Just volunteered to coach 3/4th grade soccer as my son along with many other kids were going to get turned away and I have been stressing so much that I do not have the knowledge to be a coach! Your videos are a lifesaver! Thank you so much for doing these videos!

You always need one of the best players as your stopper. One of the tallest fastest as our sweeper. I try to spread our talent around. We play a 3-2-1 and play a triangle offense They are to look for their triangles all over the field. My stopper has the strongest kick and is strong and experienced. I give him leeway. To make his choices. We works within his diamond. He assisted one our first goal yesterday after stealing the ball and clearing. Then pushed all the way up to assist our right central mid. Beautiful work from 6 & 7 year olds. I try to do drills like give and go pass to them finishing with the shot against their keeper. Triangle passing drills. Red light green light. Baseline dribble to top of box turn and score. 3v3 with goalie drills. Rotating. I only have 10 players so they get a ton of work. All our drill are usually based in game like situations. I can teach them multiple things at once without specifically teaching them each thing. It keeps them engaged for sure. We do warn up for 5-10 minutes tiptoe drills, a few push ups and stuff like that. Counting it out as a team. To be that's fundamental and gets them focused. They have a ton of fun and love me but they also know they are here to work hard. And they will feel good about themselves after

THANK YOU. I am coaching for the first time with a U10 team that does not have any idea of spacing or passing. This video is invaluable.

Great stuff. It’s amazing how little is out there like this, but it’s so helpful and appreciated. You are helping tons of youth players have a better time at soccer.

Excellent content. Thanks

These are great. Thank you!

Gr8 coach. It helps lots of coaches worldwide...

Super helpful, thank you!

I support you my coach 🥰

I totally agree with your approach to training at this age, great video

Awesome video. But I think I’m gonna have to do a little technical training for my Rec league kids. But this time it’s always gonna be fun. Either because there’s a competitive element between two sides, or you get to take a shot after the technical element is completed.

Loved the detailed session plan. I will be incorporating such sessions for my u-10s too. Coach Rory you are doing a great job helping us coaches and players!!

Great video. Thanks so much for the tips!

Thank you for these videos, I was strong armed into coaching a team this season and these have been a life saver.

I too just became the head coach for my son’s 9 u team and they will play 8v8! First game is tomorrow and I’m certain that I’m more nervous than my players!!! Your videos are a great help thank you

Love your vids. Great examples to use here

Your content has helped me to be a better coach. Appreciate you very much!

Rory, you're my best resource for coaching our U10s. I really appreciate all the work you put into this. I like the stepwise approach to it all but I really appreciate your pattern play examples. I find them really useful for going over all kinds of coaching tips. Players are learning where to be and it's especially helpful to work with the weak side players off the ball. Thank you for all of this.

My first year and having this to work of is absolutely awesome thank you for putting up the vids

Great stuff!

This has been my first year in U9 club. I was really starting to doubt I was the guy for the job but your videos have helped my coaching approach very much. Ive used many of the things you teach. Thank you.

This is very helpful. Thanks for keeping it nice and simple.

I absolutely loved this. Great tips coach and I will sure try to emulate this with our team. Thanks :)

Very helpful video on how to structure a session. Thank you very much.

Can’t thank you enough for this! I’ve got a u10 team and know they’ll love this!

Coach Rory, I appreciate you. You speak the truth.

Excellent!! I had a practice tonight (second night of coaching), and this (and some of your other videos) added so much to my practice plan and practice results!!!!

Very helpful, thanks for sharing!

Looks good and wish the coaches my 8 year old were doing this.

Wish I saw this months ago. Absolute gold!

Rory, First of all as a young coach for u9's going into u10's I would like to thank you for your great channel its been a huge help. Keep it going mate

I really liked this video. I just started coaching an U11 & U10 & this will bring some much needed structure to my practice sessions. Thank you coach!

I’ve been coaching these age groups for quite awhile. I had to learn through experience and constantly changed my approach to training. I want to thank you as your videos helped me a lot. Now I am In a place where I feel comfortable with my trainings and my teams are performing really well and playing high level in my area. I do everything pretty much the same except that I do add at least 1 technical training exercise a day. I do this because a lot of players at these ages are not good on the ball and even though I give them homework not everyone has the discipline to do it. I make sure to keep it high intensity and max 3 players per line. I’ve found a good balance with this. Thank you

Thank you btw for this!

Again great video! I am definitely a believer now. We had our 1st U10 rec practice and I sarted with battles boxes as they arrived, did a little 2v1 and then rondos. The kiddos wanted to scrimage so we did 4v4 last. I added small teaching points throughout like fast/slow/side/low etc. I will say they were engaged and having fun, a lot better than when I previously coached and did passing, tech drills etc. Normally the kids lose interest and its like herding cats on fire. I am nervous about game time and following your BOOTB and possession strategy but will keep going. I am used to kicking goal kicks hard and far and starting kickoff kicking the ball to the goal. Thanks again coach Rory!

You’re absolutely right U9/U10 players don’t need to stretch but we do it anyway. The reason is we want to prepare the boys and girls for their life in sports we want teach them agility, smoothness and routine. So from time to time we show them stretch exercises wich they can use all life long. They warm up and stretch and familiarize with that and learn something about their own bodies. If you starting stretching not until they are 10 or 12 yrs old they’re stiff and clumsy already. Couldn’t reach their toes with the fingers and something and if that is the case all the stretching to come is torture and the kids feeling uncomfortable with that. I am trying to prevent this issue and teach them to stretch from the very beginning.

Great stuff

Been coaching for years. KZfaq has a lot of recycled stuff on drills etc. I do have to say this video is one of the much better ones. I agree 100% on the fitness and technical training as well.

Thanks. This is amazing stuff 👏

I’m a u10s coach and although I back myself to the fullest I really find it easier watching your videos and breaking it down to them how you explain it ! Great stuff …. We all hate Leeds scum though 😂 up the blades ⚔️⚽️

Great video!

This is brilliant thank you

You are a godsend coach. I’ve played soccer at a pretty fairly decent level and sometimes having the player mentality doesn’t transfer over well when coaching. You explained this so damn simple I actually have wonderful insight on how to coach my players. Hate to say it but my players are gonna be on “repeat” until it’s instinct for them to play intelligently from the training. *THANK YOU*

I just started coaching my son's U9/U10 team, and this is some pretty good stuff!

Excellent content. Love from French Canada :D

Totally agree that football or soccer needs to evolve towards more realistic training. Today we can compare most training with karate kata vs mma training. One is pretty to see but to fight the other is more effective

Coach, I just needed to say thank you for these wonderful videos. I just took my u10 girls and won the championship thanks to your training session advice. Keep up the great work.

Coaching a U10 rec team for the first time this fall and planning on modeling our twice a week 1-hr sessions around your suggestions. Thanks for putting this out there!

Thank you

thank you so helpful!

I also coach this age group and I feel you have it 100% correct. I do literally the exact same approach. I do add some speed ladder in there for 10 mins because I’ve noticed a lot of improvement in the players coordination.

Thanks!

I really like the idea of "game like decision". My son is playing for the first time and they didn't have a coach so I'm stepping up to the plate and have never played. Thanks for your help!

great content coach.. and a fellow Leeds fan too! cheers

Really helpful. Particularly the part about letting them get a bit of "pick up" time against each other at the beginning. Just let that pre-practice time roll straight into training.

Great Thanks 🤝🏻👏🏻

Superb!

Enjoyed this... we do technical training but only about 6-7minutes at the beginning. The kids LOVE it and so we basically just use it as a "warmup"

This is very direct and concise way to deliver coaching lectures. Thank you sir

Hi, this is by far the best open-minded, player focussed vision of youth football I’ve seen. Really great work, thnx for making the time to share it Cory!

I think from experience incorporating agility drills before the first activation session is a positive as at u9 some kids have poor coordination and challenging them for 10mins at the start with ladders and hurdles will only benefit them but I love this training session. Something you could use over 6 weeks and can keep adding as they improve

That’s Wednesdays session planned thank you very much great video 😊

I just used this video as my guide for my first U9 practice and I felt like it went great! I am excited for the season. This is the best youth coaching video (along with your common mistakes video) I've seen to date and I've watched some high-production value stuff. Would love 4 more videos, one for each of the four practice phases you listed, specifically targeted at this age group. A list of variations on drills, indicators of when to up the drill difficulty, vocabulary to use and give to the players(you do this naturally it seems), and maybe a 5th video with a couple more sample practices like what you had at the end of this video would be tremendous. It seems pretty obvious to me that you have a lot more to say on it and those of us that are coming at it from almost no experience would benefit from it more than you might think. I really think you got a gift here you could capitalize on. Please make those 4 or 5 videos. Put them in a U9/U10 playlist on your channel and I think it would 📈🚀. Edit: I just started watching more of your videos and realized you've already kind of done this. While your videos are the best the titles are inconsistent or maybe just not organized explicitly enough? I think if you just used the playlists feature on your channel to organize some of your videos into a specific U9/U10 applicable playlist or 7v7 or whatever you going for it would really help. The more organize/categorized the better. You can't over do it. I think this would make your channel much more friendly to new viewers. The 4/5 videos I mentioned above would still be good even if they just served an organizational purpose and only featured you just presenting a series of links to your other videos you've already made. I hope I've explained all this in a coherent manner. I'm just trying really hard to help because I appreciate your videos so much.

Just stumbled across your channel Rory, instant subscribe! I've recently taken on coaching a newly formed u10 girls team and your content is excellent. Some great videos to assist, thank you. #ALAW 😉

Really nice vids 👍

I love your approach. I think the "choreography and patterns" portion is crucial not controversial. I have struggled to find ways to walk through the actual game ball movement patterns in my practices - your video has given me the confidence and blueprint I need to actually do it.

I think if you have players that will commit to the homework, it can be really helpful to allow your sessions to be more about decisions and passing. We just got Techne for our club but we're finding it difficult for players to average 15 minutes a day with all the other activities they do. I will say that I do do technical training but it isn't in a line like you have above, it's more in like a star pattern or circle where players are constantly moving or in pairs so when their partner goes they rest. I'll setup two of each so all 11 of my players are constantly moving. I will say, in your example session, I liked the division there for the 3v3 and rondo. That is something I have struggle with based on numbers and may look to doing more of that in the future.

He is a great coach

Good stuff. The most rewarding aspect of coaching besides seeing the children develop, have fun, create friendships, etc. is seeing the execution of concepts that were taught in practice on the field during a game. Hopefully those concepts are meant to make them better and not just win games! To do this I agree you need their attention which means fun small group actitivities based on a concept you think they need to learn and can grasp. Best to never make them sit, but rather briefly show the activity ideally the right way with players who will get it faster and then just start and coach as they go with few stops. It'snice to review the concept at the next practice and see if they remember it, and that means doing a similar activity (not the same kids like variety!) involving the same concept. Then after teaching concepts at practice coaches earn the right to ask questions to the players during the game. It's so rewarding to see them grasping what you've taught in a game! Better than winning, winning is a bonus! One question I have is how much should we be teaching or introducing new concepts during a game? One of the worst things that I have done as a coach or witnessed other coaches doing I think is to aggressively (from the sidelines) tell players to execute things that I have never taught them! It's often better to just let them play than to try to teach them new things during a game from the sideline of course, but with that said , I think games can be used as an arena for teaching new concepts as long as it is done on the sideline when the player is not on the field- either with an assistant coach who doesn't have to watch the game or vice versa with the head coach while the assistant watches the game. And best if said instruction is done one on one in a non critical way like saying : "hey I know we didn't go over this but this is a great opportunity to learn a new thing that might help you , and you are doing great by the way with what you've learned so far....[briefly point out something that may help them]." That's probably ok? I wonder what you think about teaching during games Rory?

One of the most informative videos for this age group, I've always refer back to this video to refresh my thinking around my sessions. Very helpful, thank you

Thanks Coach Rory, as a U9/10 girls coach and being new to coaching I find your videos right on point and very helpful. Regarding your session example (10 players) and the 7v0 Pattern Play - how do you manage the other 3 players sitting out. Being new to coaching I've realized that managing numbers is a dark art not so easily mastered.

THIS WAS AWESOME RORY. I love your simple approach, structure of the sessions, and focus on cognitively teaching the game. What age do you recommend they start dynamically warming up? AND is there anyone with content similar to yours that provides a framework and input like you but for older kids, u10 to u18?

New sub here. Great videos. Love the Leeds shirt. MOT.

I tried doing professional small field 4v2 one touch rondos with U10 and......needless to say.....learned a lot! Now that I see your field sizing.....and 4v0 starting point, I will not be making that mistake again!

Thank you for these videos, they are immensely helpful. Coached a team from U9 through U12. Now I'm back to U8 with a new set of kids, with drastically different levels of knowledge. Where in your practice would you take time to explain the basics on throw-ins, corners, goal kicks, etc.?I could spend a whole practice on just those items, but it obviously would not hold their attention and wouldn't be very useful.

Really informative, I will definitely incorporate these ideas in my academy. But I have a question, I remember you mentioning not incorporate technical side or fitness side, fitness I can understand but how can we materialise a passing sessions without children knowing to kick/ stop the ball using the correct part of the foot? Your input will really help. Thank you for all the knowledge sharing. God bless.

Thanks for the great video. Which homework videos do you send to your players/parents?

Really happy I found your channel and plan to put this to use in the Fall. Kind of in the weeds but in this setup do the 4 ft PUGGs work or do you recommend the 6 ft?

Great video, I am pretty new to coaching squads and your videos have been really helpful. I would love to have your view on how you would start a team that is new to competitive game and lacks team cohesion and is put in a difficult league. Thx and if their is a vid like that already plz link it.

Another great video as always. These are brilliant ideas and will be implemented. One question I do have. My team have a specialised Goalkeeper. He only wants to play in goal and is quite good. Do you have any sessions that would make the goalkeeper more involved aside from just passing to CB’s during positional choreography play?

I've just started an U12 girl's football team and this tutorial has really helped me. Best planning video I've seen. I wonder how successful Rory's teams are?

I train u11 & u12 in Europe. 1st training session we focus on technique, improving players individually. We teach them to use their weak leg often and some skills etc. This type of training is also possible to give without having kids lined up. I always add some goals to make the practice really fun. 2nd training of the week is very similair to yours. A lot of small matches and position play. We don’t really do choreography because we believe every situation in a match is unique.

First off thank you so much for your videos! Question. I coach my sons 10U rec team so they don’t have all the fundamentals and skills that a club or extra team has. Would you still suggest copying your practice routines or would you add drills to help them with their dribbling and passing as well?

This is great coach. Can you explain a bit about the neutral overload players in the 3 v 3, 4 v 4, games, etc?

And i also when we do the 3v3 or 2v2 drils they have to pass 2-3 times before they shoot the ball

These have been very helpful, especially with kids who have never played the game at all (U10). Do you have a recommendation for the size of the Puggs or other small goals for the Activation and BOOTB pattern choreography?

Hey, great content. I've really learned a lot about soccer, to help me coach my 9 yo daughters team. I am gonna run the 2-3-1. You make a lot of sense with your theory and we gotta set these kids up for success in the future if that's what they chose. I am curious why you believe stretching isn't important at this age? I don't agree with that. I believe it its important to maintain flexibility, and if anything its more important. The rate at which they are developing is so rapid. If you have studies that show different, please share. I have the philosophy that it will also help prevent injury. I wrestled through college and saw a lot of injury that began at early ages, that may have been preventable with flexibility. Thanks for your videos, they have been very helpful with strategy!

Hey Coach been studying your vids for a while now thanks! Do you have any examples of the technical training homework I would love to be able to hand that out optionally for parents of my U8 rec team as some definitely want more.

Love the videos (I've commented on a bunch because, well, they're almost all worth commenting on. I do have two questions but they're sort of specific to girl's soccer at this age so I don't know to what degree you have experience with them. Regardless, here they are. 1) Some kids at this age (I've seen this with boys but it seems much rarer) simply don't know how to sprint. Like they literally don't understand the body kinematics involved in sprinting vs. jogging. I don't really know what to do with that. I've never been a running coach and just "run faster" isn't exactly good coaching. I didn't know if you'd run into this problem and had some tips on how to teach an 8 year old literally "how to sprint". 2) There's a real barrier I've noticed with girls and being aggressive. So much so that we've stopped using that word (because a couple girls were absolutely aghast that I would ask them to be aggressive) and we've switched to using the word "brave". That's helped some but it doesn't address the fundamental issue of them needing to be aggressive. Not being afraid to make a little bit of contact or step in to steal the ball from an opponent. This is one area that I feel like the rondo's do a really poor job of teaching the kids because it's so clinical and distant. How do you teach the kids that defensive aggression? Really, really great videos though. Love em all.

Love your videos. Quick question. I have a U10 girls team with 12 players. When doing the patern choreography with 7 players, what do you recommend the other 5 do? We only have half a field for practice. Should they watch the patter and then sub in? Or, should they be doing another activity concurrently, and the sub in? Here is how I have my 1 hr session setup: 1. Warmup SSG - 2v1 up to 3v3 2. Teach/reinforce techical skill (e.g. dribbling; coaching points - when to use far touch vs. close touch) 3. Competitive game/drill to emphasize learned skill and coaching points 4. Assertive play drill (e.g. shielding, 50/50 balls - my girls need this! 🙂 5. Split rondo and SSG (e.g. 3v3 to 4 goal) 6. Patern choreography 7. Pattern play / situations (e.g. throw-ins, corners, free kicks, etc.) Thanks!!!

Hey coach, just came across your videos and i love them. I just started coaching a U-13 boys team which is 11vs11 and wondering if you have vidoes for that? The boys i have are great kids but are still learning how to kick a ball properly so nothing to complicated i guess is what im saying lol Thanks

Great advice! Do you have any suggestions for how to coach kids to be more aggressive in winning the ball? We have some technically strong players that avoid any situation where there might be contact. It’s really hard to compete with 3-4 players like that on the field.

Thanks for sharing. Love the info. However, I HAVE to do technical training with my U12's. Last year I had 7 players that never played. This year, 3. Regardless, if I don't do technical training for them they just simply won't do any.

Great video…. When you do the pattern choreography.. what do you do with the other 3 or 4 players. Have them watch? Or do another activity??

This is great and i do agree on "pattern training". Question: how do you rotate players in the pattern choreography where you only play 7 of them? thanks

Just started watching these, delighted to see Leeds United gear in the video. Fan?

Hi coach, what do you do with the keepers? Do you incorporate them on the rondos as a field player?

Hi Coach Rory, I really liked your coaching method. This is my first year coaching U8 kids, in fact I volunteered to be assistant in order to learn, but they asked me to coach. What would be your recommendation for training session plan for them? Since I am new on this?

I love this but I'm an assistant coach for a U9 club with 3 teams that practice all together. We usually start with a warm up of a relay race or quick dribble progression with all 30 kids. Then separate them with pennies by their assigned teams. The coaches then do 3 stations. We all have to share a half regulation field. Do you have any tips on how to structure a practice, especially considering half of our kids just struggle with goofing off? Love the channel

Do you have any suggestions for training U11 or U12 teams that play 11v11? We do similar activities in our practices but I like the warmup 3v2 games idea.