Coaching Soccer Lesson Plans

Lesson plans for coaching soccer help coaches work with their players on specific skills and tactics. Working without a plan makes it much harder to organize training sessions and prepare for competition. Lesson plans should be age appropriate, and they should contain a connected theme that builds on a particular technical skill and/or tactical concept throughout the session.

  1. U12 Defending Lesson Plan

    • U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) provides examples of age-appropriate coaching plans that work on different aspects of the game. Its Under-12 (U12) defending lesson plan starts by grouping players in pairs with one ball per pair. Each player takes turns as defender and attacker, with the defending player shadowing the attacker and simulating 1-on-1 defensive positioning. The plan then moves through 1-vs.-1, 1-vs.-2, 2-vs.-2, 3-vs.-3+1 and 7-vs.-7 exercises that focus on individual and team defense principles.

    U15 Expansion & Contraction

    • At the Under-15 (U15) age level, a USYS expansion and contraction lesson plan begins by organizing players into teams of four or five and playing 3 on 1 or 4 on 1. Attackers play for one minute (switching defenders after time expires) and try to connect as many passes as possible while constantly moving into support positions without crossing each other. The session then moves through 4-vs.-4, 7-vs.-7 and 8-vs.-8 games before moving to a simulated game setting. Throughout the lesson, coaches focus on making sure players are moving to support positions and maintaining shape.

    U19 Incorporating the Goalkeeper into Attack

    • The USYS Under-19 (U19) lesson plan for incorporating the goalkeeper into attack starts with a 7-vs.-7+2 exercise in which each team first has its own ball. The players pass and move and are required to pass to the keeper's feet after every two to four passes so goalkeepers can work on distribution with their feet. One ball is eventually removed and the two teams play keep-away. Teams earn a point whenever they connect six passes, but one of those six passes must go to the goalie. The plan then moves through 5-vs.-5 match-related drills and a 7-vs.-7 drill under match conditions in which goalkeepers are worked into ball possession activities under various circumstances.