U12 soccer practice plan: first practice of the season
A 75-minute first practice for 11 and 12 year olds starting a 9v9 season. It shows you the group at game speed, sets a standard for how the team keeps the ball, and finishes with the real game.
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 |
| Goal for the day | See the group at game speed and set the standard |
| 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 | 4v4 games as players arrive | Play | Two fields. Four-minute games, then winners play winners. Watch decisions, not just skill. |
| 0:12 to 0:24 | 4v2 rondo | Practice | Groups of six. Two touches. A pass between the two defenders is a goal. |
| 0:24 to 0:27 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:27 to 0:42 | 3v2 to goal | Practice | Eight seconds to shoot. Rotate so everyone attacks and defends. Goalkeepers take turns. |
| 0:42 to 0:45 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:45 to 1:10 | 9v9 game, or the biggest even game you can make | Play | Play offside if your league does. Let it run; stop once to check that players know their line. |
| 1:10 to 1:15 | Circle up | Finish | Ask the players for two team goals for the season and write them down. |
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
- 4 small goals for the arrival games
Coach notes
- Ask each player which positions they have played and which they would like to try.
- Set the tone for mistakes: trying the right thing and losing the ball is fine here.
- Explain the heading rule for the age group and that practices will not include repeated heading.
- Finish on time. Parents notice.
If it is going badly
The 4v2 rondo keeps breaking down after one or two passes.
Make the square bigger and allow three touches, or play 5v2. Shrink it again once the group makes five passes.
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
- Four-goal gameIt trains switching play: when one goal is crowded, the team moves the ball to the open one. U8 to U12.
- Rondo 4v2It trains the attackers to find the pass between the two defenders, and the defenders to press and cover as a pair. 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.
- End zone gameIt trains forward passing and the timing of runs into space behind the defense. U8 to U12.
Questions about this U12 practice
What should a first U12 practice include?
Small-sided games on arrival, a possession game such as a 4v2 rondo, an attacking game to goal and a 9v9-style game. Talk about team goals at the end.
How long is a U12 soccer practice?
About 75 minutes in US Youth Soccer’s coaching guidance.
Do U12 teams play offside?
Yes. The 9v9 game has offside, so use it in practice games and explain it once. Our offside page has a diagram.
Lessons to share with your players
- 3-2-3: Know Your Unit (9v9 lesson)Understand nine players, three outfield units, and cover behind an advancing defender.
- Run When the Pass Is On (11v11 lesson)Run when the pass is on, and leave as it is played so you stay onside (Law 11). If the pass is blocked, check toward the ball first.
- Can You Turn? (11v11 lesson)Look before the ball arrives. Turn when you have room; use your support when you don’t.
Keep reading
- U12 soccer practice plan: passing and possession75 minutes: keep the ball to go forward, and react when it is lost
- U12 soccer practice plan: shooting and finishing75 minutes: finish first time, and follow every shot
- U12 soccer drills for 11 and 12 year oldsTen drills for 11 and 12 year olds: 4v2 rondos, possession, defending in pairs and finishing
- 9v9 soccer formationsShapes for U11 and U12 teams
- The offside ruleWhy the timing of a run matters
- 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.