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
Conditioning
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
Warm-up
U17 - U16
Ideal exercise to improve your players' group positioning....
Restricted zone: Using the wide areas in 5v5
20 min
10-14 joueurs
Tactical
U14 - U17
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
- Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
- 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
- High-Intensity Pair Running Repetitions
U16 Attacking transition soccer drills
- Using width in a double situation in 4v4
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
- Collective Defensive Positioning in Zonal Marking
U16 Build-up play soccer drills
- Shooting and using support during the build-up play
- Exploiting the Weak Side with this 8v4 by Marcelo Bielsa
- Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)
U16 Circuit soccer drills
- Passing drills with one-touch play and supporting player
- Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters
- Pass sequence with layoff, support runs, and through ball play
U16 Counterattack soccer drills
- Defensive interventions and quick attacks through the winger
- 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
- Warm-up: pressing, constrained play and counter
U16 Counter-pressing soccer drills
- Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
- Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
U16 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- Zonal marking: defensive positioning and team block
- Decision Making and Shooting in 2v1 (+1) with Defensive Recovery
- Defensive work in pairs in a small area
U16 Defensive transition soccer drills
- Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
- Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5
- 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
U16 Dribbling soccer drills
- One-touch short passing drill in a diamond formation
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
- Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
U16 Duels soccer drills
- High-intensity 1v1 mini-tournament (promotion-relegation)
- Decision Making and Shooting in 2v1 (+1) with Defensive Recovery
- Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals
U16 Endurance soccer drills
- Athletic warm-up: hurdles, give and go, and accelerations
- Shooting and using support during the build-up play
- 4v4 with active recovery and transitions – attacking the width in small-sided play
U16 Explosive strength soccer drills
- Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
- Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals
- Relay in pairs for athletic and agility work
U16 Fun Game soccer drills
- Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3
- Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
- 4v1 Rondo with Zone Changes
U16 Gaps soccer drills
- Transition and "support players" of Pep Guardiola (in 3 zones)
- Crosses and Heading with 2 Side Zones (variation)
- Zonal marking: defensive positioning and team block
U16 Offensive combinations soccer drills
- Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals
- Passing combination: one-two pass, back pass, and shooting
- Build-up in 3v3 and finding the support in the final third
U16 Overload soccer drills
- 5v2 possession game with dribbling exit
- Sequence of small-sided games in 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, then 3v2
- Dynamic possession game in 4v2 with 2 balls
U16 Passes soccer drills
- Build-up play and shooting in 9v9 with passing gates
- Athletic work in 30-15 with the ball on 4 stations
- Passing drills with one-touch play and supporting player
U16 Positional play soccer drills
- Building the Attack: Movement and Finding Open Space
- M. Bielsa: Build-up play on the strong side with a switch of play to draw a defender and release
- Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
U16 Possession soccer drills
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
- Ralf Rangnick's Possession Game to Work on Transitions
- Possession game in 2v4 then 4v8 with central zone
U16 Pressing soccer drills
- Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)
- Warm-up: pressing, constrained play and counter
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
U16 Rondos soccer drills
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
- Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5
- 7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
U16 Scanning soccer drills
- First touch and shooting within the box
- Working on playing between the lines with a passing circuit
- Forward play with possession in 6v3
U16 Shooting soccer drills
- Finishing sequence followed by 2v2 opposition
- One-touch offensive combinations with shooting
- Double 2v1 following a passing sequence (variation)
U16 Support soccer drills
- Short passing game and direct play with support
- Quick ball movement in 6v6 with deep support
- Xavi: using width in a 6v6 with 4 support players