18-player sessions
Football Drills for 18 Players
539 football drills whose player range genuinely covers a group of 18.
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.
9v9 pictures
Three teams of six
Keep everyone moving
45 matching drills
Drill categories on this page
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.
More practices that fit
Every drill page has the full set-up, coaching points, progressions and a diagram.
- Back Four Shifting Shape — team shape drill, 20 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Ball Mastery Toolbox — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Tag & Fun Games — warm ups drill, 10 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
- 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 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 Stretch Circle Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Colour Call Walk and Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Colour Call Youth Movement Games — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 11
- Combination Back Four Slide — defending drill, 18 min, Under 11 to Adults
- Combination Ball Interval Fitness — football fitness drill, 14 min, Under 12 to Adults
- Combination Build-Up Shape — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Change of Direction Grid — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Corner Routine Rehearsal — set pieces drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Cutback Finish — finishing drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Combination Double Wide Crossing — crossing drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Combination End Zone Game — small-sided games drill, 16 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Escape Square Dribble — dribbling drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Final Third Entry — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Four Goal Game — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Four Zone Keep Ball — possession drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Combination Gate Hunt Dribble — dribbling drill, 12 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
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.
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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.