Warm-ups ยท U5 to U9

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Every player dribbles freely and reacts to the coach's colour calls: green go, amber slow, red stop the ball. A classic warm-up for young players.

U5 to U9Ages
Whole squadPlayers
20 x 20 mArea
8 to 10 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

Set-up

  • Mark a square big enough for everyone to dribble.
  • Each player has a ball.

Equipment: 4 cones, 1 ball each

How it works

  1. Green: dribble around the square. Amber: slow, small touches. Red: stop the ball with the sole of the foot.
  2. Add extra calls: 'roundabout' (turn), 'puncture' (sit on the ball), 'motorway' (dribble fast).

Coaching points

  • Keep the ball close so you can stop quickly.
  • Heads up: look for space, not at the ball.
  • Use both feet and different parts of the foot.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Fewer calls
  • Bigger area

Make it harder

  • Faster calls
  • The last to stop does a skill
  • Coach becomes a 'police car' trying to steal balls

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

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