positional play U16 soccer drills
positional play U16 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the positional play aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drills7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
Used by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in February 2019, this possession game is ideal for working on the positioning and movement of your players.
On a half-field, set up 4 gates as shown in the diagram and form 2 teams of 7 players, as well as 3 neutral players. Also, make sure to place balls all around the field to avoid wasting time in case of a ball out and maintain high intensity.
The game starts with a pass from the coach to the blue team. The blues must maintain possession with the help of the 3 neutral players while the 7 yellow players try to win it back. The goal for the blue team is to make a pass through one of the gates. However, they cannot pass through the same gate twice in a row.
When the yellows win the ball, it's their turn to perform a possession game to try to find a teammate through a gate.
Variation 1: you can require your players to make the pass through the gate with one touch. This will increase the intensity of the exercise and make the task slightly more difficult for your players.
Variation 2: you can also ask your players to dribble through the gates, specifying that only team players can score a point. The neutral players are only there for support.
Variation 2: passing through the gates
Discover our positional play U16 drills
M. Bielsa: Build-up play on the strong side with a switch of play to draw a defender and release
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U18
Ball circulation sequence working on build-up play under pressure on the strong side, followed by a quick switch of play to the weak side to finish in a mini-goal, inspired by a session proposed by Marcelo Bielsa....
Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U17
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....
6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U20
Positional play where 6 players maintain possession against 3 pressing, with objectives of passing and quick transitions to mini-goals....
Pass sequence with layoff, support runs, and through ball play
10 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U16 - U17
Dynamic layoff-support circuit where players combine quick passes, directional controls, and support runs before attacking the depth....
8v8: connection of the fullbacks with the attacking line across 5 zones
15 min
14-18 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U17
Build-up play and connection between wide players and forwards in an 8v8 structured into five zones....
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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.
Practicing the diamond play with shooting on mini goals
15 min
4-16 joueurs
Tactical
U15 - U14
Small passing drill with shooting on mini goals, ideal for working on automatisms and getting your players accustomed to triangle play when positioned in a diamond formation....
Diamond play with passing combinations
18 min
8-24 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U16
Simple drill to set up but allows working on the diamond shape from different angles and through various combinations. This is actually a drill used by the German national team during a training session....
3-Team Possession Game (6v6 + 3 neutral players)
20 min
15-19 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - U15
This exercise involves a 6v6 match with 3 attacking jokers on a reduced field. It's ideal for working on movement and decision-making under opponent pressure....
Possession game in 2v4 then 4v8 with central zone
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U15 - U17
Small-sided game with 3 teams of 4 players and a central zone ("river") to work on positioning and movement in tight spaces....
Combining offensively using a pivot in 5v5
20 min
10-18 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U15
Possession drill that will allow your players to work on offensive combinations using a central player who will act as a pivot....
7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
15 min
17-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - U16
Used by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in February 2019, this possession game is ideal for working on the positioning and movement of your players....
Possession game in 4v4 followed by a 2v1 counterattack
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - U18
This drill is ideal for working on counterattacks in match situations. You can implement different variations to add rhythm to a session and offer a quality drill to your players (exercise used by Manchester City in April 2019)....
6v6 possession game with 2 neutral players and shooting on small goals
20 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U16
This possession drill focuses on three aspects: space management, passing quality, and speed of execution. With numerous variations, it is ideal for adding tempo to your session....
Defensive cover and tracking back in a three-man defense
14 min
9-18 joueurs
Technical
U16 - U17
Excellent technical drill for defenders to work on speed of movement, agility, and coordination. Conducted by Bayern Munich during a training session in 2013....
Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
15 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U13
By having the defense work on zonal marking starting from a 6v6, your players improve on various tactical concepts: getting open, defensive cover, and balance to prevent the through ball....
Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
8 min
16-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U20 - Seniors
Ideal exercise to improve your players' group positioning....
Build-up play: finding space between the lines
20 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U18
Starting with a 7v7 on half a field, your players practice finding open space between the opponents and behind them to offer solutions during the build-up play. The focus is also on seeking to stretch the opposing team to open up spaces....
Building the Attack: Movement and Finding Open Space
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U18
Starting from a 7v7 on a half-field, your players practice finding open space between opponents and behind them to offer solutions during the build-up play....
Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U19
With this exercise, your forwards work on positioning between the lines to provide options in build-up play and attack construction. They also practice shooting....
Other sub-theme U16 soccer drills
U16 Agility soccer drills
- 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
- Athletic circuit with ball: passing and agility work
U16 Attacking transition soccer drills
- Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
- Attacking transition of José Mourinho with quick attacks in 5v3
U16 Build-up play soccer drills
- Build-up Play and Through Ball in Jurgen Klopp's 4-3-3
- Breaking the lines with passing combinations in 3 drills
- Build-up play and shooting in 9v9 with passing gates
U16 Circuit soccer drills
- Athletic warm-up: hurdles, give and go, and accelerations
- Athletic work in 30-15 with the ball on 4 stations
- Active endurance work in 4 phases
U16 Cognitive soccer drills
- Specific Forwards: Shooting Around the Edge of the Box
- Possession play and progressive switches of play
- Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
U16 Counterattack soccer drills
- Attacking transition of J. Klopp with quick attacks in 6v6
- Continuous fast attacks with a 5v3 in 2 zones
- Attacking transition of José Mourinho with quick attacks in 5v3
U16 Counter-pressing soccer drills
- Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
U16 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- Continuous fast attacks with a 5v3 in 2 zones
- Attacking transition of J. Klopp with quick attacks in 6v6
- Offensive combinations in 3v2 with defensive recovery
U16 Defensive transition soccer drills
- Xavi: using width in a 6v6 with 4 support players
- Finishing sequence followed by 2v2 opposition
- Shooting under pressure in 4v2 on 4 small goals
U16 Dribbling soccer drills
- One-touch short passing drill in a diamond formation
- Unlocking mini-goals with gate passing in 4v4
- Circuit in groups of 3 with duels and shooting work
U16 Duels soccer drills
- Defensive play training for the fullback
- Pep Guardiola: Small-sided high-intensity play from 1v1 to 5v5
- Defensive work in pairs in a small area
U16 Endurance soccer drills
- Athletic training: slalom and ball control in 2 columns
- Midfield Line: Advancing and Defending as a Team
- High-intensity box-to-box runs with active recovery
U16 Explosive strength soccer drills
- Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
- Speed Work and 1v1 Duels
- Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
U16 Fun Game soccer drills
- Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
- Athletic warm-up: hurdles, give and go, and accelerations
- Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3
U16 Gaps soccer drills
- Build-up play: finding space between the lines
- Pass sequence with layoff, support runs, and through ball play
- Transition and "support players" of Pep Guardiola (in 3 zones)
U16 Offensive combinations soccer drills
- Double 2v1 following a passing combination
- Build-up play and shooting in 9v9 with passing gates
- Build-up play: finding space between the lines
U16 Overload soccer drills
- Shooting under pressure in 4v2 on 4 small goals
- Forward play with possession in 6v3
- Possession game in 4v4 followed by a 2v1 counterattack
U16 Passes soccer drills
- Warm-up: ball passing work
- Double square: combinations and sequences of short passing game
- Layoff in one-touch play during a passing sequence
U16 Possession soccer drills
- Possession game in 2v4 then 4v8 with central zone
- 6v4 Possession Game with Attacking-Defensive Transition
- Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)
U16 Pressing soccer drills
- Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
- Compact defense with a back three in a reduced central area
U16 Rondos soccer drills
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
- Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
U16 Scanning soccer drills
- Forward play with possession in 6v3
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Possession play and switching against a low block
U16 Shooting soccer drills
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
- One-touch offensive combinations with shooting
- Shooting under pressure in 4v2 on 4 small goals
U16 Support soccer drills
- Pass sequence with layoff, support runs, and through ball play
- Shooting and using support during the build-up play
- Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting