Soccer drills U16

Complete U16 soccer sessions that you can apply to help your players progress during your sessions. Sign up to access all U16 drills.

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Possession play and switching against a low block

Used by Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Liverpool, this exercise is ideal for working on attacking combinations against a low block to effectively exploit off-the-ball runs behind the defense.

On a half-field, create a space of about 20x30m on the left side, as well as an adjacent 5x30m area, as indicated in the diagram. Then place 2 mini-goals and 4 mannequins (or constri-foot) with a cone about 35m from the goal on the right side. Then set up a 5vs4 in the large area, place 1 player in the small area, and then a final player on the opposite side at the cone level.

The exercise will proceed as follows:

The offensive players (here in blue) start with a possession game against the 4 defenders in the large area.
After making at least 3 passes, they play to their teammate in the small area. No defender can press this player.
The player will then make a through ball behind the defense to their teammate on the opposite side.
This player finishes their action on the large goal.
If the defenders regain possession, they must score as quickly as possible on one of the 2 mini-goals.
Change the 2 offensive players every 3 minutes or so.

Progression

After a few rounds, you can propose these different progressions:

A defender can press the player in the small area (only one).
Players are limited to 2 touches of the ball.
The player in the small area can participate in the possession game (which then creates a 6vs4).
Players must make at least 5 passes before playing to the player in the small area.
The game is played in the same way, but on the opposite side (remember to set up the cones before the start of the exercise).

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The U16 category includes players aged 15-16 years. At this age, you will need to focus your U16 training sessions around different themes, such as athletic development, technical skill, and tactical knowledge.

We advise you to concentrate on the basic aspects when preparing your U16 exercises: movement, control-pass, and game awareness. These will be the foundation for your players for many years to come. Make sure to keep your U16 training sessions engaging, as this will help maintain a motivating pace for your players.

Soccer drills U16

Possession play and switching against a low block

Progression

Discover our U16 drills

High-intensity box-to-box runs with active recovery

M. Bielsa: Build-up play on the strong side with a switch of play to draw a defender and release

Support around the attacker to create 2v1 situations

Aerobic Power Circuit (15–15–30) in Skill-Based Groups

High-Intensity Pair Running Repetitions

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Our other U16 drills

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Shooting and using support during the build-up play

Defensive interventions and quick attacks through the winger

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Speed training: long and repeated sprints over 3 distances

Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third

Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6

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Speed work: alternating jogging-sprint on a progressive run

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Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters

Build-up in 3v3 and finding the support in the final third

5v2 possession game with dribbling exit

Specific forward training – runs, slalom, and double finishing

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Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)

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Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball

Possession game in 2 zones with role change

Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games

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Pep Guardiola: Small-sided high-intensity play from 1v1 to 5v5

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Unai Emery: small warm-up game in a triangle

Attacking transition of J. Klopp with quick attacks in 6v6

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Attacking transition of José Mourinho with quick attacks in 5v3

One-touch offensive combinations with shooting

Fast forward play with a 7v7 in 3 zones

Luis Enrique: Switch of play in a dynamic 3v3 with a neutral player

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Build-up Play and Through Ball in Jurgen Klopp's 4-3-3

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Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6

Offensive combinations in 3v2 with defensive recovery

Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels

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José Mourinho's 3v3 with two external zones and passes between the lines

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