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Free practice plan · Ages 13–14 · 11v11 · 4-3-3A U14 practice plan for 11v11:
Time the Run
Run on the touch, not on the pass. Ninety minutes, sixteen to twenty players, from a timed run in pairs to an 11v11 game. Every activity here is free on this site, with its own page and an animated video.
- Run on the touch, not on the pass.
- Find the free player: with three against two, there always is one.
Bring: Ball each, two goals, 4 mini goals, flat cones, pinnies in three colors.
Your job: Say the principle, not the play. At these ages the players should be running the game.
The session, minute by minute
5v2 With a Link
RondoA 12x12 with four attackers on the sides and one attacker inside as the link. Two defenders. A pass into the link and out to a different side is worth two. Around the outside is one. The link has two touches; the outside players have three. Change the link every minute. Players start as they arrive.
HarderThe link has one touch.
If it stallsLink marked out of the game? Let the link move outside for a pass and back in.
Run on the Touch
SharpenA 20x15 with a mini goal. A passer and a runner. Three sets working at once. The runner goes the moment the passer's first touch is played forward. Through ball into the runner's path; finish in the mini goal. Swap roles each go. Run it for ten minutes, then add the first progression.
HarderA cone defender the runner must go around.
If it stallsRuns too early? The runner starts behind the passer for a round.
3v2 to Two Goals
SolveA 20x15 with two mini goals on the far line. Three attackers against two defenders. Score in either mini goal inside 12 seconds. Defenders counter to a mini goal on the start line. Rotate after each go. Run it in rounds, and add the first progression when it gets easy.
HarderAttackers must switch the ball at least once.
If it stallsAttackers dribbling into trouble? Two touches until the final pass.
11v11, 3 x 8 minutes
PlayA goal counts double if it came from a through ball to a runner. 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 corner
Set pieceNear post, far post and one at the top of the box. Walk it twice, then play it live.
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 runners go on the touch, or after the pass?
- Do we find the free player?
- Do we finish early?
Questions coaches ask
What if runs go too early?
The runner starts behind the passer for a round.
What if attackers dribble into trouble in the 3v2?
Two touches until the final pass.
Can U14 players head the ball?
Yes. Heading is allowed from U14.
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.