Coaching essentials

What you actually need.

A grassroots kit list — what's worth buying, what's not, and what you can improvise without affecting the session quality.

The essentials

Cones

20 minimum

Mixed sizes — a dozen large markers (saucer cones) for boundaries plus 8 small ones for grids and gates. Cheap, durable, work forever. Buy a set in two colours so you can mark teams. → 50-pack flat saucer cones (Amazon*)

Footballs

8-12 match balls

Size 3 for U7-U9, Size 4 for U10-U13, Size 5 for U14+. Per Future Fit. Don't substitute — the size matters for technique. Buy 8 minimum so every player has access during pair work. → Size 3 training footballs (Amazon*) · Size 4 training footballs (Amazon*)

Training bibs

8-12 in 2 colours

Mesh bibs are fine — don't pay for fitted ones. Two colours (e.g., yellow + red) cover all team-splitting needs. Wash them weekly. → Mesh training bibs (pack of 10) (Amazon*)

Mini-goals

2 minimum

Foldable pop-up goals are best for grassroots — fit in the kit bag. Permanent goals at the venue work too. SSGs benefit from goals that aren't 8x24 feet. → Pop-up foldable mini goals (pair) (Amazon*)

First aid kit

1 always-available

Plasters, ice packs, antiseptic wipes, basic bandages. Most clubs have one in the kit room; if not, a £20 kit covers grassroots needs. Refresh every 6 months. → Sports first aid kit (Amazon*)

Whistle

1

£3 from any sports shop. Loud enough to stop a session of 16 kids on a windy day. Loop it around your neck or onto the kit bag. Don't lose it — but a spare in the bag costs nothing.

Worth having

GK gloves

1 pair (kid-size)

£15-£25. The latex on the palm is what matters. Replace when shiny, not grippy. Don't spend more than £30 until the keeper is U14+ and committed. → Junior GK gloves (youth sizing) (Amazon*)

Speed/agility ladder

1, optional

Useful for footwork drills and warm-ups. Not essential — you can use cones in the same pattern. Get one for £10-£15 if you're running a lot of footwork sessions. → Agility speed ladder (Amazon*)

Hurdles (small, 6")

4-6, optional

For warm-ups. Adjustable plastic ones work fine. Buy if you're running pre-season fitness work; skip otherwise — flexibility/footwork can be coached without them.

Whiteboard / clipboard

1

For drawing tactical scenarios on the touchline. Essential at U13+; nice-to-have at U7-U10 (where most coaching is verbal/demonstrative). £10-£20 for an A4 magnetic version.

Skip these

  • Branded cones — generic ones do the same job for half the price.
  • Premium tackle pads — you don't need them at grassroots youth. Skip until U16+.
  • Reaction balls — gimmicky. The skills they claim to build are better trained through games.
  • Speed parachutes — academy-level kit. At grassroots, lap-style fitness work is the wrong fitness work anyway.
  • Coaching apps with subscription fees — most of what they offer is on free sites (this one included).
  • Permanent kit bags over £100 — a £25 sports holdall does the same job and you'll replace it every 2 years anyway.

Improvise these

Some sessions you don't have full kit. Here's what works as a substitute:

  • No cones? Water bottles, training tops, or shoes laid down work as boundary markers.
  • No mini-goals? 2 cones spaced 2 yards apart count as a goal. Slight loss of realism, no loss of teaching value.
  • No training bibs? Have one team take their tops off (warm weather) or run colour vs no-colour. Awkward but works.
  • No whistle? Loud clap or shout. Less precise but kids adapt.
  • No GK gloves? Bare hands fine for U7-U10 light keeping. U11+ should have them — borrow if necessary.

Total starter cost

If you're buying everything from scratch, budget £100-£150. That covers:

  • 20 mixed cones — £15
  • 8 size-4 footballs — £40 (or £25 second-hand)
  • 10 mesh bibs (2 colours) — £15
  • 2 pop-up mini-goals — £25
  • First aid kit — £20
  • Whistle — £3
  • GK gloves — £15

Most clubs have a kit cupboard with most of this — talk to your club secretary before buying. The kit lasts years if it's looked after.

* Links marked (Amazon*) go to Amazon and use the SimpleDrills affiliate tag. If you buy something, SimpleDrills earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Links are only added where the product is genuinely useful — they don't affect the editorial content of this page.

More buying guides

Complete training equipment buying guide · The coach's kit bag · Goalkeeper equipment by age

Buying guides

Detailed buying guides for every piece of grassroots kit — what to look for, which to avoid, and how many you actually need.