U12 soccer practice plan: shooting and finishing
A 75-minute practice for 11 and 12 year olds on finishing attacks. Shots come from a lay-off, from a low cross and from a 3v2, so players practice the chances a real game gives them.
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 | U12 (ages 11 and 12) |
| Length | 75 minutes (guidance for U12: 75 minutes) |
| Players | 12 to 16, with goalkeepers taking turns |
| Goal for the day | Finish first time, and follow every shot |
| Final game | Up to 9v9 with goalkeepers; a 9v9 field is 70 to 80 yards long |
The 75-minute plan
| Time | Activity | Stage | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:12 | World Cup as players arrive | Play | Pairs against pairs at one goal. A pair that scores runs around the goal and rejoins. Nobody sits out. |
| 0:12 to 0:24 | Lay-off and shoot | Practice | Two goals, small groups. Firm pass in, soft pass out, strike it first time. |
| 0:24 to 0:27 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:27 to 0:41 | Crossing and finishing | Practice | Low crosses and cutbacks only. One runner near post, one far post. Both sides. |
| 0:41 to 0:53 | 3v2 to goal | Practice | Eight seconds to shoot. A rebound goal counts double. |
| 0:53 to 0:56 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:56 to 1:12 | 9v9 game, or the biggest even game you can make | Play | Free play. Any goal scored from a rebound counts double. |
| 1:12 to 1:15 | Circle up | Finish | “Where do most goals come from?” |
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
- 2 goals
- Goalkeeper gloves
- A big supply of balls beside each goal
Coach notes
- Rotate goalkeepers every few minutes and keep shots from a sensible distance.
- All crosses stay low. Finishes are with the foot.
- Count shots on target, not goals. It rewards technique.
- Players collect balls together between activities, never from behind a goal during shooting.
If it is going badly
Crossing and finishing is slow because the crosses do not reach the runners.
Move the wide player closer and let them pass a still ball across, or switch to 2v1 to goal from a wide start so the “cross” becomes a short pass.
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
- World Cup shooting gameIt trains finishing in a crowd, quick shots and reacting to rebounds. U8 to U12.
- Lay-off and shootIt trains striking a ball that is rolling across or toward the shooter, and the set-up pass that makes a shot easy. U8 to U12.
- Crossing and finishingIt trains the timing of runs into the goal area and a first-time finish with the foot. U10 to U12.
- 3v2 to goalIt trains finding the free player: the attackers must draw a defender to the ball and pass to the teammate left open. U10 to U12.
- Follow the shotIt trains the habit of following in after every shot, so the attacker reaches the loose ball first. U8 to U12.
Questions about this U12 practice
What are good finishing drills for U12?
Lay-off and shoot for first-time strikes, crossing and finishing with low balls, and 3v2 to goal for finishing under pressure.
Should U12 players head crosses in practice?
This plan uses low crosses finished with the foot. US Youth Soccer limits heading in practice at ages 11 and 12, and the low ball is the more useful skill.
How do I keep everyone busy in shooting practice?
Use two goals, groups of four or five, and a rule that the shooter fetches their own ball. Waiting drops to one turn.
Lessons to share with your players
- Watch What Happens After the Shot (7v7 lesson)A wide midfielder reads a loose rebound or a goalkeeper’s controlled ball before deciding whether to approach or recover.
- Look Behind the Defenders (11v11 lesson)Find the teammate, then check the route. A cut-back is useful only when that pass is there.
- Arrive at the Far Post (Futsal lesson)Time support across goal, and keep another option when that route is covered.
Keep reading
- U12 soccer practice plan: first practice of the season75 minutes: see the group at game speed and set the standard
- U12 soccer practice plan: passing and possession75 minutes: keep the ball to go forward, and react when it is lost
- U12 soccer drills for 11 and 12 year oldsTen drills for 11 and 12 year olds: 4v2 rondos, possession, defending in pairs and finishing
- Striker in soccerThe player who finishes chances
- Cross (soccer term)A pass from wide into the goal area
- Cutback (soccer term)A pass pulled back from the end line
- Heading rules for kids in the USNo heading at 10 and under
- 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.