Training sessions by topic

Indoor training for under-7s: 2 ready-made sessions

Playful sessions in the sports hall for the youngest players – getting used to the ball, tag games and first passing drills.

Indoor Training for U6/U7: Ball Familiarisation and Tag Games

4 drills

This training plan concentrates entirely on suitable indoor drills for U6/U7 players. It shows how floor mats can be used for mobility with and without the ball, how the players are familiarised with the ball, and it presents a selection of tag games as individual or team competitions.

Drill 1

Indoor Training: Tag Game as Activation and Reaction Test

10 minWhole indoor pitch, alternatively half of the indoor pitch with the pairs closer together
  • The players first throw the ball back and forth to each other as a push throw or as a throw-in.
  • On a signal from the coach, whoever is holding the ball at that moment has to run away and sprint over their own target line.
  • The other player tries to tag that player first.
  • Then the tasks are swapped.
  • The playing time is about 10 minutes.

Scoring: If the player with the ball is not caught, that player gets a point. Play as a competition: which pair or which team collects the most points?

Variations:

  • The players pass the ball to each other, one-touch or with 2 touches.
  • The players go into a squat and throw the ball.
  • The players sit cross-legged and throw the ball.
  • The players lie on their front and roll the ball.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The pairs spread out over the indoor pitch and stand facing each other in two lines, the distance can vary. Behind each line runs the target line of the respective player, for example the goal line in front of the hall wall.

Equipment: 1 ball per pair, bibs in two colours.

Players: Each player looks for a partner, the two lines stand facing each other. The coach stands at the side of the pitch and gives the signal.

Coaching points
  • There are no limits to the imagination when it comes to the starting formats.
  • The players should react quickly and run at top speed.
  • Cheer the players on and motivate them again and again.
  • The fun factor is the main focus.
Drill 2

Indoor Training for U6/U7: Mat Circuit

15 minHalf of the indoor pitch, with larger groups set the square up twice
  • On the coach's signal the players run anticlockwise around the square.
  • On each mat they complete a new exercise, for example a forward roll, a backward roll, star jumps, two-footed jumps, a sideways roll or hopping with the right only or with the left only.
  • After a while the running direction is changed.

Variations:

  • Run as a race: which player manages the most laps, with or without an additional task on the mat?
  • Play as a tag game: two teams stand diagonally opposite each other or at the first and the second cone, depending on the level of difficulty, and try to catch the opponents. Those caught wait outside the area. Which team has caught all the opponents first?
  • Run backwards.
  • Run sideways.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out a large square with 4 cones and lay out a floor mat on each side between two cones.

Equipment: 4 cones, 4 floor mats.

Players: The players spread out as evenly as possible over the four cones.

Coaching points
  • With tasks such as the forward roll, pay attention to correct execution.
  • Give the children support where needed.
  • The fun factor counts.
Drill 3

Indoor Training for U6/U7: Mat Circuit with Ball

15 minHalf of the indoor pitch, with larger groups set the course up twice
  • The players run anticlockwise around the square with the ball and dribble over the mats.
  • Between the mats they complete different ball familiarisation exercises, for example stopping the ball with the sole or dragging it sideways.
  • After a while the running direction is changed.

Scoring: Run as an individual competition: which player manages the most laps with the ball at the feet without a mistake? As a team competition: one team catches, which team catches more players in the circuit with the ball at the feet?

Variations:

  • The players bounce the ball between the mats.
  • On the mats the players throw the ball up.
  • On the mats the ball circles around the hips.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn. The mat circuit without a ball is suitable as a preparatory drill.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out a square with 4 cones and lay out a floor mat on each side between two cones.

Equipment: 4 cones, 4 floor mats, 1 ball per player.

Players: The players spread out as evenly as possible over the four cones.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to close dribbling and ball control.
  • Let them play both with the foot and with the hands.
  • Pay attention to the fun factor.
  • Point out that the cones should not be touched, and correct where necessary.
Drill 4

Indoor Training for U6/U7: Tag Game - Mats as a Prison

10 minHalf of the indoor pitch, with larger groups set the area up twice
  • On the coach's starting signal four players of the first team set off as catchers.
  • Their task is to tag the players of the second team.
  • Whoever is caught stands on one of the mats, which serves as a prison.
  • A caught player can be freed by a team-mate tagging that player.

Scoring: Which team has caught all the opposing players first?

Variations:

  • A player can get free without help by completing an exercise on the mat, for example a forward roll or star jumps.
  • With one exercise on the mat a player can free all the team-mates at once.
  • The players tuck bibs into their shorts: how quickly does one team manage to collect all the bibs of the other team?
  • Whoever gets to safety on a mat cannot be caught, the mat is then a safe zone.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out a large square with 4 cones and lay out a floor mat on each side between two cones. The four mats serve as a prison.

Equipment: 4 cones, 4 floor mats, bibs in two colours.

Players: Two teams, which spread out freely in the area.

Coaching points
  • Cheer the players on again and again.
  • Emphasise the fun factor.
  • Include different exercises on the mats, for example the forward roll.

Indoor Training for the Youngest Players: Improving Passing

4 drills

This session is about passing and ball control indoors. It covers passing technique, the first touch and taking the ball in stride, and accuracy. This session is particularly suitable for U7, U8/U9 and U10/U11 players.

Coaching points for this session
  • Passing accuracy
  • Ball control
  • Use of both feet
  • First touch and taking the ball in stride
Drill 1

Indoor Training: Relay Game

20 minHalf an indoor pitch; for more intensity increase the size of the area or the distances between the stations
  • The first player of each team sets off into the course and jumps over the hurdle, or alternatively crawls underneath it. If no hurdles are available, a stool can be used.
  • Then the player goes through the hoops and runs through the 4 cones as quickly as possible.
  • After that the player runs around the last tall cone and sprints back to the goal line.
  • Then the next player starts.

Scoring: Run as a team competition: which team completes the course the quickest? The winning team receives one point for the team score.

Variations:

  • Jump through the hoops with the right leg only or with the left leg only.
  • Run the four cones backwards.
  • Do the sprint back to the goal line backwards.
  • The first player goes through the course normally, the second in reverse order.
  • After a few rounds, go through the course with the ball at the feet or in the hands.
  • The first player places the ball in the hoop, the second player collects it from there.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up three identical lanes next to one another. In each lane a tall cone on the goal line marks the start, followed by a hurdle, 3 to 4 hoops in a row, 4 cones as a slalom and a tall cone as a turning marker at the end.

Equipment: 3 hurdles, 12 to 15 hoops, 12 cones, 6 tall cones, several balls.

Players: Three teams, assigned to the three lanes, waiting at the start with their balls.

Coaching points
  • There are hardly any limits to the possible variations of this relay game, with and without a ball.
  • Look for correct execution and speed.
  • Motivate and encourage the players again and again.
  • If it is played with the ball at the feet, look for close ball control.
Drill 2

Indoor Training: Target Passing as a Competition

15 minDistance from the area to the bench approximately 10 metres, adjustable depending on the number of players and the level of difficulty
  • The first player of each team passes the ball against the bench in such a way that it rolls back into their own area, and then joins the back of the queue.
  • The next player controls the ball and passes against the bench again.
  • If the ball leaves the area, a player collects it and brings it back as quickly as possible.

Scoring: Play as a team competition: which team achieves the most hits on the bench without the ball leaving the area? The hits on the bench are counted.

Variations:

  • Allow one-touch passing only.
  • Pass with the left foot only or with the right foot only.
  • Play in turns: the first player passes against the bench, the second stops the ball, the third passes again.
  • Increase the distance between the bench and the area with each round.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out two areas of equal size next to one another with a total of 8 cones, 4 corner cones per area. Approximately 10 metres in front of each area a bench stands as a rebound wall.

Equipment: 8 cones, 2 benches, bibs in two colours, 1 ball per team.

Players: Two teams, assigned to the two areas, where they wait one behind the other.

Coaching points
  • Look for passing accuracy and clean technique.
  • Look for the use of both feet.
Drill 3

Indoor Training: Passing and Getting Free

15 minHalf an indoor pitch
  • The players at the positions A and C start at the same time and play a ground pass through the passing gate to the player opposite, B and D respectively.
  • The players opposite control the ball and play it back through the passing gate to the starting position.
  • Then it is the turn of the next players.
  • After the pass the players each change position diagonally: A joins D, B joins C, C joins B and D joins A.
  • On the diagonal run the players can complete running technique drills.
  • The format is intended as a continuous passing drill; on each side the ball travels back and forth between the passing gates.
  • To begin with it is played with two touches.

Variations:

  • Allow one-touch ground passing only.
  • Play both touches with the same foot, for example stopping the ball with the right sole and passing with the right foot.
  • Play with two touches in strict alternation, so the first touch with the right foot and the pass with the left foot.
  • Higher level of difficulty: the ball is played back and forth in the air only, with two touches, for example control with the thigh and a pass with the inside of the instep.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out a large rectangle with 4 tall cones; the corners form the positions A and B on one side and C and D on the other. Between A and B and between C and D, two cones approximately 4 metres apart form a passing gate.

Equipment: 4 tall cones, 4 cones, 2 balls as well as several spare balls at the side.

Players: The players are assigned to the four positions and spread out as evenly as possible. The players at the positions A and C have one ball each.

Coaching points
  • Look for precise passing, the use of both feet and a clean first touch.
Drill 4

Indoor Training: Passing and Getting Free II

15 minHalf an indoor pitch.

Player A passes to Player B. Player B takes the ball with the first touch and then plays it diagonally through the passing gate to Player C. Player C passes to Player D, who also takes the ball to the side with the first touch and plays it through the passing gate to Player A.

After the pass the players each move to the position opposite: A to B, B to A, C to D and D to C. On the running routes they complete running technique drills.

Note: The basic format can be found under “Indoor Training: Passing and Getting Free”. Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set-up as shown in the graphic. Four tall cones mark the positions A, B, C and D. On each side two cones approximately 4 metres apart form a passing gate, plus a further passing gate in the middle for the diagonal pass.

Equipment: 4 tall cones, several cones, several balls.

Players: The players spread out as evenly as possible across the four positions. The first players at the positions A and C have one ball each.

Coaching points
  • Look for precise passing.
  • Insist on the use of both feet.
  • Look for a correct first touch.

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