Home / Coach side
I coach.
For the parent who said yes, and for the coach with a badge. Sessions, tactics and the Laws, without the jargon.
The planner
A session in a minute
Age group, how many turned up, how long you have and what you want to work on. The planner puts together a warm-up, practices and a game, with diagrams you can print or open on your phone at the pitch.
The essentials
What every grassroots coach needs to know.
- The youth game by ageFormats, pitch and goal sizes, ball sizes, 3v3 for under-7s and the heading rules, for 2026/27.
- SafeguardingChecks, courses, photos, concussion, goalposts and who to call. Read this before your first session.
- The Laws, in plain EnglishAll 17, with offside drawn out step by step, and what changed this season.
- FormationsShapes for 3v3 to 11v11, on the right size pitch, with and without the ball.
Tactics
The big ideas of team play, drawn and animated. All tactics.
Team practices
Each one with set-up, coaching points and ways to make it easier or harder.
dribbling · 10 min · 6 to 16
Dribble and steal
Everyone dribbles in a square. Two stealers try to win a ball. A busy start where everyone is on the ball from the first minute.
dribbling · 15 min · Pairs, any number
1v1 to the gates
An attacker scores by dribbling through either of two gates. If the defender wins it, they attack the other two.
attacking · 15 min · Groups of 3
2v1: pass or go?
Two attackers against one defender. The player on the ball decides: dribble past, or pass to a teammate who is free.
possession · 12 min · Groups of 5
Rondo: 4 against 1
Four players keep the ball from one defender in the middle. If the defender wins it, the player who lost it goes in.
passing · 10 min · 5 to 8 per square
Pass and follow
Pass to the next cone and run after your pass. Lots of touches, and a calm start to a passing session.
defending · 12 min · Pairs, any number
Defend the gate
The defender learns to close down fast, slow down, and stop the attacker getting through a gate.
game · 15 min · 6 to 10 (3v3 to 5v5)
Four-goal game
Each team attacks two goals on the far corners. When one goal is crowded, switch the play to the other.
attacking · 15 min · 6 to 12, plus a goalkeeper
3v2 to goal
Three attackers break against two defenders and a goalkeeper. Find the free player, finish quickly.
game · 15 min · 8 to 12 (4v4 to 6v6)
End-zone game
Score by dribbling into the end zone, or by receiving a pass in it. Encourages running with the ball and forward passes.
game · 20 min · Everyone
The game
Finish every session with a real game, in the format your players play on match days.