Especially for new coaches, it's hard to know how to organize and run your practice. Even experienced coaches might feel a little lost when moving up to an older age group or taking on a new team. Your practices should always be interesting, developmental and fun for your players, and for you. Remember that your practices should achieve the goals you established.
Our affiliate, Mass Youth Soccer has published a series of Age-Specific Practice Plans that you can use as a guide to run your practices. We recommend that the plans be implemented in the order listed below, however you can mix and match to meet the specific needs of your team at any point throughout the season. Note that the plans are split between Fall and Spring seasons.
Fall Season
Age Group: U10
U10 Week 1 - Dribbling for Possession
U10 Week 2 - Passing and Receiving
U10 Week 3 - Heading
U10 Week 4 - Receiving Balls in the Air
U10 Week 5 - Shooting
U10 Week 6 - Individual Defending
U10 Week 7 - Individual Attacking
U10 Week 8 - Combination Play
U10 Week 9 - GK Footwork and Proper Diving Technique
U10 Week 10 - Shooting II
U10 Week 2 - Passing and Receiving
U10 Week 3 - Heading
U10 Week 4 - Receiving Balls in the Air
U10 Week 5 - Shooting
U10 Week 6 - Individual Defending
U10 Week 7 - Individual Attacking
U10 Week 8 - Combination Play
U10 Week 9 - GK Footwork and Proper Diving Technique
U10 Week 10 - Shooting II
Age Group: U12
Week 1 – Passing and Receiving - Possession
Week 2 – Introduction to Lofted and Driven Balls
Week 3 – Passing for Penetration Behind the Defense
Week 4 – Team Shape
Week 5 – Defending - Pressure (Role of the 1st Defender)
Week 6 – Defending - Pressure and Cover (Role of the 1st and 2nd Defender)
Week 7 – Penetration by Dribbling, Passing or Shooting
Week 8 – Goalkeeping - Handling Breakaways
Week 9 – Combination Play
Week 10 – Goalkeeping - Handling Long Range Shots
Week 2 – Introduction to Lofted and Driven Balls
Week 3 – Passing for Penetration Behind the Defense
Week 4 – Team Shape
Week 5 – Defending - Pressure (Role of the 1st Defender)
Week 6 – Defending - Pressure and Cover (Role of the 1st and 2nd Defender)
Week 7 – Penetration by Dribbling, Passing or Shooting
Week 8 – Goalkeeping - Handling Breakaways
Week 9 – Combination Play
Week 10 – Goalkeeping - Handling Long Range Shots
Age Group: U14+
U14-U18 Attacking & Finishing in the Final Third
U14-U18 Attacking In the Middle Third (Connecting from Back to Front)
U14-U18 Attacking in the Defensive Third (Playing out of the Back)
U14-U18 Changing the Point of Attack
U14-U18 Defending in the Attacking Third
U14-U18 Defending in the Middle Third
U14-U18 Defending in the Defensive Third
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Forwards (1 Forward)
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Forwards (2 Forwards)
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Forwards (3 Forwards)
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Central Midfielders
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Wing Midfielders
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Central Backs
U14-U18 Functional Training of the Wing Backs