A 60-minute training session for under 9s

Mark out a square about 20 steps across. Every player dribbles inside it with their own ball, and you call out a colour.

• Green: dribble anywhere in the square.
• Amber: slow down and use tiny touches.
• Red: stop the ball with the sole of your foot.
• Add fun calls once they have it, like “turn” or “sit on the ball”.

Watch for players staring at their feet. Hold up a number of fingers and ask them to shout it out.

Set out eight to ten pairs of cones as small gates around the square. Players dribble through as many gates as they can in one minute.

• They can't go through the same gate twice in a row.
• Have three rounds. Each player tries to beat their own score.
• In the last round, they can only use their weaker foot.

Coach it: small touches with the inside and outside of the foot. Keep the ball close enough to touch with every step or two.

Split the group into two lines facing each other, about 20 steps apart. One line attacks and one line defends.

• The attacker scores by stopping the ball on the defenders' line with the sole of their foot.
• The defender wins by kicking the ball out of the area.
• Each go lasts about ten seconds. Then both players join the back of the other line.

Coach it: dribble at the defender, then change speed or direction when they get close.

Play 4v4 or 5v5 on a small pitch with no goals. A team scores by dribbling the ball over the other team's end line and stopping it there.

• Every player has to dribble, so no one hides on the wing.
• For the last five minutes, put the goals back and play a normal game.
• Praise brave dribbles by name, even when they lose the ball.

Players walk a lap with their ball, then sit in a circle for some light stretching. Ask each player who they beat today. Finish with the takeaway: “Keep it close and look up.”