U10 soccer practice plan: 1v1 attacking and defending
A 60-minute practice for 9 and 10 year olds on both sides of the 1v1. Attackers learn to shift a defender and go the other way, and defenders learn to slow down, get side on and stay goal-side.
Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.
At a glance
| Detail | This plan |
|---|---|
| Age group | U10 (ages 9 and 10) |
| Length | 60 minutes (guidance for U10: 60 to 75 minutes) |
| Players | 8 to 14 |
| Goal for the day | Win your 1v1, with and without the ball |
| Final game | Up to 7v7 with goalkeepers; a 7v7 field is 55 to 65 yards long |
The 60-minute plan
| Time | Activity | Stage | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:10 | 2v2 games as players arrive | Play | Small fields to end lines. Every player is always attacking or defending. |
| 0:10 to 0:20 | 1v1 to two small goals | Practice | Attack one goal to open the other. Coach the attacker. |
| 0:20 to 0:23 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:23 to 0:35 | 1v1 defending | Practice | Same players, narrow channel. Fast, then slow, then side on. Coach the defender. |
| 0:35 to 0:38 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:38 to 0:46 | Recover goal-side | Practice | The defender starts beside the attacker and must get in front before challenging. |
| 0:46 to 0:56 | Numbers game, then a free game | Play | 1v1 and 2v2 on the call for four minutes, then 5v5 with goalkeepers. |
| 0:56 to 1:00 | Circle up | Finish | “What does a good defender do first?” |
Times are minutes from the start of practice. Tap an activity for its setup diagram and coaching points.
Equipment
- A ball for every player
- About 20 cones
- Bibs in two colors
- A water bottle for every player
- A first aid kit and a ball pump
- 6 small goals, or 12 extra cones
- 2 goals for the last game
Coach notes
- Match players of similar speed in the 1v1 games, and change pairs often.
- Coach the attacker in the first game and the defender in the second. One voice, one idea.
- No tackles from behind, at any speed. Say it before the recovery game starts.
If it is going badly
Defenders keep diving in and attackers score every time.
Add a rule to 1v1 defending: the defender wins a point just for keeping the attacker out of the end zone for six seconds. Patience now has a reward.
Give water breaks more often in hot weather, never use running as a punishment, and change the size of any area that is too hard or too easy.
How this plan is built
These plans follow the Play-Practice-Play structure that U.S. Soccer teaches grassroots coaches: players arrive and play small games, then practice the day’s idea in game-like activities, then finish with a game. The structure is U.S. Soccer’s; the minutes for each part are ours, so adjust them to your group.
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Drills in this plan
- 1v1 to two small goalsIt trains changing direction to unbalance a defender, because the defender cannot guard both goals at once. U8 to U12.
- 1v1 defendingIt trains the approach to the ball: fast at first, then slow, low and side on, steering the attacker to one side. U8 to U12.
- Recover goal-sideIt trains the recovery run: running toward your own goal first and challenging only once you are goal-side. U8 to U12.
- Numbers gameIt trains 1v1 and 2v2 attacking and defending, with a race to the ball to start. U6 to U12.
Questions about this U10 practice
How do I teach 1v1 defending to U10 players?
Three steps: close the space fast, slow down two or three yards away, and turn side on. Then be patient until the attacker makes a big touch.
How much 1v1 should we do?
A little in most practices. One-against-one moments decide youth games, and they build confidence on the ball.
Should defenders tackle or wait?
Wait until the ball is there to win. A defender who stays on their feet and goal-side has done the job even without a tackle.
Lessons to share with your players
- Stay Between the Ball and Goal (7v7 lesson)Move with the attacker while keeping yourself between the ball and your goal.
- Carry or Pass? (7v7 lesson)Watch which route the defender leaves open.
- Lose It: Recover or Approach (9v9 lesson)Recover toward goal when pressure cannot arrive; approach when cover is ready.
Keep reading
- U10 soccer practice plan: first practice of the season60 minutes: see every player, and start the season’s habits
- U10 soccer practice plan: passing and first touch60 minutes: open up, receive on the back foot and play forward
- U10 soccer drills for 9 and 10 year oldsTen drills for 9 and 10 year olds: rondos, first touch, 2v1 and first goalkeeping
- Goal-side (soccer term)Between the attacker and your own goal
- Tackle (soccer term)Winning the ball fairly with your foot
- Fouls and free kicksWhat a fair challenge looks like
- All soccer practice plans12 ready-to-use soccer practice plans for U6, U8, U10 and U12, each with a clock table, equipment list and linked drills
- All soccer drills for kids46 soccer drills and practice games for U6 to U12, each with a setup diagram, coaching points and the lesson it trains
Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.