Home›Sessions›Pre-season sessions
📋 Session Plan

Pre-season sessions

Pre-season session plans for grassroots coaches — fitness foundations, tactical introductions, and trial formats. For 9v9 and 11v11 squads.

Sessions15Formats7v7, 9v9, 11v11FocusQuality, decision-making, and enjoyment
ABCDEPre-season sessions — Quality, decision-making, and enjoyment

◆What you'll need from yourself

Clear demonstrations and high energy. Keep the session moving with minimal queuing, and reinforce one or two key coaching points rather than overloading players with information.

!Common problems

Players standing in queues (set up enough stations to keep everyone active) and the session running too long on one activity (keep blocks tight and move on while engagement is high).

?Frequently asked questions

What age groups does Pre-season sessions cover?
These sessions span every format from 7v7, 9v9, 11v11, covering the full range of grassroots age groups through to adult football — pick the format your squad plays to find the right one.
How do I choose the right session for my squad?
Start with the format your team plays — 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11 — and use the \"Session blocks\" grid above, which groups every pre-season session by format so you can go straight to the right age band.
Is this free to use on SimpleDrills?
Yes — all coaching content on SimpleDrills, including this page, is free to view, print, and use with your team.
What does Pre-season sessions focus on?
Pre-season session plans for grassroots coaches — fitness foundations, tactical introductions, and trial formats. For 9v9 and 11v11 squads.

Affiliate note: we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.

Serious about conditioning between sessions? EMS is what elite athletes use for faster recovery and off-pitch strength gains — explore APE BORN's EMS training systems. (desktop/tablet recommended)

Affiliate note: we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.

Tracking player fitness improvements? HealthLabs Sports Performance Testing gives measurable baselines — VO2 max, anaerobic threshold and more — so your conditioning work has numbers behind it.

Recommended kit

Agility Ladder (10-rung)

Top pick

Day-one staple for any pre-season fitness block.

Check price on Amazon

Resistance Bands Set

Progressive load for returning and developing players.

Check price on Amazon

Speed Hurdles (set of 12)

Plyometric and speed-endurance circuits.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.

Affiliate note: we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.

Coaches tip: Post-session recovery nutrition matters as much as the drills themselves — MaxiNutrition's recovery range is built for exactly this.