
player, or marking a player.
III. Main Part: Steal the Bacon

ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute
REPETITIONS: 6

Organization: Play 1v1 or 2v2. The objective is to
dribble the ball and score a goal. Divide the team
into 2 groups. Give each player a number. Line
each team on a sideline. When a player’s number
is called, those players (should be 1 from each
team) runs around the goal to a ball in the middle
of the field. They play 1v1 until a goal is scored or
the ball goes out of bounds.
A) mix up the number order you call.
B) Call 2 numbers at a time so it’s 2v2

Paying attention
Dribbling with speed
Scoring goals

REPETITIONS: 2

Players must stay in shape of airplane.

Play and enjoy!

Week 8 Training
Objective: Striking the ball
● To improve striking the ball.
● To continue to work on dribbling with the head up and striking the ball.

I. Warm-up: Goal to Goal

DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Players pair up with one ball. They
both make a goal. The object is to score a goal.
Rules: 1. The player not striking the ball can not
use their hands unless for safety reason. 2. If a ball
is controlled by the player not striking the ball they
have two touches to shoot the ball back. 3.
Progress to they can only hit a ball that is moving.

Striking the ball with their instep. The non-striking
foot should be next to and slightly ahead of the
ball. Keep the head and shoulders forward. Try to
land on their shooting foot.
II. Main Part: Shooting

REPETITIONS: 5

Organization: Set up small sided field with 1 goal
on each endline. Team 1 goes on one side of
field, Team 2 on other. Player standing by goal
passes ball to teammate. Player will then trap ball
and then shoot on goal. Change lines with your
team only.
A) Switch sides to encourage use of both feet.
B) Have players strike ball w/o trapping

Striking the ball with their instep. The non-striking
foot should be next to and slightly ahead of the
ball. Keep the head and shoulders forward. Try to
land on their shooting foot.
III. Main Part: 3v3 / 4v4 Get out of here!

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization Bring two teams together. Play 3v3
to goals. When the ball goes out of bounds, the
coach yells “Get outta here” and the players on the
field run off. A new pair runs on. Note: Make the
field smaller so the ball goes out of bounds and
the players aren’t waiting too long in line.

What part of the foot do you use to score?
What if you can’t shoot? Then what? (pass the ball
to someone who can)

IV. Game:

REPETITIONS: 2


Play and enjoy!

Week 9 Training
Objective: Improving intermediate-long range passes
● To improve intermediate range passes (8-12 yards).
● To improve long range passes for the U8/U9 player (15-20 yards).

I. Warm-up: Clean The Yard

DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Divide into two teams. Each team
goes to a half. Use an odd number of balls. The
objective of the game is to strike the ball into the
other team’s yard. Each team wants to have a
clean yard when time is called by the coach. The
team that has the fewest balls on their side when
time is called gets a point. Play to a certain
amount of points or for time. Progress: Require a
pass to be made to a teammate before the ball
can be struck back to the other half.

Coaching Points / Key Concepts: Striking the ball
with their instep. The non--striking foot should be
next to and slightly away of the ball.

II. Main Part: 3v3/ 4v4 to a target

REPETITIONS: 6

Organization: Play 3v3, 4v4 with a parent or
assistant coach inside each endzone. The object is
to try and pass the ball to one of the coaches in
the endzone.

Coaching Points / Key Concepts: What part of the
foot do you use to make a longer pass? What if
you can’t pass? Then what? (pass the ball to a
teammate)

III. Main Part: Outside Goals

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Play 4v4 game. Each team has two
goals they can score on and two goals to defend.
The goals are placed 10-15 yards outside of the
playing area. Play a normal game except in order
to score in one of the two goals, the ball must be
passed from inside the playing area.

What part of the foot do you use to make a longer
pass? What if you can’t pass? Then what? (pass
to a teammate)

IV. Game

REPETITIONS: 2


Play and enjoy!

Week 10 Training
Objective: Teaching with small-sided games
● To work on teaching technique within a small-sided game.
● Find enjoyment in playing small-sided games
● To work on teaching simple principles of play such as attacking and defending.

I. Warm-up: Paint The Grass- Passing

DURATION: 8 minutes
REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Players are in pairs. Each pair shares
one ball. Pairs try to pass the ball in an area.
Instruct players that they should try to paint the
field with the ball by passing. Try to paint the
whole playing area.

Push pass. Redirecting the ball – Can they take it
somewhere new? Working with a teammate
Spatial awareness. They may run next to each
other. Can they find a space away from their
partner?

II. Main Part: Last Player Back

REPETITIONS: 6

Organization: Players are in pairs or groups of 3.
Play a game to goals. The team that has the ball
must always attack with everyone. The team that
is defending, sends someone back to stand on the
goal line. They become a goalkeeper. When the
team that is defending wins the ball that player that
was in goal now come out and the team that was
attacking sends someone (usually the last player)
back to stand on the goal line.

What part of the foot do you use to make a longer
pass? What if you can’t pass? Then what? (pass
the ball to a teammate) How do you win the ball
back?
III. Main Part: 4 Corners

REPETITIONS: 4

Organization: Play 4v4 /5v5 game. The game is a
normal game except each team attempts to get to
a corner to score.

Dribbling, passing, finding space.
This activity also promotes teamwork as they have
to attempt to include more players in the process.

IV. Game:

REPETITIONS: 2


Play and enjoy!


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