Children this age learn through play. Keep explanations to 30 seconds and let the game do the teaching. Priorities: Fun first: if they're smiling and running, they're learning. One ball each for as long as possible, then tiny games (1v1 to 4v4). Short activities, lots of success, no laps, no lines, no lectures. Everyone plays every position, including in goal.

What format do U6s play?

Check your league's rules for pitch and goal sizes.

How long should a U6 session be?

45 to 60 minutes is plenty. Short activities of 8 to 12 minutes with drinks breaks.

U6 football drills

What to focus on at U6

U6 at a glance

U6 rondos drills

3v1 triangle rondo

Piggy in the middle (first rondo)

U6 warm-ups drills

Traffic lights

Through the gates

Rob the nest

Bib tails tag

Keepy-uppy challenge

Clean up your garden

Hospital tag

Colour call reactions

Handball to football

Coach says

Stuck in the mud (with a ball)

Cat and mouse

Animal walks warm-up

Four corners

Crab football

Pac-Man tag

Rock, paper, scissors chase

Body part stops

Tunnel ball relay

U6 passing drills

Passing relay race

Pairs passing ladder

Cone bowling (passing accuracy)

Wall passing (practise anywhere)

Clock passing race

U6 shooting and finishing drills

World Cup finishing game

Dribble through a gate and shoot

Knockout shooting game

U6 dribbling drills

Sharks and minnows

Robin Hood's treasure

Ball mastery circuit

Turns square (inside, outside, drag-back, Cruyff)

Dribble relay race

Slalom dribbling

King of the ring

Stop on the line

Follow the leader dribbling

Musical cones

Cross the river

Cone collector (touch the cones)

Mirror dribbling across a line

Head-up dribbling (count the fingers)

Through the gauntlet

Star dribbling (out and back)

Weak-foot dribbling lanes

Obstacle course dribble

Ball mastery 10-move challenge

Traffic jam (shrinking area)

Statues dribble

Figure-of-eight dribbling

Cannonballs (dodge the coach's passes)

U6 1v1 drills

1v1 channels (beat your defender)

1v1 tournament (up and down the pitches)

1v1 to two small goals

Tag 1v1 (no tackling) for beginners

Knock the cone 1v1

U6 small-sided games drills

2v2 to four goals

3v3 end-zone game

3v3 pass or dribble goals

3v3 festival game (no keepers)

Line ball (dribble over the line)

Wembley knockout game

Dribble-in restarts game

U6 patterns of play drills

5-a-side diamond rotation (1-2-1)

U6 build-up play drills

Keeper roll-out and support angles (5v5)

U6 transitions drills

Swap! Transition game for young players