U11 Football Drills | 8 Free Practices for Under 11s

U11 is the season everything gets bigger: 9v9, bigger goals, offside and much more pitch to cover. These eight U11 football drills prepare players for exactly that — receiving under pressure, using width, playing out from the back and reacting when the ball is lost. Every drill lists the setup, the coaching points to call out and a progression for stronger groups.

8 U11 football drills

1. 4v2 overload rondo

First touch and quick passing

6-12 players 8 min Cones, bibs, 1 ball

Set up: Four attackers keep the ball from two defenders in a 10x10 yard square. A point for six passes, swap defenders every 90 seconds.
Coaching points: Open body shape, play the simple pass early, always offer two options.
Make it harder: Two-touch maximum, then shrink the square to 8x8 yards.

2. Receive and turn

Turning with the ball under pressure

8-14 players 10 min Cones, balls, bibs

Set up: A midfielder receives from a server with a defender behind them. Turn and pass to the far target to score a point; the defender wins a point for stealing it.
Coaching points: Check the shoulder before the ball arrives, protect with the body, turn on the back foot.
Make it harder: The defender starts two yards closer so the scan has to be earlier.

3. 2v2 with wide support

Using width in attack

8-12 players 12 min Cones, bibs, balls, 2 mini goals

Set up: 2v2 in a central 20x15 yard box with a neutral wide player on each touchline, one-touch. A goal only counts if a wide player has touched the ball in the build-up.
Coaching points: Play wide when the middle is blocked, receive on the move, cross or cut back early.
Make it harder: Wide players can step infield after their pass to create a 3v2.

4. Keeper distribution game

Playing out from the back

8-14 players 12 min Goal, cones, balls, bibs

Set up: A keeper throws or rolls to two defenders pressed by two attackers. Defenders score by reaching the halfway gates, attackers by winning it and scoring.
Coaching points: Split wide for the keeper, first touch away from pressure, keeper talks early.
Make it harder: Allow one attacker to press the keeper's throw directly.

5. Finishing from cutbacks

Arriving in the box to score

8-14 players 12 min Goal, cones, balls

Set up: A wide player dribbles to the byline and cuts the ball back for two runners attacking the edge of the box. Rotate everyone through each role.
Coaching points: Cutback along the floor, runners arrive on different lines, follow in the rebound.
Make it harder: Add one defender tracking the runners from the edge of the box.

6. Win it back in six

Counter-pressing after losing the ball

8-16 players 10 min Bibs, cones, balls

Set up: 5v5 keep ball in a 30x25 yard area. The team that loses possession has six seconds to win it back for a bonus point, otherwise play continues.
Coaching points: Nearest player presses instantly, everyone else blocks the easy pass.
Make it harder: Award the bonus only if the ball is won back inside the opposition half.

7. Wide free-kick delivery

Crossing from set plays

8-14 players 10 min Goal, balls, cones, bibs

Set up: Wide free kicks from both sides: two attackers against one defender in the box, delivery aimed between the six-yard line and the penalty spot.
Coaching points: Signal the target area, attackers attack different posts, second balls are contested.
Make it harder: Add a second defender and a short-option player on the edge.

8. 9v9 shape game

Understanding the bigger pitch

12-18 players 20 min Goals, bibs, balls

Set up: A 9v9 match on the full age-group pitch. Before kick-off each unit — defence, midfield, attack — agrees one job for the first half.
Coaching points: Coach at restarts, ask units what their job was at half time, keep it positive.
Make it harder: Let the players agree their own jobs for the second half.

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A 75-minute session plan for U11s

With 9v9 on the weekend, midweek sessions can stretch past the hour. Keep the familiar rhythm of warm up, technique, opposed practice and game, and use the game at the end to reinforce the theme without constant stoppages.

0-10 min: 4v2 overload rondo as the arrival activity.
10-25 min: technical practice such as receive and turn.
25-42 min: opposed practice — 2v2 with wide support or keeper distribution.
42-55 min: theme block like win it back in six.
55-75 min: 9v9 shape game with one job per unit.

The habits that matter most at U11

Three habits make the step up to 9v9 feel easy. First, scanning before the ball arrives so the first touch has a plan. Second, reacting instantly when possession changes — pressing or recovering. Third, using the full width of the pitch instead of chasing the ball in a pack.

Pick one habit per month, coach it in every practice and let the weekend game show the progress. Players this age love knowing what the theme is and spotting it themselves.

U11 football drill FAQs

What football drills suit U11 players?

U11 players are ready for opposed practices with tactical detail: overload rondos, receive-and-turn under pressure, 2v2 with wide support, playing out from the back and counter-pressing games. Everything on this page prepares them for 9v9 football.

How long should an U11 training session be?

60 to 75 minutes, split into a warm up with a ball each, one technical practice, one opposed practice and at least 15 minutes of a game at the end.

What changes when teams move to 9v9 at U11?

In England, U11 and U12 teams play 9v9 with size 4 balls, bigger goals and the offside law introduced. Players need to learn pressing together, using width, playing out from the back and recovering over longer distances.

How do I coach U11 players without overloading them?

One theme per session, two or three coaching points per practice, and questions instead of lectures. Let the game at the end be mostly free of coaching so players can try things.

What equipment do I need for U11 drills?

Balls, cones and bibs cover almost everything here. Mini goals help for the small-sided games, and one full-size goal with a keeper makes the finishing practices realistic.

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