Football drills for U10s

1. Traffic lights dribbling

Ball mastery and close control

Set up

Everyone dribbles inside a 20x20 yard square. On 'red' they stop the ball with the sole, on 'amber' they toe-tap, on 'green' they accelerate into space.

Coaching points

Small touches, head up to avoid others, use both feet.

Make it harder

Add a turn call so players change direction with the inside and outside of the foot.

2. Four-gate dribble

Dribbling into space and scanning

Set up

Four cone gates on the edges of a 20-yard square. Players score a point every time they dribble through a different gate.

Coaching points

Pick the free gate, change speed to get away, protect the ball with your body.

Make it harder

Add two taggers who try to kick the ball out of the area.

3. Passing diamond with a turn

Passing and receiving on the half turn

Set up

A 12-yard diamond. Pass, follow your pass, and receive with the back foot so you can play the next pass in one movement.

Coaching points

Open the body before it arrives, inside of the foot, firm along the ground.

Make it harder

Two touches maximum, then reverse the direction on a call.

4. 1v1 to two goals

Attacking and defending 1v1

Set up

In a 12x10 yard box the attacker tries to score in either of two goals on the end line; the defender wins the ball and counters.

Coaching points

Attack the defender at speed, use a feint, defenders stay side-on and be patient.

Make it harder

Winner stays on and plays the next challenger straight away.

5. Turning circuit

Turns under light pressure

Set up

Dribble 8 yards, perform the called turn (Cruyff, drag back or inside hook), then accelerate back to the start.

Coaching points

Get close to the cone before turning, drop the shoulder, explode out of the turn.

Make it harder

Add a passive defender at the cone, then make them semi-active.

6. Three-team possession

Keeping the ball as a team

Set up

In a 30x25 yard area two teams of four keep the ball from one team of four. Lose it and you swap with the defending team.

Coaching points

Spread out, offer angles either side of the defender, pass and move.

Make it harder

Limit the outside players to two touches.

7. Counter-attack 3v2

Overloads and quick decisions

Set up

Three attackers break from the halfway line against two defenders and a keeper, with 10 seconds to score.

Coaching points

Run with the ball to commit a defender, pass at the right moment, get width and support.

Make it harder

Drop it to 3v3 so attackers must create the overload themselves.

8. Small-sided game with wide zones

Using the whole pitch

Set up

5v5 on a 40x30 yard pitch with wide channels. A goal counts double if the attack goes through a wide channel first.

Coaching points

Look for the switch, get chalk on your boots, cross or cut back with purpose.

Make it harder

Remove the double-points rule and play a free game to finish.

What football drills are best for U10s?

U10s learn fastest from drills with a ball each and lots of decisions: dribbling through gates, 1v1s to two goals, a passing diamond with a turn, and small-sided games. Keep every activity under 12 minutes and end the session with a game.

How long should an U10 football training session be?

About 60 minutes: 10 minutes of ball-mastery arrival activity, two 12-minute technical practices, a 12-minute small-sided practice with a constraint, then 15-20 minutes of free game.

How many touches should U10s get?

As many as possible. Use one ball between one or two players wherever you can, keep queues to three or four players, and avoid long lines waiting for a turn.

Should U10s do heading practice?

No. English grassroots guidance removes deliberate heading from training at this age, so build sessions around dribbling, passing, turning, finishing and small-sided games instead.