U8 soccer practice plan: passing
A 60-minute practice that introduces passing to 7 and 8 year olds. It keeps the ball between two players for most of the hour and gives every pass a reason: a gate to hit, a defender to beat, a goal to score.
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 | U8 (ages 7 and 8) |
| Length | 60 minutes (guidance for U8: 45 to 60 minutes) |
| Players | 8 to 14 |
| Goal for the day | Pass to a teammate, then move |
| Final game | 4v4 with no goalkeepers, on about 30 x 20 yards |
The 60-minute plan
| Time | Activity | Stage | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:08 | 2v2 games as players arrive | Play | Two-player teams make passing natural: there is only one teammate to find. |
| 0:08 to 0:18 | Partner passing through gates | Practice | Inside of the foot. A point for each gate, then move to a new one. |
| 0:18 to 0:21 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:21 to 0:31 | 3v1 rondo | Practice | A 10-yard square. Help the player on the ball from both sides. Change the defender every minute. |
| 0:31 to 0:42 | 2v1 to goal | Practice | Dribble at the defender. If they come to you, pass. Small goals, no goalkeeper. |
| 0:42 to 0:45 | Water break | Break | Drink, and one question for the group about the last game. |
| 0:45 to 0:57 | 4v4 game | Play | Free play. Quietly count the passes that reach a teammate and tell the team at the end. |
| 0:57 to 1:00 | Circle up | Finish | “What did you do after you passed?” |
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
- 16 extra cones for gates
- 4 small goals
Coach notes
- Expect the rondo to break down often the first time. Make the square bigger rather than giving up.
- Do not ban dribbling. A player who dribbles when no pass is open has made the right choice.
- “Pass and move” is the only coaching point today.
If it is going badly
The 3v1 rondo is not working: the defender wins every ball.
Play 4v1 in a bigger square, or let the defender hold a bib in each hand and walk. Success first, pressure later.
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
- Partner passing through gatesIt trains accurate passing with the inside of the foot and moving to a new place after every pass. U6 to U10.
- Rondo 3v1It trains quick passing, support on both sides of the ball and a first touch away from pressure. U8 to U12.
- 2v1 to goalIt trains the main decision of attacking with an extra player: dribble at the defender, then pass if they come to you or keep going if they do not. U8 to U12.
- 3v3 small-sided gameIt trains everything at once, dribbling, passing, shooting and defending, and gives each child far more time on the ball than a big game. U6 to U10.
Questions about this U8 practice
When should kids start learning to pass?
Around U8, in pairs and in 2v1 games. Before that most children are still learning to control the ball themselves.
What is the best passing drill for 7-year-olds?
Passing through gates in pairs. It is a game with a score, and it rewards both the pass and moving to a new gate.
Are rondos too hard for U8?
A 3v1 in a big square is about right late in the season. If players cannot make three passes, go back to pairs and try again in a few weeks.
Lessons to share with your players
- Step Out of the Blocked Lane (7v7 lesson)Move so the defender is no longer between you and the ball.
- Two Against One: Carry or Pass (9v9 lesson)Watch whether the defender approaches the ball or stays with the teammate.
- Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
Keep reading
- U8 soccer practice plan: first practice of the season60 minutes: set the habits: play first, a ball each, a game to finish
- U8 soccer practice plan: dribbling and 1v160 minutes: beat a defender with a change of speed or direction
- U8 soccer drills for 7 and 8 year oldsTen drills for 7 and 8 year olds: dribbling, 1v1, first passing and 3v3
- Give-and-go (soccer term)Pass, run past the defender, get it back
- 2v1 (soccer term)Two attackers against one defender
- Central midfielder in soccerThe link player who receives on the turn
- 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.