The following is a brief training guide for U5 coaches with suggestions on how to break up the 50ish minutes you have for training before U5 games. This is meant to be a helpful guide, a place to get you started. Feel free to suggest changes, or if you have ideas already on how you want to run training, do that instead. – Phil
Starting Block – 10 minutes
Game – Red Light, Green Light
Place cones to form a large box, big enough for your team to kick a ball in and move around. Maybe 10 metres/yards by 10 metres/yards. Each player has a ball, and must kick it in front of themselves to keep control of the ball (no big kicks). Green light = go! Red light = everyone has to stop. Last person to stop is out of the square and is now a watcher. Start again. When it gets to two or three players left, call it the last round. The Winner gets to lead the next game.
Skills used include kicking, ball control, and listening.
Block Two – 10 minutes
Game – Sharks and Fishes
Using the same 10×10 metre/yard box, everyone gets a ball except the appointed “Shark”. When you call go, everyone has to move, kicking the ball and evading the shark. If the shark kicks the player’s ball out of the box, that player also becomes a shark. Keep playing until there is just one player or fish left. They are the winner and gets to lead the next game.
Skills used include kicking, ball control, and 1v1 challenge/defending.
Break Time – 2-5 minutes
Even breaks are drills. When players ask if they can go for water in the middle of a drill or game, say “Can you wait until break time?” Of course, if a player really needs a drink or it is super hot outside, use your judgement. When it is break time, say so, and give them a time to be back on the soccer pitch. Two minutes, three, four, whichever. Also encourage them if they need to use the washroom, now is the time to do so. Why do we do this? It introduces the concept of scheduled breaks in a set way that will be reinforced later when we have substitutions in a match, or half time. Keeping breaks to short instances that are controlled introduce self-disciple for players.
Skills used include self-regulation, listening, time management
Block Three – 10 minutes
Monkey in the Middle/Keep Away
Professional players call this Rondo, because million dollar soccer players being paid to play a 90 minute match would look silly if they had to play Monkey in the Middle. This game is 5-6 players per square. So if you have a team of 9, split into a 4 and 5 player square for each. One person is in the middle. The other players are on the outside of the square. They must pass to each other, and if the person in the middle intercepts the ball, they trade spaces with the last player on the outside who touched the ball. If a player stays in the middle for more than 10 passes, switch them out on your own with another player. A Rondo should be about 5 metres/yards by 5 metres/yards in size, but adjust accordingly. For players passing, their goal is not to be intercepted. For players in the middle, their goal is to get the ball.
Skills used include passing, ball control, interception, one-v-one challenge, and communication.
Block Four – 10 minutes
EXTREME Tag Soccer Game
Every player has a ball, and they have to keep kicking the ball (control) while one player is “it”. If they are tagged, they have to give the ball to the person that tagged them, and go run around to find a player to tag. They cannot immediately tag the person who just tagged them “it”. Run this in singles mode, meaning all players have a soccer ball each. If the kids get really into the EXTREME part, pair them up if you can, and have them have to pass to each other while running. At U5, you likely won’t get to this step until close or to the end of the season.
Skills used include ball control, communication, building endurance.
Block 5 – 5 minutes
SIMON Says!
This one is a great cool down game to use before the break, and the start of your match. Be as fun, silly, or creative as you want. Some variations for what happens if a player does something without Simon saying it can include: run to a cone and back with the ball; kick the ball in the net; or they have to do the next Simon says backwards.
Skills used include listening, communication, and ball control.
Break Time #2 – 2-5 minutes
Time for a match!
Notes
For U5 soccer, everything is about the fundamentals, the foundational skills. Kids not picking up the ball with their hands, passing, basic ball control skills, etc. All games and drills should be simple to follow, and promote movement, ball contact, and encouraging players to participate. Remember to keep everything fun, and positive. Always be encouraging with players, celebrate the little things (first goal, first save, a great pass, or a great stop of the ball.) The more touches soccer players can get at this early age, the better it will be for their development as they grow in the sport.