motor skills U13 soccer drills

Drop-off and ball control

Ideal exercise to practice the back-pedal technique (defense) and dribbling (attack) with a point system to instill a good competitive spirit.

Mark out a 15m x 15m square. Using soccer cones, set up 2 goals on one side and 2 more on the opposite side. Form 2 teams and place them between the goals. The coach is on one of the other sides with the balls. The exercise can last from 10 to 15 minutes.

The coach makes a pass to the attacker who must then try to dribble through one of the defender's 2 gates. The defender must perform a backpedal well supported on both feet to slow down the attacker's run and try to push them towards the sideline. They can recover the ball on a mistake by the attacker and go score between one of the attacker's 2 gates.

Pay attention to the quality of the backpedal and don't hesitate to correct if necessary. Clearly instruct the defender to push the attacker towards the sideline and wait for the attacker's mistake to recover the ball. The goal is not to seek the duel for the defender!

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What is the U13 category?

The U13 category represents children aged 12 to 13 years, and it is at this time that soccer concepts and training intensity increase a notch. At this age, children face significant physical changes, requiring training adaptation to support their growth, muscle development, and coordination improvement. Sessions must therefore be designed to meet these needs while continuing to develop their technical and tactical skills.

Objectives of the U13 category

The objectives for U13 expand to include not only technical development and coordination but also the integration of more complex and technical exercises. The focus will be more on developing game awareness both individually and collectively, decision-making in match situations, and improving more specific qualities like passing, shooting, set pieces or even dribbling.

Some tips for coaching a U13 team

For U13 players, it is advisable to avoid overly physical training and to favor activities that promote agility, endurance, and mastery of fundamental soccer qualities. Sessions should be simple yet dynamic, allowing players to improve through exercises that stimulate both their psychomotor development and tactical understanding. The integration of recovery periods is also essential to prevent injuries and promote healthy growth.

To summarize, here are our tips regarding your U13 training sessions:

Avoid "physical" training as you are used to practicing. Favor exercises for agility, endurance, and flexibility to promote psychomotor development.
Conduct simple exercises for your players. Simplicity is crucial as it allows for better learning. It is your animation that will give rhythm to your U13 workshops, not the complexity of your training sessions.
Remember to integrate recovery periods.

What training exercises for U13?

Exercises for U13 should include games and workshops that emphasize individual technique while integrating more advanced tactical elements. Small group play exercises, shooting sessions, and sessions focused on developing team strategy should be prioritized for your training.

Here are some additional ideas to help you:

Possession game: In small groups to improve game awareness and maintaining possession.
Shooting workshops: With various scenarios to work on shooting under pressure, from different angles, with both strong and weak foot…
Quick transition exercises: Attack-defense exercises, and vice versa to develop reactivity and team strategy.
Dribbling sessions: With technical challenges to improve agility and control in match situations.
Small-sided games with specific conditions: For example, limiting the number of touches to encourage quick play and decision-making. Also consider implementing different tactics to teach players the importance of positioning and understanding what works best for your U13 team.