At a glance
- Age
- U7–U8
- Session length
- 60–75 min
- Game formats
- 1v1 to 4v4
Indicative split of focus
- Technique40%
- Individual tactics15%
- Team tactics5%
- Physical and motor25%
- Cognitive and psychosocial15%
These are methodological focuses, not rigid minutes: a single task can work on several areas at once.
Technical progression
Dribbling, shielding, short passing, control and finishing, with plenty of touches and 1v1s.
Tactical and cognitive progression
1v1, occupying space, helping, attacking and defending. The player comes before the position.
Physical progression
Coordination, agility, accelerations and decelerations.
The season in macrocycles
Blocks set priorities, not exclusive content: each one keeps secondary content from the others.
- Individual mastery8 weeks
Dribbling, feints and shielding. Ball, coordination and 1v1.
- Working with a teammate8–10 weeks
Passing and control, support and 2v1. Perception before action.
- Attacking and defending8–10 weeks
Attacking 1v1, defending 1v1 and finishing.
- Transfer8–10 weeks
2v2 and 3v3, four mini-goals, match play and consolidation.
A typical week with 2 sessions
Session 1: technical learning and decision-making. Session 2: duels, numerical superiority and a small-sided game.
Structure of a session
A session has one main objective and always ends with transfer to match play. Indicative percentages of its total length.
- Activation and warm-up15–25%
- Main part A: introduce or reinforce the objective20–30%
- Main part B: more opposition, decision-making or specificity20–30%
- Transfer to match play25–40%
- Cool-down and feedback0–10%
Assessment
Qualitative observation. In U5–U12 the match result does not replace formative assessment.
Periodisation
Broad, flexible phases, with no peaks of form.
Sample exercises for this stage
- RondosTwo connected triangles
- DribblingDribbling and change of direction
- Recreational GamesTreasure raid by teams
- 1x1Go through the gate with a shadow defender
- Finishing / ShootingGround shot at the central strip
- GoalkeepersGoalkeeper integrated in a 5v5/6v6 game
This methodology, applied to your team's season
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