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Soccer practice plan

U10 Soccer Practice Plan (9 and 10 Year Olds)

75 minutes · 4 activities · Play, Practice, Play

By U10, players can start thinking in pairs. This 75-minute plan for 9 and 10 year olds teaches one idea: create a 2v1 and use it. It starts small, adds numbers, and finishes in a real game. Every activity is in the Coachworthy library.

Time
75 minutes
Game format
7v7 with goalkeepers (U.S. Soccer's small-sided standard for U9 and U10)
Players
works from 8 to 14
Bring
balls, 30 cones, 4 small goals, 2 regular goals if you have them, pinnies

The plan (75 minutes)

  1. Play15 min

    Rondo: 2v1

    Two attackers keep the ball from one defender in a small square, using quick passes to beat the pressure. Shrink the square to make it harder.

    Say this: Pass before the defender arrives.

  2. Practice20 min

    Numbers Game: 1v1 to 3v3

    Two teams sit behind the end lines. Call 1, 2 or 3, and that many from each team sprint on to play. Uneven calls create the 2v1s you want.

    Say this: Two against one: go now.

  3. Practice15 min

    You're Outa Here

    Start 1v1 in a small box. Every time a team scores, it adds a player, so the scoring team gets 2v1, then 3v1. Reset at 4v1.

    Say this: Use the extra player.

  4. Play25 min

    Four Corners: 3v3

    3v3 on a small field with two mini goals at each end. Restart with a dribble-in instead of a throw-in. Rotate teams every three minutes.

    Say this: Make it two against one.

Coaching tip

Name the moment out loud when a 2v1 appears: 'That's it, two on one!' Kids learn to see what you name.

What to skip at this age

  • Heading. U.S. Soccer bars heading for players 10 and under.
  • Fixed positions. Rotate everyone through defending and attacking.
  • Big-field scrimmages. Small fields mean more touches and more 2v1s.

A plan like this every week

Coachworthy builds a season of practices for your team from the same library, around the days you practice.

Build a season

Questions coaches ask

How long should a U10 soccer practice be?
60 to 75 minutes, usually twice a week. Longer blocks work at this age as long as every activity is a game.
What is a 2v1 and why teach it at U10?
Two attackers against one defender. It's the simplest advantage in soccer, and 9 and 10 year olds are ready to create it on purpose instead of by accident.
What if I have 16 players?
Run two fields of Four Corners: 3v3 and split the Numbers Game into two groups.