U9s drills
Football Drills for U9s
646 football drills suitable for U9s, filtered from the full Football Coach Hub library.
U9 is the season most teams step up to 7v7, so players suddenly need to find a team-mate as well as beat an opponent. These drills keep the individual work going while adding scanning, first touch away from pressure and simple support angles.
Every practice below lists its age band, player numbers, duration, area size, ability level and the kit you need, so you can pick something that fits tonight's U9s session rather than adapting it on the pitch.
Drill categories on this page
Football 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, coaching points, progressions and a diagram.
- 1v1 Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 5 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
- 3v2 Attack To Goal — finishing drill, 20 min, Under 9 to Adults
- 3v3 Continuous Games — small-sided games drill, 20 min, Under 5 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
- Aerial Control Practice — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- 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 Mastery Toolbox — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Tag & Fun Games — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 5 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 Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Combination Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 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
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
What changes at U9 football?
Most leagues move to 7v7 on a bigger pitch with a goalkeeper, so add practices with support angles, playing forward and a keeper involved.
How many drills should a U9 session have?
Three or four: an arrival activity, one technical practice, one game-related practice, then a small-sided game to finish.
Drills for other age groups
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Turn these drills into a full U9s session
Pick an objective, your player numbers and how long you have — the session builder puts a timed plan together from these drills.