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Free practice plan · Ages 8–9 · 7v7 · 2-3-1A U9 practice plan for 7v7:
Learn Your Spot
U9 is where positions start, so this session is about learning one. Ninety minutes, twelve to sixteen players, and a 2-3-1: a keeper, two backs, three midfielders and a striker. Everyone plays every position in the pattern, then the game asks them to find their own spot. Every activity here is free on this site, with its own page and an animated video.
- When we win it, run to your spot and get big.
- Wide mids: boots on the paint.
Bring: Ball each, flat cones for your shape and channels, colored cones for the rondo, pinnies in two colors, 2 to 4 mini goals.
Your job: Say the habit, not the play. “Get big” helps a player decide; “pass it to Maya” decides for them.
The session, minute by minute
Color-Call Rondo
Rondo4v1 in a 10x10. The coach or a resting player walks around the outside holding up a colored cone. The receiver has to call the color before the first touch. No call, no count. Six passes with calls is a point. Players start as they arrive.
Around the Shape
SharpenPut cones in your team shape on half a field. One player per cone, spares behind the keeper. The ball travels keeper, back, wide mid, center mid, striker, finish in a mini goal. Follow your pass to the next spot, so everyone plays every position.
EasierTwo touches at every spot.
HarderOne touch in midfield. Go down the other side every second ball.
If it stallsPattern breaking down? Walk it once with the ball in your hands.
Channel Game
Solve4v4 to mini goals on a 35x30, with a 5-yard channel marked down each side. One attacker at a time may be in a channel, and nobody may tackle them there. A goal counts double if the move went through a channel.
EasierThe channel player gets three free touches.
HarderTwo touches in the channel.
If it stallsNobody using the channels? Play one game where every attack has to go through one.
The game: find your spot
Play7v7 in the 2-3-1, wide mids give the width. Twice a half, stop play and ask one player to name their position and point to their spot. Water comes before this block, never in the middle of it.
The build-out line
Set pieceTwo minutes on what it means. When the keeper has the ball in their hands, or on a goal kick, the other team must drop behind the build-out line until the ball is played. Then walk one goal kick: backs split, keeper plays the free one.
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:
- When we win the ball, do players run to their spot?
- Are the wide mids on the touchline, or drifting toward the ball?
- Can every player tell you their position at halftime?
Questions coaches ask
What formation should a U9 team play?
A 2-3-1: a keeper, two backs, three midfielders and a striker. The 7v7 guide explains how it works.
Why does everyone play every position in Around the Shape?
Because following your pass to the next spot shows a player what each position has to do, before they settle into one.
What if the pattern breaks down?
Walk it once with the ball in your hands, then go again.
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.