Falling in Love with the Ball: U6-U8 (45 Min)
A forty-five minute session for the youngest players, roughly under-6 to under-8, on the one thing that everything else in football is built on: control of the ball. Every child spends nearly the whole session with a ball at their feet, dribbling, changing direction, and trying things out. There is no right technique to copy, just freedom to explore and a huge number of touches, because at this age the goal is simply that they fall in love with the ball.
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Objective: Start instantly, every child with a ball
Coach note: Get them dribbling before you explain anything. A ball each is the whole point at this age, so keep it going and never stop the group for one child. Praise heads coming up and lots of touches, nothing more.
dribbling · 1 players
Every child on a ball, moving from the first second. Coach on the move.
Open full drillObjective: Keep the ball close, and change direction
Coach note: These are about touches and trying things, not a perfect technique, so let them explore how the turn feels to them rather than drilling one method, because a young child learns the move by doing it many times their own way. Keep both activities with a ball each so nobody stands, and keep it playful. Head up now and then is the only real coaching point. Water break between the two if they need it.
dribbling · 1 players
Little touches, ball close. A ball each, keep it playful, no rigid technique.
Open full drilldribbling · 2 players
Let them find how the turn feels. Many touches their own way beats one perfect method.
Open full drillObjective: Take the ball into a simple 1v1
Coach note: This is the small step from dribbling alone to dribbling against someone, which the guidance puts after the unopposed work. Keep it simple and quick, react to the call, get the ball, and have a go at beating the other child. Every attempt to dribble past is a success whether it comes off or not, so praise the attempt. Rotate constantly and keep several small groups going so nobody waits.
dribbling · 4 players
React, get there first, dribble past. Praise every attempt to beat the other child.
Open full drillObjective: Use it all in a small game
Coach note: The game lets them use the ball mastery for real, so let them dribble and try the turns they have been practising, and celebrate a child who tries a move in the game even if they lose it. No keeper and no positions, the swarm is fine, keep the games short and rotate the teams, never eliminate anyone, and run two games at once beyond eight children.
possession · 8 players
Let them dribble and try their turns. Celebrate the attempt. Short games, rotate teams.
Open full drillObjective: End happy
Coach note: Keep this very short and happy. Ask which turn or trick they liked best and let a few show or shout, because the point at this age is that they leave wanting the ball at their feet again. Cool-down has no physical benefit here, so this exists purely for the smile and the goodbye.
conditioning · 4 players
Very short and happy. Ask their favourite move. The smile is the whole point.
Open full drillSession philosophy
The theme, the principles, and the outcomes you should see in players by the final whistle.
Session theme
Individual ball mastery and close control
Session day type: training
Key principles
- Everybody has a ball, nearly all of the time
- Lots of touches, that is what builds control
- Try things, there is no wrong way at this age
- Fall in love with the ball
Learning outcomes
- Every child gets an enormous number of touches
- Children keep the ball close through changes of direction
- Children try a turn or a move and find what feels natural
- Children take the ball into a 1v1 with confidence
Related session plans
Move between similar plans when you want a different day type, intensity, or age group.
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