Block 1 · Free Me and my ball
Sep to mid Oct
Touches with both feet, sole stop, moving with the ball.
Football coaching sessions for volunteer coaches.
U5 to U11 · 42 six-week blocks · 60-minute sessions. 252 sessions, all drafts for the coach to correct. Read the notes on safety, kit and what is proven first.
Block 1 of every age group is free: 42 sessions. The other 210 sessions are Goalside Plus, £7.99 a month. Sign in. Sessions with a lock need Plus.
No FA format. Small groups and free play.
Me and my ball. Touches, moving, turning, and sharing the ball with a friend. Every child has a ball.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Touches with both feet, sole stop, moving with the ball.
mid Oct to Dec
Changing direction and turning, head up between touches.
Jan to mid Feb
Dribbling past a cone, then a soft defender, simple feints.
mid Feb to Easter
Pushing the ball to a friend's feet, stopping it under the sole, sending it back.
Easter to May
Striking with laces and inside of the foot, scoring into big goals with either foot.
June to early July
Looking up, finding empty space, chase and steal games.
No FA format. Small groups and free play.
Me, the ball and a friend. Dribbling to beat someone, passing to a partner, shooting, finding space.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Inside, outside, sole and laces with both feet, speed of touch.
mid Oct to Dec
1v1 attacking: approach, change speed, feint, go.
Jan to mid Feb
Push pass with the inside of the foot, receiving under the sole, looking up before passing.
mid Feb to Easter
Inside, outside and drag-back turns, then accelerating away.
Easter to May
Striking from different angles and distances, shooting after a dribble.
June to early July
Looking up, finding the free spot in 2v2, chasing and winning the ball.
3v3, 15 x 10 m, no goalkeepers, no heading, no substitutes
Me and my team of three. Dribble, pass and receive, win it back, give and go.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Change of pace, feints and scoring in 3v3.
mid Oct to Dec
Passing to a teammate in 2v1 and 3v3 and receiving on the move.
Jan to mid Feb
Closing down fast, slowing down, staying on feet, then stealing.
mid Feb to Easter
Looking up in 3v3, moving into open space, shooting when it opens.
Easter to May
Pass, run past into space and take the ball back.
June to early July
Finishing in small goals with the right timing.
5v5, up to 37 x 27 m, goalkeepers, rolling substitutes, no heading
Me and my team. Passing as a habit, being an option, 1v1 defending, first goalkeeping.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Short passes with the inside of the foot, receiving with a good first touch, looking before the ball arrives.
mid Oct to Dec
Moving to give the passer an angle, triangles of three.
Jan to mid Feb
1v1 defending: approach, stand side-on, jockey, tackle at the right moment.
mid Feb to Easter
1v1 attacking with a decision to dribble or pass.
Easter to May
2v2 and 3v2 defending, staying close to a teammate, one presses and the other supports.
June to early July
Shooting from different angles, and goalkeeper basics: ready position, collecting, rolling the ball out.
5v5, up to 37 x 27 m, goalkeepers, rolling substitutes, no heading
Moving as a team. Pass and move, make space, play forward, cover, keep the ball.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Passing, then moving after the pass in patterns of three or four.
mid Oct to Dec
Spreading the pitch, checking away to pull a defender, using the space left.
Jan to mid Feb
Forward pass and run at the right moment.
mid Feb to Easter
Pairs defending: the first defender presses, the second covers, and both stay close.
Easter to May
Dummies, disguised passes, changes of pace and direction, give-and-go.
June to early July
Rondos and possession games: keep the ball in a tight space, then win it back within five seconds.
7v7, up to 55 x 37 m, goalkeepers, rolling substitutes, no heading
Playing together. Passing quality, support, width and depth, team defending, playing out from the back.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Weight, direction and receiving on the back foot.
mid Oct to Dec
One-twos, third-player runs, dummies.
Jan to mid Feb
Using width to stretch the defence and depth to give a forward option.
mid Feb to Easter
A unit of three: stay close, cover, balance.
Easter to May
Press triggers (poor touch, backward pass), restraint when there is no trigger, reacting when the ball changes hands.
June to early July
The goalkeeper as the first passer, defenders spreading, playing out against pressing forwards.
7v7, up to 55 x 37 m, goalkeepers, rolling substitutes, no heading
Putting it together. Receive and turn, attack and defend as a team, transitions, positions, and the step up to 9v9.
36 sessions · 6 free
Sep to mid Oct
Checking before receiving, opening the body, turning and playing forward.
mid Oct to Dec
Building from restarts, width and depth, third-player runs, positional rotation.
Jan to mid Feb
Holding a team shape, shifting together, pressing as a unit and holding back when there is no trigger.
mid Feb to Easter
Win it and go, lose it and react within five seconds.
Easter to May
Trying different positions, simple game plans, and joining ideas from every earlier block.
June to early July
Playing the same ideas on a longer, wider pitch, with a size 4 ball and more space to cover, plus a 9v9 taster if numbers allow.