conditioning U13 soccer drills

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

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Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels

Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels

15 min
6-18 joueurs
Conditioning
U12 - U16
Ideal for working on the cognitive aspect, this exercise can be used in a session after a complete warm-up. Very dynamic, it often appeals to players....
Cognitive ability with agility work and color play

Cognitive ability with agility work and color play

15 min
6-18 joueurs
Conditioning
U12 - U16
Very engaging agility exercise with cognitive work involving colors, voice, and gestures. Combine auditory and visual signals with a bit of competition, and you'll see that it's an exercise highly appreciated by players....
Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball

Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball

12 min
12-14 joueurs
Conditioning
U10 - U15
Fun exercise ideal for working on motor skills: footwork, balance, and body control....
Agility and Shooting

Agility and Shooting

12 min
8-10 joueurs
Conditioning
U11 - U15
Ideal exercise for working on speed and agility without the ball. The race between 2 players for the final shot adds extra motivation for the players....
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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: 
  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.