Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 26: Last Session Before Christmas

2 complete training sessions with 8 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

The last week of the year with team training is here. After that, the players first go into their well-earned Christmas holidays before things start again in the new year.

Because some players still cannot leave the ball alone, training weeks 27 and 28 will be about ways to keep fit on your own and improve as a footballer.

In this, the 26th training week, there is no tactical or technical focus. Instead, it is about fun-based training. Practices in competition formats are ideal for this. Children who love sport usually take great pleasure in competing with others. Players will be able to compare themselves both individually and as a team with their team-mates.

Make sure that the players or teams in each practice are matched with opponents of about equal strength. This ensures exciting duels and keeps players motivated in training, because they are neither over- nor under-challenged by their opponent.

In addition, well-thought-out grouping of the players has a positive effect on the children's development. For example, a particularly early-maturing, fast and tall player can win a 1 vs 1 against a smaller player through physical superiority alone. But he will hardly be challenged technically, and the smaller, slower player may become frustrated after a few rounds.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

After a 6 vs 2 rondo as the warm-up, the first two competition formats follow. In the 2nd exercise the players compete as individuals, and in the 3rd exercise as a team.

In terms of technical focus, the training session is very balanced. The rondo improves passing, the 1 vs 1 tournament trains dribbling and the crossing competition works above all on finishing.

The session ends with a 4 vs 4 small-sided game with 2 advanced target players. It is important that the target players move out of the cover shadow of the opponents in the playing area so that they can receive a pass. When the forward pass to a target player then follows, it is important that the team-mates follow the ball. This may allow the target player to lay the ball off first time and so set up a finish for a team-mate.

Coaching points for this session
  • Divide the teams so that they are roughly “evenly matched”
  • Give the winners due recognition and motivate the losers for the following competitions
Drill 1

Rondo 6 vs 2

15 min10 x 10 metres
  • Inside the playing area a 6 vs 2 is played for keeping possession.
  • The two inside players try to win the ball.
  • If a player of the team with the overload loses the ball, that player becomes a defender.
  • One of the two previous defenders plays on in the team with the overload instead.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Six players on the outside, two players on the inside.

Coaching points
  • Demand first-time play depending on ability level.
  • One defender presses, the other waits for the pass.
Drill 2

1 vs 1 Tournament Format

25 min
  • Play is 1 vs 1 within the marked areas.
  • Each round lasts about two to three minutes.
  • The winner of each round moves up one division, the loser moves down one.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out several areas side by side, poles form the goals. Each area is assigned a division.

Equipment: Poles, cones and several balls.

Players: Pairs who compete against each other in a 1 vs 1.

Drill 3

Crossing Competition | Crossing Training

20 min
  • One pair of players from a team starts from the centre and receives a cross that is to be converted.
  • The two players then receive a cross from the other side, which must be finished on the other goal.

Variations:

  • Headed goals count double.
  • Play without a defender; to increase the intensity a defender can intervene.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the outer zones; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams with pairs of players in the centre as well as one crosser each in the wing zone; goalkeepers stand in the goals. An opponent can additionally be positioned in the wing zone.

Coaching points
  • Do not make the run in too early.
  • Move away from the ball.
  • Make the run in diagonally towards the crosser and the goal.
  • The players attack the near post and the far post.
  • The crosses are always played on the move.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 with Target Players in Behind

25 minDouble penalty area
  • 4 vs 4 is played inside the playing area.
  • Each team has two target players next to its own goal.
  • If one of the wall players receives a pass, that player dribbles into the playing area and the passer takes up the vacated position.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and enough balls at the sides.

Players: Two teams of four, two target players next to each team's own goal as well as two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Open up the passing lines in behind through movement to get free.
  • The deep players move actively along the goal line in order to get out of the cover shadow.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

The last team training session of the year starts with a 4 vs 2 with changes of area after the ball is won. Besides secure passing, quick transitions are needed here. Both in attack and in defence.

For example, 2 players per team have to switch areas quickly. For the team in possession, the task is to use the full size of the area quickly and to be available for a pass.

In the 2nd exercise, 15 minutes are spent working on speed in a competition. Physical speed matters here too, but speed of action matters even more.

This is followed by a shooting competition between 2 teams. The players dribble out of the area from a rondo and finish.

The session ends with a 40-minute tournament with teams of 3. Each team plays on 2 dribbling goals. If the defending teams are too passive and just block the dribbling goals, you can extend the rules – 5 passes also count as a goal. This forces the defenders to actively press the ball.

Drill 1

Alternating 4 vs 2

20 min
  • In one area the game is played 4 vs 2 for possession.
  • If the team with fewer players wins the ball, it plays it into the other area and follows it.
  • Two players of the team that previously had the extra players follow as defenders.
  • In the new area the 4 vs 2 for possession is now played for the other team.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out two adjoining playing areas.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each. In one area the players are set up for a 4 vs 2; the remaining two players wait in the other area.

Coaching points
  • Look out for a quick transition.
  • Keep an eye on the workload — this small-sided game is very intensive.
Drill 2

Speed Competition With and Without the Ball

20 min
  • A competition is held between the players.
  • The coach calls out three colours — as the drill progresses also numbers, players' names or club names.
  • In this order the players run round the cones and then sprint over the finishing line at the coach.
  • The winner gets a point.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones in four colours, plus two tall cones as starting positions.

Equipment: 8 cones and 2 tall cones.

Players: The players stand in the middle at the tall cone.

Coaching points
  • Vary the distance of the finishing line.
  • Start and sprint inside the playing area with a low centre of gravity.
Drill 3

Rondo with Finishing Competition

20 minHalf a pitch
  • In a 5 vs 2 the players must complete six passes within their own ranks.
  • If they manage this, one player dribbles out of the area and finishes on the goal with a goalkeeper.
  • The player who scores first is awarded a point for the team score.

Variations:

  • Play with a maximum of three touches.
  • Allow one-touch play only.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals stand opposite one another, offset to the side; a cone area is set up in front of each goal.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams; each provides two defenders, who take up position in the opposing area. Plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points

Variations

  • play with a maximum of 3 touches
  • allow one-touch play only
Drill 4

3 vs 3 Tournament on Dribbling Goals

25 minAs shown in the graphic
  • In each of the areas the game is played as 3 vs 3.
  • The dribbling goals have to be dribbled through clearly.
  • The ball must be stopped no later than two to three metres behind the goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two or more areas are set up. There is a row of cones along both long sides of each area; the gaps between them are the dribbling goals. They are two metres wide and stand one metre away from the corner cones.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three players each per area, in their own bib colour.

Coaching points
  • Keep the ball close when crossing the dribbling line.
  • Lift the head to spot a better finishing option.
  • Show for the ball and form triangles while doing so.
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