tactical U12 soccer drills
tactical U12 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the tactical aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drillsQuick ball movement in 6v6 with deep support
By limiting the number of passes before the shot and providing deep support, your players practice moving the ball quickly to set up a teammate for a shot. The limited number of passes also encourages initiative and creativity.
Discover our tactical U12 drills
Movement off the ball, passes into space, and 1v1 duels
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U15
In this drill, players will have the opportunity to work on various aspects such as getting open, off-the-ball runs, and proper timing of passes. It can be used in different age groups....
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....
4v3 back to goal with build-up play for the defenders
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U13
Ideal exercise for a soccer school, it will allow your players to work on playing with their back to the goal as well as build-up play in a 4v3 setup that is quite simple to implement....
Preventing the build-up play: high press and shooting in 2v1
12 min
10-16 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U15
Thanks to a high press and shooting in 2v1 situations, this drill is ideal for blocking the opponent's build-up play. Make sure to enforce the instructions well to get the most out of your players....
Interception and forward ball control in 4v3
20 min
9-16 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U15
Receiving the ball forward, anticipating interceptions, and making runs into space: this comprehensive exercise is ideal in every aspect and will allow you to work on quick transitions between defensive and attacking phases....
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.
What is the U12 category?
The U12 category corresponds to children aged 11-12 years. The advice we recommend for this category is generally the same as for the U13 category. Children at this age play on half of an 11-a-side soccer field. There are certain physical and physiological aspects to consider when setting up your U12 training sessions: your players are growing, their coordination is developing, and they are slowly starting to build muscle mass.
Preparing and structuring training sessions for a U12 team requires real organization. Between choosing exercises, the relationship with the players and the team, or even physical preparation, many elements need to be considered.
Despite their young age, a U12 player gradually begins to develop their playing style and a certain vision of soccer. To promote the growth and progression of each player, training sessions must be specifically adapted and structured. This is not always simple!
Here is a detailed sheet to help you organize your soccer training for your U12 teams.
The objectives of the U12 category in soccer
The U12 category represents a pivotal period in the life of a young soccer player, marking a unique period between a soccer practice oriented more as a leisure activity and the beginning of a more serious and competitive approach to the sport. Did you know? Many players from U12 onwards start to be scouted by numerous training centers!
It is at this age that the fundamentals acquired during the early years are consolidated, while introducing players to the first tactical concepts that require not only physical skill but also a slight strategic reflection. This is where, as a coach, your role is crucial. Awaken the competitive spirit, the personality of each player while maintaining the passion for the sport and a certain playful aspect to each training session.
Some tips for coaching a U12 team
Before going into more detail on the training exercises to offer your U12 players, it is important to remember some fundamental principles to better understand your preparation. In the context of training for U12 categories, certain objectives should be kept in mind, including:
- The alternation of individual and team learning: knowing how to balance personal development and team play.
- Improvement of technical gestures: Emphasize improving the most obvious technical skills for each player.
- Teaching through play: Build sessions around fun games to develop techniques and principles of individual action.
- Reinforcement of basic concepts: Focus on possession, ball progression, and exploiting spaces on the field.
- Introduction to transition work: Start working on the changes between attack and defense, initial positioning, etc.
- Do not focus your training sessions purely on the "physical" aspect as you may be used to hearing. Favor exercises of agility, endurance, and flexibility to promote psychomotor development.
- Simplicity should be your watchword when preparing U12 training sessions. It is essential because it allows for better learning: it is then your animation that will give rhythm to your U12 drills, not the complexity of your training sessions.
- Finally, do not forget to include recovery periods.
Similarly, your role as a coach will also be to develop for each player self-confidence, team spirit, discipline, and respect for rules and opponents, thus contributing to forming accomplished players capable of shining both on and off the field, even at this young age.
What training exercises for U12s?
Structuring training and choosing the right exercises for a U12 team is not an easy task. The objective? Direct most sessions and exercises towards improving their coordination, ball control, reactivity, and positioning, as well as the different phases of play (set pieces, direct shots…).
Through fun and interactive teaching methods, coaches must succeed in keeping young players motivated and passionate, which facilitates effective learning in a positive environment. The goal is also to strengthen their love for soccer and stimulate their creativity on the field.
To assist you as best as possible, here is a list of ideal exercises for U12 categories:
- Passing exercises on the move: Encourage players to move while exchanging accurate passes to improve both their mobility and passing precision.
- Possession games: Organize games where the objective is to maintain possession of the ball in small spaces, which helps develop quick decision-making and play under pressure.
- Technical courses: Set up courses with cones to work on dribbling, changes of direction, and ball control.
- Reduced match situations: Create mini-matches (5 vs 5 or 7 vs 7) to encourage team play and the application of basic tactical concepts in a match context.
- Shooting exercises: Practice shots on goal from different positions to improve efficiency in front of the goal.
- Oriented control and dribbling with the “escape from prison” drill: Add a fun element with an exercise that targets improving oriented controls and ball dribbling.
Occupying space with a 2v1 rondo in 3 zones
15 min
9-18 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U13
A very simple exercise to set up that will allow your players to work on their spatial awareness in a possession game with a 2v1 in two zones....
Offensive Combinations in 2v1 on Opposite Goals
15 min
8-24 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U16
This high-intensity drill will allow your players to work on attacking sequences while emphasizing the importance of decision-making during the defensive phase....
Combining offensively using a pivot in 5v5
20 min
10-18 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U17
Possession drill that will allow your players to work on offensive combinations using a central player who will act as a pivot....
Compact defense with a back three in a reduced central area
20 min
9-18 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U16
Communication among defenders is essential in this highly intense drill, which perfectly combines communication work, positioning, and movement....
2v2 Work and Basic Tactical Principles (variation)
15 min
12-18 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U13
Perfect exercise for your players to work on 2v2 situations and fundamental tactical principles: to draw a defender, support, and off-the-ball runs for the attackers - closing down the ball carrier and defensive cover for the defenders....
Dribble and immediate follow-up
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U15
Ideal drill for getting your players to work on their sequence after the dribble. They practice lifting their heads and gathering information after the dribble and quickly releasing the ball....
Playing between the lines and following up the action (2)
15 min
6-12 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U17
Through a 3v3 drill with support, your players practice making through balls to the forward and following their pass to continue the play....
Training on Long Balls and Off-the-ball Movement
15 min
8-12 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U17
Long passing drill ideal for training your players to find the right passing angle, improve the accuracy of long balls, and work on attackers' movement off the ball....
Zonal Defense in 6v6: Marking, Cover, and Balance
15 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U17
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....
Quick ball movement in 6v6 with deep support
12 min
12-18 joueurs
Tactical
U12 - U17
By limiting the number of passes before the shot and providing deep support, your players practice moving the ball quickly to set up a teammate for a shot. The limited number of passes also encourages initiative and creativity....
Protecting a Defensive Zone
15 min
8-12 joueurs
Tactical
U11 - U15
By placing your players in 1v1 situations within a defined space, the defenders work on defensive cover while the attackers practice dribbling....
Collective replacement and management of offensive and defensive space
20 min
10-12 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U14
Through this exercise, your players work on collective repositioning, closing down space, and defensive build-up play, as well as finding the available teammate and creating an overload in attack....
Collective ball retention through the short passing game
20 min
8-10 joueurs
Tactical
U11 - U15
By working on collective ball retention using short passing game, your players get used to moving the ball and building up play calmly....
Half-field play: keep your head up and gather information
20 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U14
By requiring play in a confined space, this drill forces your players to lift their heads and look further to find the available teammate....
4v4 Numerical Equality Game and Shooting Situation
20 min
10-12 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U15
By creating game conditions in a limited space, leading to an off-the-ball run and a shooting opportunity, you allow your players to work on both offensive and defensive actions in an even-numbered situation....
Free Play: Positioning and Space Occupation
20 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U10 - U13
Free play on half-field to put players in match situations: allows for working on positioning, movement, and emphasizes the importance of keeping your head up....
The double circle: working on spaces (attack/defense)
12 min
10-14 joueurs
Tactical
U11 - U15
Ideal exercise to train your players to reduce spaces to prevent the through ball (defensively) and create spaces to facilitate ball movement (offensively)....
Other theme U12 soccer drills
U12 Conditioning soccer drills
- Cognitive work without the ball with 1v1v1 duels
- Agility and Shooting
- Cognitive ability with agility work and color play
U12 Small-sided games soccer drills
- 4v4 Possession Game with Central Square
- 3 ways to score in a reduced 3v3v3 game
- Sequence of small-sided games in 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, then 3v2