dribbling U11 soccer drills
dribbling U11 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the dribbling aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drills4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals
A very dynamic game that involves various cognitive aspects, it is ideal for working in a fun way through a possession exercise followed by progression with shooting on mini-goals.
Mark out a field of about 30x30m and place 4 gates and 4 colored goals on each of the 4 sides of the field (see animation). Then form 2 teams of 4 players.
The exercise starts with a 4v4 opposition with the objective of making at least 3 passes before dribbling through one of the colored gates. This passage will then unlock the goal of the same color and will be followed by a 4v4 with the objective of scoring on the small goal.
If the opposing team recovers the ball, they will proceed in the same way and will have to unlock a mini-goal by dribbling through one of the colored gates.
Here are some possible progressions for this type of exercise:
- Limit the number of touches to 2 touches.
- Give a direction of passage within the gates (inside vs outside)
- Limit the number of passes to be able to score in one of the goals
- Allow passing through multiple gates to unlock multiple goals at once.
Discover our dribbling U11 drills
Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1
10 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
U10 - U11
Series of 1v1 duels where the attacker must read the defender's choice by going through the same colored gate before going to shoot on goal....
Dribbling: imitation and sequence to be repeated by the team
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U11 - U10
Duel between two teams where one creates a sequence of dribbles through colored gates that the other must replicate without error to score points....
Youth Academy: Working on dribbling with the four colors game
12 min
8-20 joueurs
Technical
U9 - U11
Very useful in soccer school, this drill is ideal for working on dribbling and changes of direction while adding a fun aspect....
1v1 Duels with Shooting and Use of Support
15 min
5-15 joueurs
Technical
U11 - U8
A very simple duel exercise to set up, which allows your players, from a young age, to better understand the opponent's runs while keeping their heads up to look for a solution....
Receiving on the half-turn and dribbling with the "escape from jail" drill
12 min
6-18 joueurs
Technical
U11 - U10
Fun little station to set up in a youth academy that will allow your players to work on directional control and dribbling....
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What is the U11 category?
The U11 category corresponds to children aged 10-11 years, who generally play on the equivalent of half an 11-a-side field. At this age, the coach's goal is primarily to develop coordination, motor skills, and the technical skills of young players. An initial introduction to some tactical elements can also be offered. When preparing your U11 training sessions, be sure to keep these different aspects in mind. Remember that fun is a fundamental concept at this age, so be mindful of how you conduct your U11 exercises.
A U11 player is still at the early stages of their soccer journey. The goal as a coach is to awaken the different qualities and profile of each player by offering training and types of sessions that are fun yet constructive.
Are you coaching a U11 team and looking for advice on how to structure your training sessions or the different exercises to offer your players? You are in the right place! To best help you prepare a training session suitable for U11, here is a detailed and easy-to-implement guide for your sessions.
The objectives of the U11 category in soccer
U11 players, aged 10 to 11 years, still play on a half-field. At this age, the focus for each coach is generally on developing team spirit, motor skills, and ball control while gradually introducing technical elements (dribbling, juggling, etc.). An introduction to basic tactical concepts, such as positioning and decision-making, can also be offered progressively at this age.
Your number one goal as a coach? Maintain a pedagogical approach in your U11 training to stimulate learning while keeping each child's interest and the fun aspect. At this age, sessions should still be centered around mini-games built around soccer, in teams, and preferably offered at the end of training to finish on a more enjoyable note.
Some tips for coaching a U11 team
Training U11s should be intelligently built around several key elements: discovery, the basics of soccer, and creativity. The goal is to understand each young player, their preferences in terms of position, exercises, style of play, personality, etc. The choice of U11 exercises is then crucial to promote the development and highlighting of these different elements.
What training exercises for U11s?
The exercises should be designed to improve both the individual skills of each player while emphasizing team play. Activities like agility courses, dribbling workshops, and small-sided games are excellent for developing technique and tactical understanding. It is also beneficial to integrate games that encourage quick decision-making and game vision, such as themed matches, for example.
Here is a list of exercises to help you organize your training sessions:
Here is a list of exercises to help you organize your training sessions:
- Passing and oriented control square: Improvement of passing and control technique.
- Defensive techniques and interceptions: Focus on improving passes for attackers and interceptions for defenders.
- Defending a zone: Duel exercises to strengthen the defense of a designated area.
- Motor skills and ball handling: Strengthening balance, coordination, and ball control.
- Agility course with ball: To develop coordination and ball control.
- Dribbling workshops: Slaloms between cones to improve ball mastery.
- Small-sided games (3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4): Encourage team play and quick decision-making.
- Shooting exercises in front of goal: To improve shooting accuracy
Head, Shoulder, Knee, and Ball in Soccer School
15 min
8-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U7 - U8
Fun exercise to offer in a youth academy that combines cognitive work (listening, information gathering) with technical work (dribbling and agility). It is very popular with young players!...
Team relay with dribbling and acceleration
15 min
12-16 joueurs
Technical
U7 - U6
This relay race exercise is very effective for working on dribbling from a young age. It is generally very popular with the players!...
Dribbling as a team to fill your "bucket" (youth academy)
15 min
6-21 joueurs
Technical
U7 - U6
Fun drill to work on dribbling with younger players. Remember to keep score to create healthy competition....
The River Goalkeepers: dribbling and duels in youth academy
15 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
U10 - U9
Ideal drill in soccer school to work on dribbling and familiarize players with duels in a fun way with the famous "river keepers"....
Diamond passing circuit with give and go variation
18 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
U12 - U13
Passing sequence in a diamond shape with off-the-ball run and dribbling, this drill will allow your players to primarily work on their passing quality and movements before and after receiving the ball. Numerous variations are possible....
Ball control and triangle play in youth academy
12 min
8-16 joueurs
Warm-up
U9 - U8
Fun dribbling drill ideal for soccer school with triangular zones and defenders who will do everything to touch the attackers....
Triangle passing sequence and dribbling through gates
12 min
8-16 joueurs
Warm-up
U11 - U8
Drill in the form of a predetermined passing sequence and dribbling with various possible variations. Perfect for youth soccer or as a warm-up....
The 4-Step Clock: Passing and Dribbling
15 min
8-24 joueurs
Technical
U12 - U11
Fun exercise ideal for soccer school (from U11 to U13), it will allow your players to work on dribbling while keeping their heads up. Several variations are possible for this drill....
4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals
20 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U11 - U13
A very dynamic game that involves various cognitive aspects, it is ideal for working in a fun way through a possession exercise followed by progression with shooting on mini-goals....
Dribbling in figure 8 then 1v1 duel
15 min
4-14 joueurs
Technical
U10 - U11
This exercise is quite simple to set up and will allow your players to work on dribbling and improve their concentration level, while fostering a healthy competitive spirit....
The pickpocket game: dribbling and decision-making
12 min
12-24 joueurs
Technical
U10 - U9
Ideal animation game in soccer school to work on dribbling with decision-making. This exercise will allow your players to progress in a fun way....
The hourglass: passing game and dribbling
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U11 - U12
Perfect for youth soccer training, the hourglass drill will help your players develop their passing and dribbling skills while varying the angles and surfaces of the foot used....
Fun Warm-up: Dribbling and Ball Control in Tight Spaces
10 min
5-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U11 - U12
A very simple drill to set up that will allow young players to maximize their touches on the ball in a small space and under pressure. Perfect for the start of a session....
Drop-off and ball control
15 min
12-14 joueurs
Technical
U15 - U13
Ideal exercise to practice the back-pedal technique (defense) and dribbling (attack) with a point system to instill a good competitive spirit....
Motor skills and ball control to improve footwork and balance
12 min
8-10 joueurs
Technical
U10 - U11
Excellent exercise to improve footwork and balance for U11 or U13 players. Use the competitive spirit to create enthusiasm....
Ball control in varied situations and combined shooting
12 min
8-10 joueurs
Technical
U12 - U11
By requiring your players to use both feet and different contact surfaces in various situations, this drill is ideal for working on dribbling and ball control, as well as shooting in succession....
Warm-up: sequence, control, dribbling, and passing
10 min
10-12 joueurs
Warm-up
U11 - U13
Through a simple sequence of control-dribble-pass, this exercise, ideal for warm-up, allows players to work on the basics while staying in motion....
Dribbling then cross: right foot, left foot
15 min
8-14 joueurs
Technical
U15 - U13
Practice crosses with this easy-to-set-up drill that allows for good rotation when you have a large number of players....
Other sub-theme U11 soccer drills
U11 Agility soccer drills
- Agility and game awareness: The cone drill in youth academy
- Receiving on the half-turn and dribbling with the "escape from jail" drill
- Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball
U11 Attacking transition soccer drills
- 2v1 Rondo in two zones
- Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
- Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
U11 Circuit soccer drills
- Diamond drill: high-intensity give-and-go with groups of 5
- Switch of play using the central midfielder
- Information Gathering on a Sequence of Passes in 4v4
U11 Cognitive soccer drills
- Warm-up: team ball possession
- Right foot, left foot passing and directional control work
- Cognitive work with a passing game on 4 squares
U11 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- 1v1 Duels and Defensive Positioning
- Collective replacement and management of offensive and defensive space
- Defensive recovery activity in 2v2
U11 Defensive transition soccer drills
- 2v1 Rondo in two zones
- 2v2 Work and Basic Tactical Principles (variation)
- Dynamic 360° Opposition with 3 Teams of 3
U11 Duels soccer drills
- 2v2 Work and Basic Tactical Principles (variation)
- Dynamic 360° Opposition with 3 Teams of 3
- 4v3 back to goal with build-up play for the defenders
U11 Explosive strength soccer drills
- Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1
- Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball
- Collecting Cones: Feints and agility in youth academy
U11 Fun Game soccer drills
- Agility and game awareness: The cone drill in youth academy
- Dribbling as a team to fill your "bucket" (youth academy)
- Team relay with dribbling and acceleration
U11 Gaps soccer drills
- Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
- 3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
- Play in Space and Switches of Play
U11 Motor skills soccer drills
- Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball
- The pickpocket game: dribbling and decision-making
- Dribbling then cross: right foot, left foot
U11 Overload soccer drills
- Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
- Dynamic small-sided game in 2v1 on 3 mini goals
- 4v4 Possession Game with Central Square
U11 Passes soccer drills
- Positioning in a "Y", creating space, and shooting
- The hourglass: passing game and dribbling
- Switch of play using the central midfielder
U11 Positional play soccer drills
- 7v7 Oppositions with 1v1 Duels on the Flanks
- Collective ball retention through the short passing game
- Short passing game, direct play on a passing sequence with switch of play
U11 Possession soccer drills
- 4v4 Possession Game with 2 Final Third Zones
- Possession game with support at the 4 corners
- Possession game in two zones with 5v3 and 3 gates
U11 Pressing soccer drills
- Possession game in two zones with 5v3 and 3 gates
- 4vs4+1: corner-to-corner possession with fixed support players
- Possession game with support at the 4 corners
U11 Rondos soccer drills
- Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
- 4v4 Possession Game with 2 Final Third Zones
- Tiki Taka: passing game with 2 central players
U11 Scanning soccer drills
- Passing game work in a square with a central pivot
- Creating space through movement in 5v5
- Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
U11 Shooting soccer drills
- One-two pass combinations with 2 teams then shooting
- Slalom, give-and-go and shooting
- Give-and-go, dribble, and shooting from different angles
U11 Support soccer drills
- 3v3 (+4) with support players and position change
- 1v1 Duels with Shooting and Use of Support
- Possession game with support at the 4 corners