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Free practice plan · Ages 12–13 · 11v11 · First 11v11 yearA U13 practice plan for 11v11:
Play Out of the Back
The first year on the full pitch, and there is no build-out line to help. Ninety minutes, sixteen to twenty players, and every ball starting with the keeper. Every activity here is free on this site, with its own page and an animated video.
- Look first: know who is free before the ball comes.
- Backs: split as wide as the box, open your body to the field.
Bring: Ball each, two goals, flat cones for gates, pinnies in three colors.
Your job: Tell parents before kickoff that you are choosing to play out, and why. Goals against this month are tuition.
The session, minute by minute
4v1 With a Call
RondoA 10x10, one attacker on each side, one defender in. A helper walks the outside holding up one to five fingers. The receiver calls the number before the first touch. No call, no count. Six counted passes is a point. Swap the defender every 45 seconds. Players start as they arrive.
HarderThe helper changes the number while the ball travels.
If it stallsPlayers calling after the touch? Slow the passing down until the call comes first, then speed it up.
Keeper and Two
SharpenA goal, a keeper and two backs on the edge of the box against one presser. Two gates on the far line. Every ball starts with the keeper. Backs split to the corners of the box. Score by passing through either gate. If the presser wins it, they shoot. Run it for ten minutes, then add the first progression.
HarderThe presser starts on the penalty spot, live at once.
If it stallsBacks receiving square? Make them touch the corner cone of the box before the ball is played.
Beat the First Line
SolveHalf a field. Keeper, two backs and two wide mids against three pressers. A striker waits in an end zone past halfway. Build from the keeper and reach the striker with a controlled pass. Pressers go to goal if they win it. The striker may not leave the end zone.
HarderAdd a defender on the striker: the pass must arrive to the striker's feet with the defender behind.
If it stallsPressers winning everything? They start at the top of the box and go only when the first pass is played.
11v11, 3 x 8 minutes
PlayEvery goal kick is played short. A goal that started from a short goal kick counts double. Short of players? Play even teams on a smaller field. The rule stays the same. Water comes before this block, never in the middle of it.
Our goal kick
Set pieceCenter backs to the corners of the box, full-backs to halfway. The keeper picks the free one. Walk it, then play it live against pressers.
Shorter session?
With 75 minutes, halve Sharpen. With 60, skip it and run Rondo, Solve, Play and the set piece. Never cut Play.
Match day: what to watch for
Three things to look for from the touchline:
- Do the backs split and open up when our keeper has it?
- Does the receiver look before the ball arrives?
- When the first pass is on, do we take it, or kick long out of fear?
Questions coaches ask
Is there a build-out line at U13?
No. It is used only at 7v7.
What if the pressers win everything?
They start at the top of the box and go only when the first pass is played.
What if the backs receive facing their own goal?
Make them touch the corner cone of the box before the ball is played.
More free practice plans
A full match week, every week, for twelve weeks
The Full Season Travel Curriculum for ages 13 to 18 is the game model in six pages, 36 sessions built around MD-4, MD-3 and MD-2, twelve match-day pages, set pieces and the 35-minute warm-up. Two editions: 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.