Space and choices in small-sided games: football session for U8+

All U8+ sessions

Where is the space to go forward? In this session the same question comes back in the dribbling game, in the 1v1 and in the small-sided game. Players get to make their own decisions. The coach helps through the structure of the task and short questions.

U8+ is an indicative starting age. If remembering the rules takes all the attention, make the game easier before adding a new rule. The session can also be repeated with an older group by changing the space and the challenge the opponent brings.

U8+ · 60 min

Space and choices in small-sided games

Bring balls, different coloured cones, bibs and small goals or cone goals. Start with an area of about 20 x 15 metres and fit the size to the game format. For small groups, make similar areas and leave space between them. Run only as many parallel games as you can manage. Times include instructions, breaks and transitions.

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

Color Dribbling · 10 min

Mark a central area and differently coloured zones outside it. Everyone has a ball. Players dribble in the middle and avoid each other. When the coach says a colour, players look for a route to that zone and keep dribbling there. Return to the centre on the agreed signal. Show the colour with a bib once the spoken cue works. Make it easier by reducing the colours or adding space. Ask: where can you find a route with no other player on it?

1v1 to Four Gate Goals · 15 min

Make two gates at each end. The attacker gets the ball from the coach and tries to dribble through a gate at the opposite end. After winning the ball, the defender may attack the other way. Change partners after a goal or crossing a line and vary the starting attacker. Set up parallel pitches if queues grow. On a pitch that starts independently, the attacker takes the ball from an agreed marker. Let the player choose the gate themselves; do not shout a ready-made route at them.

Game: Ball Quickly into Play · 15 min

Play small games to end goals, for example 2v2 or 3v3. Put spare balls outside the boundaries. The team restarting from the touchline takes the nearest ball and continues by passing. If the ball goes out over another boundary, the opponent restarts from the nearest line. After a goal, the other team starts from their own end. Defenders give space for the restart. Only one ball is in play at a time. Do not use the three-second rule at first. Encourage the player on the ball to dribble towards goal and try a shot.

Basic game (e.g. 3v3 / 4v4) · 15 min

Continue in the same small groups to two end goals without goalkeepers. Use normal restarts: after a goal, from your own end; after crossing a line, the opponent's pass from the line. Players may dribble, pass and shoot without extra conditions. Ask during the break when changing direction helped. Keep game periods short and rotate groups as needed.

Group finish · 5 min

Ask where the player managed to dribble forward and when they got to shoot. Collect the equipment together. Record one observation about moving with the ball.

Instructions and editable plan: coachtruly.com/blog/u8-space-and-decisions-small-sided-games. CoachTruly plan. Background source: FIFA Training Centre, Building spatial awareness in young players.

Find your own route in colour dribbling

football drill: Color Dribbling — Color DribblingView Drill →

Players dribble their own ball in the central area. The colour the coach calls tells which outer zone to go to next. Players may enter the same zone by different routes. The player's task is to avoid congestion and keep the ball under control.

Start with a small number of colours. Add a visible colour marker only once players understand the task. If everyone collides at the same entrance, widen the target area. Ask whether there was more space on the other side.

Choose a gate against an opponent

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

The attacker tries to dribble past the defender through either of the gates at the opposite end. After winning the ball, the defender may attack in the other direction. The coach can give the starting ball. On a parallel pitch the starter can take the ball from an agreed marker.

Keep turns short. A goal or crossing a line ends the attempt. Then change partners or roles. If the situation goes on for a long time, stop it at about half a minute. Make it easier by widening the gates or giving the attacker more starting space.

Let the player try both directions. Ask during the break what the defender's movement told them about the free route. A ready-made solution shouted from the touchline takes this discovery away from the player.

Keep the game going and try for a goal

football drill: Game: Ball Quickly into Play — Game: Ball Quickly into PlayView Drill →

Split the players into small teams. Spare balls wait outside the boundaries. The team restarting from the touchline takes the nearest ball and starts play. In this version of the session the restart is made with a pass and the defenders give space. After a goal, restart from your own end.

Make sure there is only one match ball on the pitch. Leave out the three-second extra rule from the drill bank until restarts run smoothly. Encourage the player on the ball to dribble towards goal and try a shot. Let the player work out for themselves where to get past the opponent.

Let them play without extra conditions

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

Finally, play a normal small-sided game to two end goals. Do not demand a certain number of passes or a touch limit. The player may also challenge the opponent by dribbling. Watch whether a new direction is found to the side or behind when there is congestion in front.

Keep the conversation short at the drinks break. Players can describe one situation where changing direction helped. The next game period gives a chance to try again.

Groups and coaching

Fit the pitch size to the game format. 2v2 and 3v3 are examples, not a requirement for the number of players in the whole group. If players are left over, use short rotation turns. Rotate often so that everyone gets to play.

Keep the same rules on parallel pitches. If one coach cannot help everyone, reduce the number of different tasks running at the same time. The session can start with a simple small-sided game, and the new rule can be brought in only next time.

Coaching background source

FIFA Training Centre's Building spatial awareness in young players deals with spotting free space, making your own decisions and helping a teammate by moving. In this CoachTruly plan the emphasis is on the player's own dribbling route and scoring. The game formats and restart rules are adaptations for this plan.

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