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Free practice plan · Ages 8–9 · 7v7 · 2-3-1A U9 practice plan for 7v7:
Play Out of the Back
The build-out line exists so nine-year-olds learn to play out of the back without being swarmed. This session uses it. Ninety minutes, twelve to sixteen players, every ball starting with the keeper, and a game at the end where goal kicks are always played short. Every activity here is free on this site, with its own page and an animated video.
- Check your shoulder before the ball arrives.
- Backs: split wide, open your body, play what you see.
Bring: Ball each, a full-size goal, flat cones for gates, pinnies.
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
Four-Line Rondo
RondoA 10x10 square with one attacker on each side line and one defender inside. Attackers may slide along their own line but not leave it. Eight passes is a point. Swap the defender every 45 seconds, or when they win it. Players start as they arrive.
Bounce or Turn
SharpenA server 12 yards from a receiver, with a shadow defender behind: tight (touching distance) or loose (3 yards off). The receiver looks first. Tight: bounce it back and spin for the return. Loose: turn and dribble past the shadow's line. The shadow does not tackle. Rotate every 45 seconds.
EasierThe shadow calls tight or loose.
HarderThe shadow goes live once the receiver touches the ball.
If it stallsAlways turning into trouble? The shadow raises a hand when tight.
Beat the First Press
SolveHalf a field with a goal. Keeper, two backs and a center mid build against two pressers. Three cone gates sit on the halfway line: left, center, right. Score by passing or dribbling through a gate. If the pressers win it, they shoot. Every ball starts with the keeper.
EasierPressers walk until the first pass.
HarderThree pressers against keeper, two backs and two mids.
If it stallsPressers winning everything? They start at the top of the box and go only when the keeper's first pass is played.
The game: start short
Play7v7 in the 2-3-1. Every goal kick and keeper save is played short, and the other team drops behind the build-out line until the ball is played. Then it is live. Water comes before this block, never in the middle of it.
Our goal kick
Set pieceBacks to the corners of the box, center mid shows in the middle, wide players high and wide. The keeper plays the free one. Walk it twice, then play it live against two 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
What is the build-out line?
A line across each half, halfway between the penalty area and the halfway line, used only at 7v7. When the keeper has the ball in their hands, or on a goal kick, the other team must drop behind it until the ball is played.
What if the pressers win everything?
They start at the top of the box and go only when the keeper’s first pass is played.
What if we give up goals playing out?
Keep playing out. Tell parents before kickoff that you are choosing to, and why. Goals against this month are tuition.
More free practice plans
Twenty-four sessions, twelve match days, one habit at a time
The Full Season Travel Curriculum for ages 9 to 12 is twelve weeks built around six team habits, every game drawn at 7v7 and 9v9, with a match-day page every week, the 30-minute game-day warm-up and an animated video of every activity.