U6 and U7 football is the most playful, joyful, and technically formative stage of the grassroots game. Players at this age learn through movement, exploration, and fun — and the best coaching you can do is design an environment that lets them touch the ball constantly and try things without fear of failure.
These session plans cover both U6 (typically 3v3 or 4v4, 30–45 minutes) and U7 (typically 5v5, 45 minutes). They share the same coaching philosophy: maximum activity, minimal lectures, lots of repetition, and a game that ties the theme together at the end.
The themes — ball mastery, passing, shooting, defending, pressing, and attacking movement — are age-appropriate versions of the same topics coaches revisit throughout a player's development. At U6 and U7, the goal is for players to end every session having had fun, having touched the ball many times, and wanting to come back next week.
What’s included in each session
Each U6 and U7 session plan includes a fun warm-up game, one or two age-appropriate practices, and a small-sided game. Coaching points are simple and positive. Animated diagrams show setup clearly so coaches can replicate it quickly.
How to structure a U6–U7 session
| Phase | Time | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Ball each, free play | 5 min | Everyone touching a ball within ten seconds of arriving |
| Skill game | 10 min | One skill inside a game with a story — traffic lights, sharks and minnows |
| Main game | 10 min | The theme, played as a game rather than explained as a drill |
| Small-sided matches | 12 min | 3v3 on several small pitches so nobody waits for a touch |
| Finish together | 3 min | One thing they did well, named out loud, then home |
Treat the timings as a starting point. A bigger group needs longer in the main practice, a cold night needs a longer warm-up, and a session that is working deserves another five minutes rather than a move to the next block.
Sessions by age group
U6
Fast Feet, Empty Space: Counter-Attack Quest
Counter-Attacking: Exploit Space Fast
Keep It, Stay Calm: Possession Games
Possession Under Pressure
Quick Choices: Small Spaces, Big Fun
Small-Sided Games: Decision Making at Speed
Quick Feet: Win It Back Fast
High Pressing: Win the Ball Back Quickly
Scoring Goals with a Smile
Finishing Under Pressure
Stand Tall, Stay Close: Your 1v1 Defending Game
1v1 Defending: Win Your Individual Battles
Wide Wings: Playing Down the Sides
Wide Play: Using the Flanks Effectively
U7
Fast Breaks: Turn Defence into Attack
Counter-Attacking: Exploit Space Fast
Quick Feet: Win It Back Fast
High Pressing: Win the Ball Back Quickly
Ready, Set, Score: Finishing with Confidence
Finishing Under Pressure
Stay Calm, Keep the Ball
Possession Under Pressure
Wide Wings: Playing on the Edges
Wide Play: Using the Flanks Effectively
Win Your 1v1 Battles: Defending Like a Champion
1v1 Defending: Win Your Individual Battles
Coaching principles for U6–U7
Every player, a ball
U6 and U7 players should have a ball each for warm-up and most practices. Sharing a ball means half the session is spent watching. If you don't have enough balls, use any round object — the skill transfer still happens.
Games, not drills
Game-based learning outperforms drill repetition at this age. Instead of passing in pairs to a target, play "How many passes can you make in 30 seconds?" The competitive frame increases engagement and effort without the coach having to push.
No offsides, no complicated rules
Keep the game simple. No offside. Goals from anywhere. Encourage shots. Complicated rules reduce shot-taking and dribbling attempts — exactly the skills U6 and U7 players need to develop most.
Short, sharp session blocks
U6 attention spans are 8–10 minutes per activity. Plan for 3–4 short blocks rather than 1–2 long ones. Moving to a new game or changing the rules of the existing game resets engagement without losing the theme.
Coaching points that work at U6–U7
A cue is worth using when it changes what a player looks at. It is worth holding back when the practice is already teaching the lesson — the loudest coach in the league is rarely the one whose players make the best decisions on Saturday.
"Can you keep it close?"
For players running the ball too far ahead of themselves. It gives them something to do rather than something to stop doing, which is the difference between a five-year-old trying and a five-year-old sulking.
"Show me your best trick"
When a player has gone quiet or is hiding from the ball. It gives them a reason to take a touch that has nothing to do with the outcome of the game.
"Go and score" — then say nothing
In the small-sided matches. At this age the game teaches faster than you do, and a coach talking over it is the main reason players stop looking up.
Their name, then a thumbs up
Constantly. Recognition beats instruction at U6 and U7. A player who thinks you noticed them will try the hard thing again next week.
Adapting the session to your group
4–6 players
Two teams of two or three and just play. Skip the separate skill block — put the theme into the game as a rule instead, like a goal only counting after everyone has touched the ball.
7–10 players
Two pitches side by side, 3v3 or 4v4 on each, and rotate who plays who every few minutes. Two small games beat one bigger one every time at this age.
11–14 players
Three pitches. You need a parent to help supervise rather than coach — ask them to restart balls quickly and count goals, nothing more.
Mixed ability
Never split by ability at this age. Change the pitch instead: a slightly bigger goal at one end, or a rule that the confident players must use their weaker foot. The players will not notice, and nobody gets labelled.
The group finds it too easy
Add a defender or shrink the pitch. Do not add a new rule — an extra instruction costs more attention than it gains challenge.
The group finds it too difficult
Make the target bigger and the pitch smaller. If players are not scoring, they are not enjoying it, and if they are not enjoying it nothing else you planned matters.
Common questions
What should a U6 or U7 football session include?
A ball each from the moment they arrive, one skill introduced through a game rather than a demonstration, and as much small-sided match play as you can fit. Around 30 to 45 minutes total. If a child has touched the ball hundreds of times and left smiling, the session worked.
How long should U6 and U7 football training last?
30 to 45 minutes. Concentration at five, six and seven years old runs out long before energy does. A shorter session that ends while they still want more is far better than a longer one that ends in wandering and squabbles.
What are the best drills for 5, 6 and 7 year olds?
Games, not drills. Sharks and minnows for dribbling, traffic lights for control, and endless small-sided matches. Anything with a queue, a cone-to-cone line, or a two-minute explanation is the wrong choice at this age.
Should you teach positions at U6 and U7?
No. Players this age should chase the ball, and the swarm is a developmental stage rather than a mistake to coach out. Positions become useful when players can already control the ball under pressure, which is a few years away.
How do you handle a child who does not want to join in?
Give them a job rather than an instruction — restarting the ball, counting goals, being your assistant for two minutes. Most rejoin once the pressure to perform is gone. Forcing participation reliably produces a child who does not come back.
How many players can use a U6 or U7 practice?
Anything from 4 to 14, with the sessions listing the adaptation. Above about 10 you need a second adult supervising a second pitch — not to coach, just to keep the games running.
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Related coaching resources
- U8 football session plans — the next step up
- All football coaching session plans, U6 to U16
- Free football drill animator
Written and reviewed by the PlayTactiq Coaching Team · Last updated 17 August 2026