Guided pathway
Moving between age groups
What changes when my team moves up?
Understand the new format, pitch, player relationships and coaching priorities before the season begins.
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Understand it, then coach it
Pitch sizes and formats
The complete age-by-age reference and what each transition means.
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Moving from U7 to U8
A practical four-week guide to the jump into 5v5.
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Moving from U8 to U9
Develop scanning, better choices and useful support while remaining in 5v5.
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Moving from U9 to U10
Prepare players for the extra space, relationships and goalkeeper involvement in 7v7.
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Moving from U10 to U11
Develop connected movement, combinations and shared reactions while remaining in 7v7.
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Moving from U11 to U12
Prepare players for the larger 9v9 pitch, offside and longer connections between units.
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Plans for every age group
Choose the age group you are coaching now or moving into.
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Ready to run
Relevant sessions
Start with the guidance above, then choose ready-to-run sessions for the age group you coach.
Develop your coaching
Articles and guidance
U12
Moving from Under 11s to Under 12s: A Coach’s Guide from 7v7 to 9v9
A practical four-week guide to help players adapt to the larger 9v9 pitch, offside, switching play and longer connections between units.
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U11
Moving from Under 10s to Under 11s: Developing Better Team Play in 7v7
Moving from Under 10s to Under 11s is not another change of match format. Both age groups play 7v7, usually on the same playing area with the same…
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U10
Moving from Under 9s to Under 10s: A Coach’s Guide from 5v5 to 7v7
Moving from Under 9s to Under 10s brings a genuine change in the game. U9 teams play 5v5 and U10 teams move to 7v7. Two additional outfield players…
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U9
Moving from Under 8s to Under 9s: Developing Better Decisions in 5v5
U8 and U9 both play 5v5. Use this practical four-week guide to develop scanning, better choices, useful support and confident role rotation.
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U8
Moving from Under 7s to Under 8s: A Coach's Guide to 5v5 Football
Moving from Under 7s to Under 8s is the biggest single jump in the youth pathway, and it is easy to underestimate. The format goes from 3v3 to 5v5,…
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U7
Moving from Under 6s to Under 7s: A Coach’s Guide to 3v3 Football
Moving from Under 6s to Under 7s introduces children to their first structured match format. Under 7s typically play 3v3.
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