endurance U15 soccer drills

Athletic circuit with ball: passing and agility work

This is a circuit that combines many aspects of a player's work such as athletic training, agility, and passing quality. Used in pre-season at Manchester City, it should help your players prepare well for the year.

Prepare your workshop in advance to avoid keeping your players waiting. You will need poles, 4 hoops, and 3 cones. Don't forget the discs.

The first player in the circuit (A) positions at the disc and will make a pass to the second player (B) who returns it with one-touch play. A will then play a through ball for B through the gate in front. After making the pass, A will perform agility and speed work within the hoops, then the 3 cones behind.

The second player B will then play to C, the third player, who will receive the ball after slaloming through the poles. C then plays a short pass to the last player, D, who will perform a dummy run and then go into dribbling for a few meters. The circuit ends with B making a pass to the next player waiting at the start.

Combining different components of a player's work such as athletic work, agility, and passing quality, this workshop will allow you to train your players under good conditions.

Remember to emphasize your instructions on relative intensity: the acceleration of the second player and the agility work of the first player must be done at 100%. These 2 workshops set the pace for the exercise, they should not be neglected.

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Endurance

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Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting

3v3 game with goalkeepers and two wide supports to create link-ups on the wide areas and find a situation for a give-and-go or a cross before shooting....

4v4 with active recovery and transitions – attacking the width in small-sided play

Two teams compete in a 4v4 to score on a large goal or cross a line, with a third team actively recovering and rotating every two minutes....

Shooting and using support during the build-up play

Very dynamic drill where the player must serve a winger on the run to initiate the counterattack....

Defensive interventions and quick attacks through the winger

Defensive duel to recover the ball before immediately launching a winger in a counterattack....

Progress with our drills

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The U15 exercises can encompass many themes, but we advise you to focus on the basics: movement, control-pass, and game understanding. These will be the foundations for your players for many years to come. Make sure to animate your U15 training sessions well, as this will help maintain a motivating pace for your players.

The U15 category in soccer, which includes players aged 14-15 and is also known as under 15, marks an important stage in a young player's learning. Indeed, they transition from understanding the sport to a more competitive and rigorous aspect. This development period is characterized by a significant increase in the players' technical, tactical, and physical skills, all linked to maximum game mastery and understanding of its stakes.

What is the U15 category in soccer?

The U15 category in soccer includes players under 15 who practice this sport. At this age, players are generally in full adolescence, which implies significant changes both physically, emotionally, and socially.

On the field, this translates to an increase in size, strength, and coordination. Tactical game concepts are also more easily grasped, allowing you, as a coach, to vary your training approach.

The objectives of the U15 category

The main objective of the U15 category in soccer is to prepare players for higher levels of competition they will encounter in upcoming seasons. The goal is to continue their progress as athletes but also as individuals.

Other objectives may stem from the main one, including:

Perfecting individual technical skills like dribbles, controls, shots, and passes.
Developing a true tactical understanding of the game through both defensive and offensive movements, not forgetting game awareness.
Strengthening the physical condition of growing players: endurance, speed, strength, and agility.
Promoting sports values like fair play, respect for teammates, opponents, and referees.
Expressing player leadership and helping them understand their responsibilities.
Preparing players for higher competitions by offering complex and pressure-filled game situations.

Some tips for coaching a U15 team

Coaching a U15 team requires a dynamic and personalized approach to discover the potential of each of your players, who individually do not grow in the same way. Here are some tips we can give you:

Set clear expectations in terms of behavior, commitment, and performance while creating a positive and stimulating training environment.
Design varied and progressive training sessions that emphasize the development of technical, tactical, and physical skills.
Encourage autonomy and responsibility among players by giving them leadership roles and promoting their involvement in session planning and evaluation.
Provide constructive and individualized feedback to help players identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
Integrate elements of mental preparation and stress management to help players face competition challenges and develop resilience.

What training exercises for U15s?

As with all categories, it is important for you to adapt your training sessions based on your group's level.

Here are some examples:

Ball possession exercises with quick transitions to improve decision-making and coordination.
Set up combinations and triangle plays to promote team play and communication.
Work on shooting with realistic game situations to improve offensive efficiency in front of the goal.
Offer small-sided games with specific rules to stimulate creativity and problem-solving among players.
Improve individual and collective defense with marking exercises and pressing.

In summary, the U15 category in soccer marks a true turning point in soccer learning. Adolescents grow and develop their game, skills, and understanding of the sport to play at higher levels in upcoming seasons.

Athletic circuit with ball: passing and agility work

Discover our endurance U15 drills

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

Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting

4v4 with active recovery and transitions – attacking the width in small-sided play

Shooting and using support during the build-up play

Defensive interventions and quick attacks through the winger

Progress with our drills

What is the U15 category in soccer?

The objectives of the U15 category

Some tips for coaching a U15 team

What training exercises for U15s?

3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps

Speed training: sprint variations in a diamond shape

Speed work: alternating jogging-sprint on a progressive run

Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters

Specific forward training – runs, slalom, and double finishing

Athletic training: slalom and ball control in 2 columns

High-intensity 1v1 mini-tournament (promotion-relegation)

Athletic warm-up: hurdles, give and go, and accelerations

Athletic circuit with ball: passing and agility work

Midfield Line: Advancing and Defending as a Team

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