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Coaching grassroots football for the first time is overwhelming. Pick your age group below and we'll point you straight at your first session, the right drills, and the guide that will save you weeks of trial and error.

974 free drills, sessions and guides·Built by an FA Level 2 coach·No sign-up

Pick your age group

Each gets a starter session, three drills to begin with, and the coaching guide that matters most for that age.

U7–U9

The youngest players — focus on fun, ball touches and basic movement.

🎯 Your first session

U7 First Session of the Season →

📖 Coaching guide for this age

Coaching U7 football: parent volunteer guide →
U10–U11

The skill-building years — build technique, decision-making and a love of the ball.

🎯 Your first session

U11 Defending Fundamentals →
U12–U13

Tactical foundations — introduce shape, pressing and team play.

🎯 Your first session

U12 Possession & Patience →

📖 Coaching guide for this age

Building out from the back →
U14–Adult

Game intelligence and competitive edge — refine tactics and performance.

🎯 Your first session

Adult Defensive Blocks →

📖 Coaching guide for this age

Teaching pressing without chaos →

How SimpleDrills works

1

Pick a drill or session

Browse by age, category, or theme. Every drill has a court diagram, step-by-step instructions, and coaching points.

2

Print it or share it

Tap Print for a clean drill card with a QR code, or share to your team WhatsApp with one tap.

3

Run it pitchside

Scan the QR code on your phone if you need the full page. The drill is yours to run — keep it simple, focus on one coaching point.

The five drills every grassroots coach should know

If you only learn five drills, learn these. They work at almost any age and form the backbone of countless good sessions.

1

The Rondo

The single most valuable drill in football — develops scanning, first touch, weight of pass, and decision-making in one go. Use it every session.

View drill →
2

Number-Call Warm-Up

A simple game to get every player active and the heart rate up before the session. Works at every age.

View drill →
3

Cut-Back Finishing

Trains a high-percentage scoring pattern. Timing the run, first-time finish — fundamental skills that show up in every game.

View drill →
4

Press, Cover, Shadow

Builds the foundation of team defending — the two-player relationship that everything else builds on.

View drill →
5

Overload Scoring Game

A small-sided game that rewards every session's theme. Conditions can be adjusted to focus on passing, defending or attacking.

View drill →

First-time coach questions

How long should my first session be?
For U7–U10, aim for 60 minutes maximum (and a chunk of that should be a game). For U11+, 75 minutes works well. Don't try to fit too much in — a focused session on one theme beats a rushed session covering five things.
How many drills should I plan?
For a 60-minute session, plan a warm-up, one main drill, and a game (three things total). Players learn through repetition and game-play, not by rushing through six drills. Give each drill enough time — 15–20 minutes minimum.
What if a drill isn't working?
Stop it and change. The best coaches read the room and adapt — there's no prize for finishing a drill that isn't working. Drop to an easier progression, change the numbers, or move to the game.
How much should I coach during a session?
Less than you think. Set the drill up, watch for a few minutes, then stop play once to make one coaching point. Then let them play. Constant interruption kills enjoyment and learning. Pick one cue per drill and reinforce it.
What if I don't know the answer to a player's question?
Say "I don't know — let's find out together." Coaches don't need to know everything. Honesty builds trust; pretending erodes it.

Ready to plan your first session?

Pick the age group above, follow the starter session, and you're set. Or browse the full library when you're ready to build your own.