offensive combinations U13 soccer drills

offensive combinations U13 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the offensive combinations aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.

Access more drills
Offensive combinations in 3v2 with defensive recovery

Offensive combinations in 3v2 with defensive recovery

15 min
9-18 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U16
Very dynamic exercise to implement in training, which will allow your players to work on different situations in 3v2 then 3v3 with a defensive recovery by the 3rd player. Game awareness and quick decision-making will be the focus of this exercise....
One-two pass combinations with 2 teams then shooting

One-two pass combinations with 2 teams then shooting

15 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U10 - U13
Used in soccer school, this drill will allow your players to work on attacking combinations in tight spaces. Numerous variations are possible....
Combination and shooting in front of the goal followed by a 2v2

Combination and shooting in front of the goal followed by a 2v2

15 min
12-18 joueurs
Technical
U14 - U13
Exercise to work on attacking combinations and the final action in front of the goal. The sequence ends with a 2v2 duel, progressing to a 3v2 situation with a numerical advantage....
Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals

Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals

15 min
8-24 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U13
This high-intensity drill will allow your players to work on attacking sequences while emphasizing the importance of decision-making during the defensive phase....
Premium drills - Soccer Coach Lab

Progress with our drills

Join our community of amateur coaches and access 500+ premium drills with diagrams inspired by pro coaches. Get new drills every week.

Access drills

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: 
  1. Avoid "physical" training as you are used to practicing. Favor exercises for agility, endurance, and flexibility to promote psychomotor development.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Other sub-theme U13 soccer drills

U13 Agility soccer drills

  1. Tic-Tac-Toe possession game with overload
  2. Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
  3. Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1
See all

U13 Attacking transition soccer drills

  1. Sequence of small-sided games in 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, then 3v2
  2. Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
  3. Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
See all

U13 Build-up play soccer drills

  1. 4v3 back to goal with build-up play for the defenders
  2. Training on Long Balls and Off-the-ball Movement
  3. One-two pass drill against a diamond formation
See all

U13 Circuit soccer drills

  1. Diamond drill: high-intensity give-and-go with groups of 5
  2. Switch of play using the central midfielder
  3. Information Gathering on a Sequence of Passes in 4v4
See all

U13 Cognitive soccer drills

  1. Tic-Tac-Toe possession game with overload
  2. 4vs4+1: corner-to-corner possession with fixed support players
  3. Warm-up: team ball possession
See all

U13 Counterattack soccer drills

  1. Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
See all

U13 Counter-pressing soccer drills

  1. Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
  2. 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
  3. Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
See all

U13 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills

  1. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
  2. Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
  3. Offensive combinations in 3v2 with defensive recovery
See all

U13 Defensive transition soccer drills

  1. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
  2. Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
  3. 3v3 high-intensity with shooting on 6 mini goals
See all

U13 Dribbling soccer drills

  1. Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1
  2. Triangle passing sequence and dribbling through gates
  3. 4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals
See all

U13 Duels soccer drills

  1. Escaping a 1v2 Under Pressure: Creativity and Quickness
  2. Continuation of 1v1 duels with back to goal and mini-goals on opposite ends
  3. Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
See all

U13 Endurance soccer drills

  1. 3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
See all

U13 Explosive strength soccer drills

  1. 1v1 duels with neutral support and quick finishing on close goals
  2. 1v1 with goalkeeper – back-to-goal duel and chasing defense
  3. Cognitive work with colored gate choice in 1v1
See all

U13 Fun Game soccer drills

  1. Small-sided games in 2v2 with goalkeeper in promotion relegation format
  2. Information gathering and cognitive work in Youth academy
  3. Receiving on the half-turn and dribbling with the "escape from jail" drill
See all

U13 Gaps soccer drills

  1. Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
  2. 3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
  3. Play in Space and Switches of Play
See all

U13 Motor skills soccer drills

  1. 1v1 and agility: support and change of direction
  2. Dribbling: imitation and sequence to be repeated by the team
  3. Warm-up: sequence, control, dribbling, and passing
See all

U13 Overload soccer drills

  1. 4v3 back to goal with build-up play for the defenders
  2. Dynamic small-sided game in 2v1 on 3 mini goals
  3. Sequence of small-sided games in 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, then 3v2
See all

U13 Passes soccer drills

  1. Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
  2. Warm-up: Directional ball control on the ground
  3. Precision and speed of ball movement (1)
See all

U13 Positional play soccer drills

  1. Collective ball retention through the short passing game
  2. Combining offensively using a pivot in 5v5
  3. 3v3 (+4) with support players and position change
See all

U13 Possession soccer drills

  1. 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
  2. 4v4 Possession Game with 2 Final Third Zones
  3. 4v4 Possession Game with Central Square
See all

U13 Pressing soccer drills

  1. Possession game with support at the 4 corners
  2. Compact defense with a back three in a reduced central area
  3. 4vs4+1: corner-to-corner possession with fixed support players
See all

U13 Rondos soccer drills

  1. 2v1 Rondo in two zones
  2. Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
  3. Warm-up with neutral support in the wide areas
See all

U13 Scanning soccer drills

  1. Double square with passing combinations
  2. Passing game work with a square of 6 players
  3. Information Gathering on a Sequence of Passes in 4v4
See all

U13 Shooting soccer drills

  1. 1v1 Duel and Wing Play
  2. Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals
  3. 1v1 with goalkeeper – back-to-goal duel and chasing defense
See all

U13 Support soccer drills

  1. Diamond: layoff, switch of play, and through ball
  2. 3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
  3. 3v3 (+4) with support players and position change
See all

U13 Transition soccer drills

  1. 2v1 Rondo in two zones
  2. 2v2 Work and Basic Tactical Principles (variation)
  3. Dynamic 360° Opposition with 3 Teams of 3
See all

U13 Using width soccer drills

  1. 4v4 and off-the-ball runs into space
  2. Defensive Techniques: Working on Interception
  3. Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
See all