Football Drills for U13s

Drill categories on this page

• football passing drills (5)
• football shooting drills (2)
• football dribbling drills (9)
• football defending drills (16)
• football possession drills (5)
• football small-sided games drills (6)
• football warm ups drills (2)
• football finishing drills (11)

A 15 minute U13 football warm up

U13s are usually into 11v11 and growing quickly, so the warm up now has a physical job as well as a technical one. Raise the heart rate, mobilise the hips and ankles, then get the ball moving at match tempo.

1. 1

   Raise, activate, mobilise

   5 min

   Two lengths of a 20-yard channel: jog, side shuffle, open the gate, walking lunge with rotation, then two build-up runs at 70 and 85 per cent. Growth spurts make hamstrings and knees vulnerable at this age, so do not skip it.

2. 2

   Passing squares at tempo

   5 min

   Groups of six in a 15 x 15 square, two balls. Pass, move to a free corner, receive on the back foot. Add a one-touch call for thirty seconds at a time.

3. 3

   Transition rondo

   5 min

   5v2 in a 12 x 12 square. If the two win the ball they must play it out of the square within three seconds to score. Introduces the transition moment before the main practice.

Finish with a water break and set the theme of the session in one sentence before the first practice.

More football warm up drills

Coaching the move to 11v11

The full pitch exposes distances players have never had to cover. Use phase-of-play practices on a half pitch so they see their position, the team-mates around them and the space behind, instead of getting lost in a full-sided game.

Position-specific detail is worth adding now — full-backs on their starting position, centre-backs on their defensive distances, midfielders on receiving on the half turn.

• Keep sessions to 60-75 minutes with genuine recovery between blocks.
• Be honest about growth: some players will be a year behind physically, not in ability.
• Video or photograph shapes if you can — U13s respond well to seeing it.

Football training drills for U13s

Picked from the 984 practices in the library that list Under 13 as a suitable age group.

More practices that fit

Every drill page has the full set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and progressions.

• 1v1 Arrival Box — dribbling drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 1v1 Channel Duels — dribbling drill, 15 min, Under 6 to Adults
• 1v1 Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 1v1 Defending Duels — defending drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
• 1v1 End Zone Duels — dribbling drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 1v1 Gate Attack — dribbling drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 2v2 Defending Units — defending drill, 18 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 2v2 Rapid Tournament — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 2v2 Recovery Defending — defending drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
• 3v2 Attack To Goal — finishing drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
• 3v2 Attacking Overload — attacking drill, 18 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 3v2 Transition Breaks — transition drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• 3v3 Continuous Games — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 4v2 Rondo Circle — possession drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 4v4 To Mini Goals — small-sided games drill, 18 min, Under 6 to Adults
• 4v4 Transition Game — transition drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
• 500 Touches Mastery Circuit — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• 5v2 Rondo Ladder — possession drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 5v5 With Keepers — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 8 to Adults
• 6v6 Thirds Conditioned Game — small-sided games drill, 22 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Acceleration Ladders — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Acceleration Starts — football fitness drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Activation Circuit — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Aerial Control Practice — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Aerial Control Station — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
• Aerial Duel Practice — heading drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Agility Diamond — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Attack v Defend The Box — crossing drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Corner Routines — set pieces drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Corners Practice — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Crossing Game — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 10 to Adults
• Attacking Header Finishing — heading drill, 14 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Attacking Headers From Corners — heading drill, 15 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Attacking Overloads 3v2 — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Attacking Shape & Width — team shape drill, 22 min, Under 12 to Adults
• Attacking Throw In Routines — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults

Ready-made session plans for U13s

• U10 Passing Session Plan (60 Minutes, Free) — passing & receiving, 12 players, 60 minutes
• U8 Dribbling Session Plan (45 Minutes, Free) — dribbling & 1v1, 10 players, 45 minutes
• U12 Defending Session Plan (75 Minutes, Free) — defending & pressing, 14 players, 75 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

Drills for other age groups

• Football drills for U6s
• Football drills for U7s
• Football drills for U8s
• Football drills for U9s
• Football drills for U10s
• Football drills for U11s
• Football drills for U12s
• Football drills for U14s
• Football drills for U15s
• Football drills for U16s

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• Football passing drills
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