📋 Session Plan
U12 — 9v9 Introduction Session
A 60-minute session for U12 squads starting the 9v9 format — positional rondo, third-man combination, press-and-cover shape, and a 9v9 game with bonus scor
A 60-minute session for U12 squads starting the 9v9 format — positional rondo, third-man combination, press-and-cover shape, and a 9v9 game with bonus scor
Players arrive and get straight into a 4v1 rondo. No waiting. Once 6 are there, split to two 4v1s. Add players to the outside ring as they arrive.
3 red players per zone, 1 blue defender per zone. Keep possession, switch between zones. Emphasise the cross-zone pass and the half-turn receive.
Trios vs two defenders. Rotate through all three roles (A, B, C) every 3 reps. Each trio gets 8 attempts before swapping the defending pair.
Half-pitch. Attackers build from the back; defending team holds press-and-cover shape. Score 1 point per 5-pass sequence when defending. Defenders earn 3 points for winning and keeping possession.
Full 9v9 on a half pitch. Bonus point for a goal from a third-man combination; bonus point for the defending team completing press-and-cover without conceding. Coach stays on the touchline. End with a 3-minute debrief: 'what worked?'
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.
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).
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.
Affiliate note: we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Building conditioning between sessions at home? DeerRun UK's home treadmills make it easy to keep up cardio work off the pitch.