U8-U10 Practice Plan

from Tony Sloss

For most U8-U10 practices, I plan the time as follows:

1/3 warm-ups: individual and paired coordination activities, dribbling moves, juggling, fun games

1/3 skill building drills and small games: demonstrate, then practice with no pressure, a little pressure, and then game pressure

1/3 scrimmage: may first add rules (2-touch, pass before shots take, use all players, etc., but always end with open game.

Warm-ups

-individual: Simon says stretching, foot switching on ball, the ‘fall down’ practice, goalie catches

-paired: ball handling, stretching, bumping, pepper,

-games: freeze tag, blob tag, hospital tag, fire in the forest, tsunami in the sea, volcano island, empty the nest, demon, knockout, soccer tennis

Skill Building Small Games

- 1v1 dribbler’s dream with goals end to end or side to side

- 2v2 flying changes for quick transitions

- 2v1 or 3v2 with goalies to work on offense passing, defensive tactics

- 4-goal games encourage switching point of attack, looking up off the ball

-3v3 scrimmage with 3 goalies, the best U8 game ever (see below)

Flying Changes	2v2 with small or large goals. Additional players line up behind endline (or at corners). As soon as ball crosses endline, new players rush out with a new ball, and former attacking team now on defense. Former defender goes to back of line with their ball. Pts. for goals only. Option: 3v3, 4-goal game. Encourage quick transitions, and a readiness to burst forward when its time.
Dribbler’s Dream	1v1 with small goals. First s serves ball to first a, and then chases to steal ball. A can score on either left or right goal. Use first touch, feints to throw off opponent. Switch lines, or stay in same and keep team score. Options: s serves from one endline toward a who is at other end line.
4-goal game	2 x bring out a ball and attack the z goals. Choice of goals gives them more choices, spreads the defense. Z attempts to steal ball and attack either of the x goals. Options: give each group of four a set time to play, or rotate out when ball goal is scored.
3v3 Scrimmage – the best!	Larger field scrimmage with large goals. 3v3 scrimmage with half the team, while the other half plays goalies. Go all out for 2-3 minutes, then yell “switch”; the field players go into goal, the the goalies come out and play on the field. Goalies should be told to stay on the goal line when playing goalie. Coach can group kids by ability to allow newer players more touches on the ball.