Football Drills for U9s

Drill categories on this page

• football passing drills (7)
• football shooting drills (2)
• football dribbling drills (15)
• football defending drills (14)
• football possession drills (3)
• football small-sided games drills (6)
• football warm ups drills (5)
• football finishing drills (7)

A 12 minute U9 football warm up

U9s are usually moving to 7v7, so the warm up should start waking up the scanning and first touch they will need on a bigger pitch. Still a ball each for most of it.

1. 1

   Movement and ball mastery

   4 min

   Ball each in a 20 x 20 square. Jog, side-step and heel flicks without the ball for a minute, then sole rolls, toe-taps and drag-backs. Both feet throughout.

2. 2

   Receiving on the half turn

   4 min

   Pairs, ten yards apart with a cone behind the receiver. Pass in, open the hips and take the first touch away from the cone, then pass back. Coaching point: check your shoulder before it arrives.

3. 3

   3v1 rondo to finish

   4 min

   Groups of four in a 8 x 8 yard square. Three keep the ball, one presses. Two touches to start, then one touch when they cope. Swap the presser after five passes.

Add a short water break here. On a UK winter pitch that also stops the warm up drifting into a fifteen minute session in itself.

More football warm up drills

Building a U9 session around these drills

The jump to 7v7 means more space, a goalkeeper and the first real decisions about when to pass and when to dribble. Keep the technical work from U8 going, then add a practice where the player has to choose.

A sensible shape is warm up, one technical practice, one game-related practice on the same theme, then a 4v4 or 5v5 to finish.

• Ask questions instead of giving answers: 'where was the space?'
• Rotate the goalkeeper — nobody should be 'the keeper' at U9.
• Keep areas tight enough that the ball reaches everybody.

Football training drills for U9s

Picked from the 646 practices in the library that list Under 9 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
• 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
• Acceleration Ladders — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 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
• Agility Diamond — speed & agility drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Agility Gate Weave — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 12
• Animal Movement Circuit — football fitness drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 10
• Attacking Overloads 3v2 — attacking drill, 20 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Attacking Throw In Routines — set pieces drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Ball And Talk Cool Down — cool downs drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Mastery Figure Eight — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
• Ball Mastery Maze — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 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
• Ball Tag Conditioning Game — football fitness drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Under 12
• Breakaway Situations — goalkeeping drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Building From The Keeper — playing out from the back drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
• Challenge Ball and Body Warm Up — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults

Ready-made session plans for U9s

• U9 Shooting & Finishing Session Plan (60 Minutes, Free) — shooting & finishing, 12 players, 60 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 U10s
• Football drills for U11s
• Football drills for U12s
• Football drills for U13s
• Football drills for U14s
• Football drills for U15s
• Football drills for U16s

Browse by squad size

• Football drills for 4 players
• Football drills for 5 players
• Football drills for 6 players
• Football drills for 8 players
• Football drills for 10 players
• Football drills for 12 players
• Football drills for 14 players
• Football drills for 16 players
• Football drills for 18 players
• Football drills for 20 players

Browse by session length

• 45 Minute Football Training Session
• 60 Minute Football Training Session
• 75 Minute Football Training Session
• 90 Minute Football Training Session

Browse by topic

• Football passing drills
• Football shooting drills
• Football dribbling drills
• Football defending drills
• Football possession drills
• Fun football drills
• Football warm up drills
• Small-sided games
• Goalkeeper drills
• Football rondo drills
• 1v1 football drills
• 1v1 tackling drills
• 2v2 defending drills
• Football session plans