Ball Mastery and Coordination: Ready-Made Football Session U8+

All U8+ sessions

In this session, players learn to keep the ball with them even when the direction changes. First they copy another player's movement, then they choose their own route, and finally they try the skill against an opponent. Stops and turns bring coordination into work with the ball.

U8+ is a guideline starting age. A beginner group can spend more time on the first games. The session also suits older players who need the same basic skills.

U8+ · 60 min

Ball Contacts and Changes of Direction

Provide a ball for every player, plus cones, bibs and small goals or cone goals. Start with an area of about 20 x 15 metres. Add space if routes keep crossing. For small groups, set up parallel areas within sight of the coaches and leave space between them. Times are estimates and include instructions, drink breaks and transitions.

Open the complete plan without signing in. Adjust the timings and notes for your team.

Follow the leader · 10 min

Form small groups. Everyone has a ball. The leader dribbles calmly, and the others follow their route and way of dribbling. Change the leader often so everyone gets a turn. Start with dribbling forward and stopping. Then try gentle turns and stopping the ball with the sole of the foot. Leave space between players. Ask: how do you spot the leader's turn in time?

Dribble & Turn at Gates · 15 min

Set up several cone gates in the area and give everyone a ball. Players dribble freely. Show an easy turn. On the signal, the player looks for a free gate, dribbles to it and turns. At first, the colour of the gate does not matter. Show the signal and say it out loud at the same time if needed. When the task goes well, bring in a colour choice or a second turn. Make it easier by widening the gates and adding space.

1v1 to Four Gate Goals · 15 min

Set up a small pitch with two gates at each end. Play 1v1: the attacker tries to dribble through either gate at the opposite end. After winning the ball, the defender attacks the other way. The coach plays the starting ball. After a goal or the ball going out, a new pair starts; also change the starting attacker. Set up parallel pitches if needed. If the coach cannot serve everyone, the starting player takes the ball from an agreed mark. To make it easier, give the attacker more starting space.

Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4) · 15 min

Play small-sided games to end goals without goalkeepers, for example 2v2 or 3v3. A player may dribble or pass. After a goal, the other team starts from their own end. From the boundary, restart with a pass, and defenders give space. Split the players onto small pitches and change groups between short periods if needed. Encourage players to try the turn they have learned when there is no space ahead. Do not demand it in every situation.

Closing together · 5 min

Ask what helped them keep the ball close in the turn and where they spotted a free route. Collect the equipment. Write down one observation for the next session.

Instructions and editable plan: coachtruly.com/blog/u8-ball-control-and-coordination. CoachTruly plan. Background source: FIFA Training Centre, Coaching children to master ball control.

Follow the Leader

Keep the groups small so everyone can see the leader. Each player dribbles their own ball and gets a turn to lead. First demonstrate a calm dribble and a stop. After that, add gentle turns. Players can suggest a way of dribbling that the others can try.

Watch whether the ball stays with the player when the speed changes. If followers run into each other, add space and slow down. Make it harder only when the group can also look up at the leader.

Dribble and Turn at the Gates

football drill: Dribble & Turn at Gates — Dribble & Turn at GatesView Drill →

Set up the gates so they can be reached from different directions. Start with one familiar turn. On the signal, the player looks for a free gate and makes the turn there. It is worth switching to a different gate if another player arrives at the same spot.

To make it easier, make the gates bigger and say the signal out loud. To make it harder, add a colour choice or a new turn, but not both at the same time. In a break, ask what helped them spot a free gate.

Choose a Route Past the Defender

football drill: 1v1 to Four Gate Goals — 1v1 to Four Gate GoalsView Drill →

Now there is a defender, and two possible gates to get through. Encourage the attacker to look at which route the defender is closing. A change of direction can open up the other one. After winning the ball, the defender can attack the opposite end.

Change the pairs after a goal or after the ball goes out. If the ball stays in play for a long time, end the turn at about half a minute. Keep the queues short. In the one-coach version, the starter takes the ball from an agreed mark instead of a coach's pass.

Try It in a Free Small-Sided Game

football drill: Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4) — Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4)View Drill →

Play small games to two end goals. Let the player choose whether to dribble or pass. In a break, bring up a moment where a turn helped keep the ball. A successful attempt can also be shielding the ball and changing direction, even if the attack does not end in a goal.

Groupings and Easier Options

Set up as many similar areas as you can manage to coach. If the players do not divide evenly, one group can be slightly bigger. In the 1v1 part, the extra player rotates in after every attempt. In the small-sided game, you can use a rotating support player for the team with the ball. Change roles often.

If 1v1 is still too difficult, let the defender start from further away. For a shorter session, reduce the time of the middle parts and leave time at the end to play. You can change the times directly in the planner.

Coaching Background Source

FIFA Training Centre's Coaching children to master ball control emphasises plenty of ball contacts, experimenting and a gradual move to game-like situations. In this plan we apply these principles with drills from the CoachTruly bank. The groupings and drill-specific instructions are our own adaptations.

Choose another U8+ session or open the plan above to edit it.