cognitive U16 soccer drills
cognitive U16 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the cognitive aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drills1v1s on small goals with a defender chasing
On the agenda: 1v1 duels followed by 2v1 with a defender in pursuit. Quick decision-making will be crucial!
Mark out a zone of about 20x15m and place 2 small goals on one of the widths. Form 2 teams of 6 players and place a cone in the middle of each length of the field (see animation).
The exercise will proceed as follows:
- Player A at the source of the ball starts with a pass to the lateral player B.
- B will then perform a directional control and play to the forward C.
- At this moment, D will start chasing to try to recover the ball. This leads to a duel on the small goal.
- If D recovers the ball, he can then attempt to score.
- After each turn, A moves to B, then B takes the place of D, who in turn takes the place of C. The forward C, meanwhile, takes the place of A at the starting point.
- The exercise takes place simultaneously on the 2 mini goals.
Having the 2 teams play simultaneously will force your players to keep their heads up and be attentive to the movements around them. It is both a 1v1 duel exercise and a concentration exercise.
Variation: to evolve the exercise, you can move the defender back a few meters and ask the first player A to come and defend once his pass is made. This will result in a 2v1 with an attacker who will find himself at a numerical disadvantage. He will then have to make a very quick decision if he does not want to see the chasing defender catch up to him.
Variation: 2v1 with chasing defender
Discover our cognitive U16 drills
Right foot, left foot passing and directional control work
12 min
5-15 joueurs
Technical
U16 - U13
In this highly dynamic exercise, your players will be able to work on passing in various forms, emphasizing the use of both feet....
Relay in pairs for athletic and agility work
12 min
4-24 joueurs
Conditioning
U16 - U18
Inspired by the work done by American football players, this exercise is ideal for getting your players to work on their fitness and agility in a competitive manner....
1v1 Duels with Mini Goals Following a Passing Sequence
15 min
4-20 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U16
1v1 duel drill with many possible variations that will call upon the cognitive qualities of your players....
Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
20 min
14-18 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U17
Exercise used by Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, this 6v6 will allow your players to work on attacking and defensive transitions as well as game awareness. Decision-making and quick attacks will be the focus....
Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
15 min
6-18 joueurs
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U13 - U12
Ideal for working on the cognitive aspect, this exercise can be used in a session after a complete warm-up. Very dynamic, it often appeals to players....
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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.
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.
Unlocking mini-goals with gate passing in 4v4
15 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U15 - U12
Very dynamic drill in the form of a 4v4 that will allow your players to work on different cognitive aspects such as perception, anticipation, and decision-making under pressure....
First touch and shooting within the box
20 min
7-14 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U16
A very dynamic exercise that will allow your players to work on their first touch and shooting in the heart of the penalty area. Numerous progressions are possible....
Double square: combinations and sequences of short passing game
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U14 - U17
Numerous possible combinations in this double square drill to work on the fluidity of passes and movements before and after receiving the ball....
Cognitive ability with agility work and color play
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Conditioning
U12 - U16
Very engaging agility exercise with cognitive work involving colors, voice, and gestures. Combine auditory and visual signals with a bit of competition, and you'll see that it's an exercise highly appreciated by players....
Layoff in one-touch play during a passing sequence
12 min
12-18 joueurs
Technical
U16 - U14
Drill consisting of a double sequence of simultaneous passes to work on one-touch layoffs and movement in tight spaces. Be sure to keep your head up!...
Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Conditioning
U20 - U16
A small agility exercise that will engage your players' cognitive abilities while keeping a significant portion of the drill with the ball....
1v1s on small goals with a defender chasing
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U18
On the agenda: 1v1 duels followed by 2v1 with a defender in pursuit. Quick decision-making will be crucial!...
Possession play and progressive switches of play
20 min
6-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - U15
This small-sided game with a numerical advantage and progression from zone to zone is ideal for youth teams and will help improve concentration while adding a competitive element....
Specific Forwards: Shooting Around the Edge of the Box
18 min
8-18 joueurs
Technical
U18 - U17
Shooting drill with numerous variations, this exercise will definitely appeal to your attacking players. Directional controls, shots, quickness: it's all there!...
Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
8 min
16-20 joueurs
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Ideal exercise to improve your players' group positioning....
Restricted zone: Using the wide areas in 5v5
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10-14 joueurs
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Ideal exercise for working on space utilization and playing in the wide areas. A simple constraint that will allow your players to quickly improve....
Other sub-theme U16 soccer drills
U16 Agility soccer drills
- Right foot, left foot passing and directional control work
- Dribbling, passing, and diagonal run
- 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
U16 Attacking transition soccer drills
- Using width in a double situation in 4v4
- 6v4 Possession Game with Attacking-Defensive Transition
- Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
U16 Build-up play soccer drills
- Fast forward play with a 7v7 in 3 zones
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
- 8v8: connection of the fullbacks with the attacking line across 5 zones
U16 Circuit soccer drills
- Finishing Exercise from 4 Different Angles
- One-two pass circuit with speed work
- Shooting practice with slalom and body feint
U16 Counterattack soccer drills
- Warm-up: pressing, constrained play and counter
- 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
- Possession and quick counterattacks in a 3v2 followed by a 2v1
U16 Counter-pressing soccer drills
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
- Pressing and possession play in an 8v4 (+6)
U16 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball
- Defensive cover and tracking back in a three-man defense
- Offensive Combinations and Numerical Advantage in 2v1
U16 Defensive transition soccer drills
- Offensive Combinations and Numerical Advantage in 2v1
- Continuous fast attacks with a 5v3 in 2 zones
- Sequence of small-sided games in 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, then 3v2
U16 Dribbling soccer drills
- Drill: Dribbling and 1v1 Duels with Direct Opponent
- Athletic training: slalom and ball control in 2 columns
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
U16 Duels soccer drills
- 2v1 with shooting and defender tracking back
- Support around the attacker to create 2v1 situations
- Defensive play training for the fullback
U16 Endurance soccer drills
- High-intensity box-to-box runs with active recovery
- High-Intensity Pair Running Repetitions
- High-intensity 1v1 mini-tournament (promotion-relegation)
U16 Explosive strength soccer drills
- Aerobic Power Circuit (15–15–30) in Skill-Based Groups
- Specific forward training – runs, slalom, and double finishing
- 4v4 with active recovery and transitions – attacking the width in small-sided play
U16 Fun Game soccer drills
- 4v1 Rondo with Zone Changes
- Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
- Shooting practice on 3 consecutive phases of play
U16 Gaps soccer drills
- Fast forward play with a 7v7 in 3 zones
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Collective Defensive Positioning in Zonal Marking
U16 Offensive combinations soccer drills
- Double 2v1 following a passing combination
- Attacker Technique: Combination, Cross, and Shooting
- One-touch offensive combinations with shooting
U16 Overload soccer drills
- Double 2v1 following a passing sequence (variation)
- 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
- Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals
U16 Passes soccer drills
- Short and long passes in a square with combination play
- Diamond play with passing combinations
- Practicing the diamond play with shooting on mini goals
U16 Positional play soccer drills
- Diamond play with passing combinations
- Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
U16 Possession soccer drills
- Ralf Rangnick's Possession Game to Work on Transitions
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Possession play and progressive switches of play
U16 Pressing soccer drills
- 3-Team Possession Game (6v6 + 3 neutral players)
- José Mourinho's 3v3 with two external zones and passes between the lines
- Pressing and Counterattack Work in 8v8
U16 Rondos soccer drills
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Short passing game and direct play with support
- Training on Long Balls and Off-the-ball Movement
U16 Scanning soccer drills
- Double square: combinations and sequences of short passing game
- First touch and shooting within the box
- Offensive combinations with runs behind and double shooting
U16 Shooting soccer drills
- One-touch offensive combinations with shooting
- Double 2v1 following a passing sequence (variation)
- 5v5 Shooting Game
U16 Support soccer drills
- 3v3 Wing Play with Support
- Short passing game and direct play with support
- Pass sequence with layoff, support runs, and through ball play