18-player sessions
Football Drills for 18 Players
630 football drills whose player range genuinely covers a group of 18.
How do you coach eighteen players on your own?
Set one practice that runs itself — a rotating three-team game — and coach individuals inside it rather than stopping the whole group.
Eighteen players means a 9v9 or three teams of six. With numbers this high the risk is players standing still, so these drills either use big areas or split the group across two practices.
Nothing on this page has been adapted to fit. Each drill states a minimum and maximum number of players in the library, and only practices whose range includes 18 appear here.
Drill categories on this page
A football warm up for 18 players
Large groups need a warm up that runs itself. With 18 players, split into two areas from the start so nobody spends the first ten minutes standing in a line.
- 1
Ball each in two areas
4 minTwo 20 x 20 squares side by side, half the group in each. Dribbling with turn calls and a shark game to finish.
- 2
Movement prep
4 minBoth groups run the same channel work: jog, side shuffle, open the gate, two build-up runs. One instruction covers everyone.
- 3
Rondos in fours
5 min3 rondo squares of 4v2 running at once. Rotate the pressers on a whistle so it stays competitive.
One instruction, two identical areas — that is how you keep a big squad warm and busy when you are coaching alone.
Setting up football training drills for 18 players
18 players is a full squad night. Two areas beat one big game almost every time: the ball reaches more players, and you can set a different constraint on each pitch.
Every drill listed on this page stores its own minimum and maximum player numbers in the library, so nothing here has been stretched to fit.
- Two areas, same practice in each, swap the groups at halfway.
- Set the pitch out before players arrive so the first ball is kicked on time.
- Have one spare practice in your pocket for when numbers change on the night.
When numbers change on the night
Grassroots attendance in the UK swings with school, illness and the weather. The quickest fixes are a neutral player who always plays for the team in possession, or turning a defender into a target player. Both keep the practice intact rather than forcing you to rebuild it.
Football training drills that work with 18 players
Filtered on the player range recorded for each drill, so every practice runs properly with 18 on the pitch.
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 4-20
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 20 x 15 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones, Bibs
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
2v2 Rapid Tournament
Maximise touches and duels per player
- Age band
- Under 9 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Full Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
3v2 Attack To Goal
Exploit an overload quickly
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 18 min
- Area
- 40 x 25 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Skill Practice
3v2 Transition Breaks
Break at speed in an overload
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 9-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 25 x 18 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Mini Goals
- Focus
- Small-Sided Game
3v3 Continuous Games
Maximise touches and decisions per player
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 2-24
- Time
- 10 min
- Area
- 15 x 15 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Cones
- Focus
- Warm Up
500 Touches Mastery Circuit
Bank hundreds of quality touches quickly
- Age band
- Under 8 to Adults
- Players
- 7-21
- Time
- 12 min
- Area
- 12 x 12 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
5v2 Rondo Ladder
Keep the ball with quick, accurate passing
- Age band
- Under 7 to Under 16
- Players
- 6-18
- Time
- 16 min
- Area
- 20 x 20 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Poles, Cones
- Focus
- Technical Practice
Around The Pole
Practise tight turns around an object
- Age band
- Under 10 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 15 min
- Area
- Attacking third
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Match
Attacking Corners Practice
Rehearse two clear corner routines
- Age band
- Under 5 to Adults
- Players
- 8-18
- Time
- 20 min
- Area
- 40 x 30 yards
- Kit
- Balls, Bibs, Cones
- Focus
- Skill Practice
Attacking Overloads 3v2
Exploit a numerical advantage quickly
Need a complete session, not just drills? Pick your age group, numbers, length and focus and get the whole plan.
Build one nowMore practices that fit
Every drill page has the full set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and progressions.
- Attacking Shape & Width — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Back Four Shifting Shape — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Back To Forward — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Back To Front Game — football fitness drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Ball Mastery Toolbox — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Move Circuit — possession drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Stop Relay — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Under 14
- Ball Tag & Fun Games — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Win Relay — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Under 15
- Base Line Pass — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Bounce And Go — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 6 to Adults
- Box to Box — speed & agility drill, 16 min, Under 7 to Under 16
- Box to Box Loft — heading drill, 18 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Box To Box Scramble — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Box To Touch — football fitness drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Build Up From Goal Kicks — playing out from the back drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Challenge Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Challenge Pass and Move Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Challenge Rondo Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Challenge Stretch Circle Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Challenge Walk and Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Challenge Youth Movement Games — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 11
- Circle Check-In — cool downs drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Circle Of Moves — ball mastery drill, 9 min, Under 5 to Under 12
- Circuit Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Circuit Pass and Move Warm Up — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Circuit Rondo Warm Up — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Circuit Stretch Circle Cool Down — cool downs drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Circuit Walk and Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Circuit Youth Movement Games — football fitness drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Under 11
- Colour Call Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Colour Call Moves — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 13
- Colour Call Pass and Move Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Colour Call Rondo Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Colour Call Sprint — speed & agility drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 13
- Colour Call Stretch Circle Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
Session plans for a squad this size
- U12 Defending Session Plan (75 Minutes, Free) — defending & pressing, 14 players, 75 minutes
- U14 Possession Session Plan (90 Minutes, Free) — possession & playing out, 16 players, 90 minutes
Related Football Drills & Sessions
Coaching articles that help here
- How To Give Better Feedback — Five ways to make your feedback land, stick and actually change what a player does next.
- The Art Of Asking Better Questions — Questions turn players into problem solvers. Here is how to ask ones that get real answers.
- How To Plan A Better Training Session — One theme, four phases and a game at the end — the plan that works for almost every grassroots night.
- Coaching Confidence — Practical ways to feel calmer and more assured on the pitch, even when you're new to it.
Common questions
How do you coach eighteen players on your own?
Set one practice that runs itself — a rotating three-team game — and coach individuals inside it rather than stopping the whole group.
Other squad sizes
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Plan a session for 18 players
Enter your numbers and the time you have, and the session builder only uses drills that fit the group in front of you.
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