small-sided games U11 soccer drills
small-sided games U11 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the small-sided games aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drillsCreating space through movement in 5v5
This exercise will help your players position themselves well in space to offer support to the ball carrier. Many variations are possible with additional cognitive aspects.
Discover our small-sided games U11 drills
Possession game in two zones with 5v3 and 3 gates
15 min
15-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Two teams each maintain possession in their own half and look to penetrate through one of the gates to switch of play, under pressure from a third team....
Small-sided games in 2v2 with goalkeeper in promotion relegation format
14 min
4-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U8 - U13
2v2 opposition in a promotion/relegation format where teams move up or down based on the result, with mini-goals or a stop-ball variation....
Small-sided 2v2 games in 3 "drawer" zones
15 min
4-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
2v2 game where the attacking team progresses zone by zone to eliminate two defenders positioned on different "levels" before finishing on mini-goals....
3v3 with a neutral player and central support – stop-ball and overlaps
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U15
3v3 game with a neutral player and two central supports to work on overlaps, the support play, and shooting on a stop-ball....
Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
This drill is ideal for working on passing to create width in order to connect the box-to-box midfielder with the player positioned behind the opposing line....
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What is the U11 category?
The U11 category corresponds to children aged 10-11 years, who generally play on the equivalent of half an 11-a-side field. At this age, the coach's goal is primarily to develop coordination, motor skills, and the technical skills of young players. An initial introduction to some tactical elements can also be offered. When preparing your U11 training sessions, be sure to keep these different aspects in mind. Remember that fun is a fundamental concept at this age, so be mindful of how you conduct your U11 exercises.
A U11 player is still at the early stages of their soccer journey. The goal as a coach is to awaken the different qualities and profile of each player by offering training and types of sessions that are fun yet constructive.
Are you coaching a U11 team and looking for advice on how to structure your training sessions or the different exercises to offer your players? You are in the right place! To best help you prepare a training session suitable for U11, here is a detailed and easy-to-implement guide for your sessions.
The objectives of the U11 category in soccer
U11 players, aged 10 to 11 years, still play on a half-field. At this age, the focus for each coach is generally on developing team spirit, motor skills, and ball control while gradually introducing technical elements (dribbling, juggling, etc.). An introduction to basic tactical concepts, such as positioning and decision-making, can also be offered progressively at this age.
Your number one goal as a coach? Maintain a pedagogical approach in your U11 training to stimulate learning while keeping each child's interest and the fun aspect. At this age, sessions should still be centered around mini-games built around soccer, in teams, and preferably offered at the end of training to finish on a more enjoyable note.
Some tips for coaching a U11 team
Training U11s should be intelligently built around several key elements: discovery, the basics of soccer, and creativity. The goal is to understand each young player, their preferences in terms of position, exercises, style of play, personality, etc. The choice of U11 exercises is then crucial to promote the development and highlighting of these different elements.
What training exercises for U11s?
The exercises should be designed to improve both the individual skills of each player while emphasizing team play. Activities like agility courses, dribbling workshops, and small-sided games are excellent for developing technique and tactical understanding. It is also beneficial to integrate games that encourage quick decision-making and game vision, such as themed matches, for example.
Here is a list of exercises to help you organize your training sessions:
Here is a list of exercises to help you organize your training sessions:
- Passing and oriented control square: Improvement of passing and control technique.
- Defensive techniques and interceptions: Focus on improving passes for attackers and interceptions for defenders.
- Defending a zone: Duel exercises to strengthen the defense of a designated area.
- Motor skills and ball handling: Strengthening balance, coordination, and ball control.
- Agility course with ball: To develop coordination and ball control.
- Dribbling workshops: Slaloms between cones to improve ball mastery.
- Small-sided games (3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4): Encourage team play and quick decision-making.
- Shooting exercises in front of goal: To improve shooting accuracy
3 ways to score in a reduced 3v3v3 game
12 min
9-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U8 - U13
Small-sided game with three teams where each group has a specific way to score, requiring quick decision-making and constant adaptation....
7v7 Oppositions with 1v1 Duels on the Flanks
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Small-sided game in 7v7 with two wide areas dedicated to 1v1 before a cross and shooting in the box....
Possession game with support at the 4 corners
15 min
12-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Ball retention exercise with a numerical advantage, seeking support in the corners to validate passing sequences....
Rondo in 3+2 vs 3+2: managing the overload and quick transitions
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Ball possession and transition work in a balanced rondo, where each team seeks to exploit the temporary overload during the possession phase....
Dynamic small-sided game in 2v1 on 3 mini goals
20 min
6-12 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Small 2v1 duel game in a reduced space that emphasizes movement work, whether it's the defender's positioning or the runs of the 2 attacking players....
3v3 high-intensity with shooting on 6 mini goals
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Used by the youth teams at Real Madrid, this highly dynamic drill will help your players work on attacking and defensive transitions as well as defensive recovery....
Creating space through movement in 5v5
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U15
This exercise will help your players position themselves well in space to offer support to the ball carrier. Many variations are possible with additional cognitive aspects....
4v4 Possession Game with Central Square
15 min
9-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Ideal exercise for youth soccer with a small-sided 4v4 game, a central neutral player, and a variation with 2 mini-goals to offer a coherent progression to your players....
3v3 (+4) with support players and position change
18 min
14-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
This 3v3 with 4 support players is ideal for working on communication, game awareness, and decision-making. Under pressure in the central zone, your players will need to lift their heads and find support before they can finish on 4 mini goals....
2v1 Rondo in two zones
12 min
6-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U9 - U13
2v1 (or 4v2) possession exercise on two adjacent zones with possible variation on mini-goals. Ideal small-sided game for soccer schools....
4v4 Game with Colored Gates and Mini Goals
20 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U15
A very dynamic game that involves various cognitive aspects, it is ideal for working in a fun way through a possession exercise followed by progression with shooting on mini-goals....
Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
20 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U14
4v2 possession drill with pressing and zone changes. You can develop the exercise with small goals and by limiting touches on the ball....
Tic-Tac-Toe possession game with overload
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U9 - U13
A very fun game that combines problem-solving, decision-making, and attacking-defensive transitions. Highly appreciated by players and ideal for soccer schools!...
5v5 opposition with "4 corner jokers"
20 min
16-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U15
This 5v5 small-sided game with 4 neutral players will allow your players to progressively take control of the field by "unlocking" the neutral players one by one....
4v4 Possession Game with 2 Final Third Zones
15 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
Positioning, reaction time, and quality of passes are on the agenda for this possession exercise, perfect for working on key skills in a fun format....
Other theme U11 soccer drills
U11 Conditioning soccer drills
- Agility and Shooting
- Agility and game awareness: The cone drill in youth academy
- Mastery of footwork, balance, and body control - without the ball
U11 Tactical soccer drills
- Protecting a Defensive Zone
- 2v2 Work and Basic Tactical Principles (variation)
- 4v3 back to goal with build-up play for the defenders