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 U8s play?

In England (FA Future Fit) U8s play 5v5. In Scotland U8s play 4v4. Check your league's rules for pitch and goal sizes.

How long should a U8 session be?

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

U8 football drills

What to focus on at U8

U8 at a glance

U8 rondos drills

4v1 rondo

3v1 triangle rondo

7v7 diamond rondo (2-3-1 and 2-1-2-1)

Piggy in the middle (first rondo)

U8 warm-ups drills

Traffic lights

Through the gates

Football movement warm-up

Rob the nest

Bib tails tag

Pairs passing on the move

Keepy-uppy challenge

Clean up your garden

Hospital tag

Colour call reactions

Pre-match warm-up routine (15 minutes)

Handball to football

Dynamic warm-up with a ball each

Coach says

Stuck in the mud (with a ball)

Ball tag (pass to tag)

Cat and mouse

Animal walks warm-up

Four corners

Crab football

Pac-Man tag

Pass and race

Quick feet and sprint

Knee tag

Rock, paper, scissors chase

Body part stops

Tunnel ball relay

U8 passing drills

Pass and move square

Passing gates in pairs

Receiving on the half-turn

Scanning game: colour cones

Triangle passing with rotation

One-two (wall pass) relay

Circle passing with a centre player

Passing relay race

Pairs passing ladder

Cone bowling (passing accuracy)

Wall passing (practise anywhere)

Receive across the body (box)

Clock passing race

Beat the press: 2v1 in a channel

Dribble, pass, follow (square warm-up)

U8 shooting and finishing drills

Receive, turn and shoot

Two-goal finishing game

Shoot and follow in for rebounds

World Cup finishing game

Penalty targets

2v1 attack and finish

Race the defender and shoot

Dribble through a gate and shoot

Pass it into the net (side-foot placement)

Knockout shooting game

Weak-foot finishing from angles

Rapid-fire shooting

Run-in shoot-out (8 seconds)

2v1 to goal in waves

U8 dribbling drills

Sharks and minnows

Dribble the gates (with defenders)

Robin Hood's treasure

Ball mastery circuit

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

Dribble relay race

Slalom dribbling

King of the ring

Skill moves at a cone defender

Stop on the line

Shield the ball (1v1 shielding)

Follow the leader dribbling