Free Weekly Session Plan (60 Minutes)

Stay tuned each week for our free new session plan 

🟢 1. Arrival & Free Play (5 minutes)

• Children arrive and collect a ball

• Free dribbling in a marked area (lots of touches)

• Coach welcomes players, sets the tone

🟡 2. Fun Warm‑Up Game (10 minutes)

Game example: Sharks & Minnows (with footballs)

• All players have a ball

• One or two “sharks” try to tag players

• Players keep control of their ball while moving 

• If tagged, players do a fun challenge (e.g. 5 toe taps) and re-join

Coaching focus:

• Movement

• Ball familiarity

• Energy and engagement

• Scanning 

✅ Adapt by changing:

• Size of area

• Number of sharks

• Type of movement (inside foot only, weak foot, etc.)

🔵 3. Skill Game (15 minutes)

Theme example: Dribbling & Ball Control

Game: Gates Game

• Set up lots of small gates with cones

• Players dribble through as many gates as possible

• Each gate = 1 point

• Can be done individually or in pairs

Progressions (optional):

• Change foot

• Add turns

• Add a defender later for confident players

Coaching focus:

• Lots of touches

• Head up & Scanning 

• Praise effort, not perfection

🟣 4. Fun Challenge Game (10 minutes)

Game example: Clean Your Room

• Split players into 2-4 teams

• Balls start in the middle

• On the whistle, players dribble balls to the other team’s side

• After time, team with the fewest balls wins

Why this works:

• Competitive but fun

• High engagement

• Works for all abilities

Coaching focus:

• Teamwork

• Effort

• Encouragement

• Good touches

⚽ 5. Small‑Sided Games (15 minutes)

• Small teams (3v3 / 4v4) 

• Multiple games if numbers allow

• Rotate teams regularly

Rules:

• Roll‑in or dribble‑in restart

• No scores kept if confidence is low

• Encourage everyone to have a go

• Conditions can be applied including x passes before a shot is allowed - direction of 1st pass in turnover 

Coaching focus:

• Enjoyment

• Fair play

• Let the game flow

🔴 6. Cool Down & Finish (5 minutes)

• Light jogging or walking

• Simple stretches with the ball

• Group chat and positive feedback

Finish with:

• What did you enjoy today?

• Big round of applause

• Clear goodbye so children leave feeling good

✅ Key Coaching Principles

• Fun first

• Positive language

• No shouting

• Encourage effort and bravery

• Adapt games to suit the group

🔁 Changing It Weekly (next week we will focus on Passing) Stay tuned! 

Each week, the structure stays the same, but the skill theme changes:

• Week 1: Dribbling

• Week 2: Passing

• Week 3: Turning

• Week 4: Shooting

• Week 5: Defending

• Week 6: Ball mastery

This keeps sessions:

• familiar for kids

• easy for coaches

• fresh week to week

Note to Coaches

This session plan is a guide. Coaches should:

• Adapt activities to suit the group

• Keep children safe and engaged

• Prioritise enjoyment over outcomes

WEEK 2: PASSING – SESSION PLAN

🟢 1. Arrival & Free Play (5 minutes)

Setup: Balls out, small marked area.
Children arrive, grab a ball and pair up if they want.

Activities:

• Free passing between pairs

• Short distances only

• Encourage movement after every pass

Coach focus:

• Warm welcome

• Positive tone

• Encourage “pass and move” instinct

🟡 2. Fun Warm‑Up Game – “Pass the Bomb” (10 minutes)

How it works:

• All players in the area with a ball per pair

• One ball is the “bomb”

• Players must pass the bomb quickly (can only hold for 2 seconds)

• When coach shouts “BOOM!” whoever has the ball does a fun challenge (5 toe taps)

Coaching focus:

• Quick passing

• Communication (“here!” / “pass!”)

• Movement into space

• Head up

Easy adaptations:

• Bigger or smaller area

• Add more “bombs”

• Use weak foot

🔵 3. Skill Game – Passing Through Gates (15 minutes)

Setup:
Mark lots of small cone gates around the pitch.
Players work in pairs with one ball.

How it works:

• Pairs move around passing the ball through as many gates as possible

• 1 point per completed pass through a gate

• Encourage constant movement and support angles

Progressions:

• Must use inside of the foot

• Must pass with weaker foot

• One‑touch passing for confident players

• Add a passive defender later

Coaching focus:

• Passing accuracy

• Weight of pass

• Body shape

• Good first touch to set up the pass

• Encourage praise and lots of success

🟣 4. Fun Challenge Game – “Steal the Treasure (Passing Version)” (10 minutes)

Setup:
2–4 teams, each with a safe zone.
Lots of balls (“treasure”) in the middle.

How it works:

• Players cannot dribble the treasure — they must pass it back to a teammate in their safe zone

• Player runs to collect a ball, passes to teammate, then returns for more

• After timer ends, team with the most treasure wins

Why kids love it:

• Fast, fun, energetic

• Encourages teamwork

• Passing under pressure

Coaching focus:

• Passing accuracy over distance

• Moving into space

• Communication

• Lots of encouragement

⚽ 5. Small‑Sided Games (15 minutes)

Format:
3v3 or 4v4 — use multiple pitches if needed.

Rules (passing focus):

• Condition: Team must complete 3 passes before they can score

• Roll‑ins or dribble‑ins to restart

• No fixed positions — encourage rotation

• Keep the game flowing

Optional conditions:

• First pass must go forward

• Points for successful combinations, not goals

Coaching focus:

• Teamwork

• Keeping the ball

• Finding space

• Letting the game flow naturally

🔴 6. Cool Down & Finish (5 minutes)

Activities:

• Light jogging → walking

• Passing the ball gently to each other

• Simple stretches

Group chat:
Ask:

• “What passing skill did you enjoy today?”

• “Who worked hard to help their teammates?”

Finish with a big round of applause and clear goodbye.

✅ Key Coaching Principles

• Fun first

• Positive, encouraging language

• Correct quietly, praise loudly

• Keep activities short and energetic

• Adapt for ability and confidence

WEEK 3: TURNS WITH THE BALL – SESSION PLAN

🟢 1. Arrival & Free Play (5 minutes)
Setup: Balls out in a small marked area.
Kids arrive, grab a ball, and start dribbling freely.

Activities:

• Dribble in all directions

• Gentle turns away from others

• Encourage trying: inside turn, outside turn, drag‑back

Coach focus:

• Warm welcome

• Fun tone

• Encourage creativity: “Show me your best turn!”

🟡 2. Fun Warm‑Up Game – “Sharks & Turners” (10 minutes)

How it works:

• 2–3 players are Sharks (taggers) without balls

• Everyone else has a ball and must dribble around

• If a Shark gets close, player must do a turn (any turn they choose) to escape

• If tagged, they perform a quick skill (10 toe taps) to re‑join

Coaching focus:

• Quick changes of direction

• Keeping the ball close

• Head up

• Confidence to try different turns

Easy adaptations:

• Smaller or bigger area

• Add more sharks

• Tell players a specific turn to use (e.g., inside hook only)

🔵 3. Skill Game – “Turn Zones” (15 minutes)

Setup:
Create 3–4 small “turn zones” using cones around the pitch.
Each player or pair has a ball.

How it works:
Players dribble freely. When they enter a turn zone, they must perform a specific turn:

Example turns:

• Inside hook (Cruyff turn version)

• Outside hook

• Drag‑back

• U‑turn / Stop‑turn

After performing the turn, they dribble out and find another zone.

Progressions:

• Add time challenges (“How many zones in 1 minute?”)

• Add a passive defender in one zone

• Players must use weak foot inside the zones

• Players shout the name of the turn before performing it

Coaching focus:

• Soft touches

• Body shape to disguise the turn

• Ball control with both feet

• Turning away from pressure

• Praise effort, creativity, and bravery to try new skills

🟣 4. Fun Challenge Game – “Escape the Defender” (10 minutes)

Setup:
Small 1v1 channels or mini‑grids.
One attacker with ball, one defender.

How it works:

• Attacker starts with back to defender

• On coach’s shout (“GO!”), the defender applies pressure

• Attacker must use a turn to escape and dribble to one of two exit gates

• Swap roles quickly

Why kids love it:

• Feels like real football

• Quick, competitive, but fun

• Encourages bravery and clever turns

Coaching focus:

• Turning away from pressure

• Protecting the ball

• Using shoulder feints

• Explosive first touch after the turn

• Encouragement and celebration of attempts

⚽ 5. Small‑Sided Games (15 minutes)
Format:
3v3 or 4v4 — use multiple pitches if needed.

Rules (turning focus):

• Bonus point every time a player successfully uses a turn to escape pressure

• Defenders must not tackle from behind

• Encourage players to try turns, not fear mistakes

• Keep the game free‑flowing

Optional conditions:

• First touch must go into space

• Players must turn when receiving back‑foot passes

• Bonus points for using weak‑foot turns

Coaching focus:

• Awareness

• Turning into space

• Confidence on the ball

• Letting players be creative without fear of mistakes

🔴 6. Cool Down & Finish (5 minutes)
Activities:

• Light dribbling → walking

• Ball stops and turns

• Gentle stretching

Group chat:
Ask:

• “What turn did you enjoy most today?”

• “Who showed great confidence?”

• “Who kept trying even when it was tricky?”

Finish with high‑fives, applause, and a big thank you.

✅ Key Coaching Principles

• Fun first

• Encourage creativity

• Praise loudly, correct quietly

• Short, energetic activities

• Let kids express themselves with the ball

• Reward confidence as much as success