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Under 12s · football (soccer) drills

U12 football drills: the best passing drills for under 12s

The best U12 passing drills don't stop at passing in lines. They add movement, scanning and a defender, so players learn when and where to pass, not just how. Here are six U12 passing drills, from simple patterns to opposed games, and a 60-minute passing session.

  • 75minute sessions
  • 9v9England and US
  • 6passing drills
See the session planJump to the drills

U12 at a glance

  • England match format9v9.
  • US match format9v9.
  • Session length75 min
  • Coaching focusPassing range and playing out from the back. Growth spurts begin for some players.
What to expect

What under 12s need

The FA’s four corners, with technical and tactical split, because at this age they need very different amounts of attention.

Technical

Technique under pressure and at speed. First touch away from pressure. Range of passing. Both feet, still.

Tactical

Principles of play in and out of possession: playing out from the back, pressing as a pair or three, reacting when the ball changes hands.

Physical

Growth spurts begin, often earlier in girls than boys. Expect temporary clumsiness. Bodyweight strength and movement quality.

Psychological

Can reflect on their own game and set targets. Confidence can wobble, especially around selection.

Social

Peer group is powerful. Leadership roles, mixing friendship groups and a clear team culture help.

How coaching changes from U5 to U18 →

Session plan · 60 minutes

A 60-minute U12 passing session

From game, to pattern, to pressure, and back to the game. How Play, Practice, Play works.

Play · 15 minEnd zone passing gamePractice · 10 minPassing and moving through the middlePractice · 10 minDiagonal passingPractice · 15 minDiagonal passing 2v2 + 2Play · 10 minEnd zone passing game

Play: gamesPractice: one theme, lots of repetition

6 drills with diagrams

U12 drills

Every drill comes from The Coaching Manual, where you’ll find the full version with an animation. Areas are in metres or yards: near enough is fine.

Diagram: Passing and moving through the middle
Diagram from The Coaching Manual · By Gary McDermott
Drill 1 · In the session plan

Passing and moving through the middle

A simple pattern where the middle player receives, turns and plays forward. It works on movement, receiving and body shape.

  • 10 min
  • Area 25 x 30 with two end zones
  • 12 players (groups of three)
  • 4 balls

How it works

  1. Groups of three: one player in each end zone and one in the middle.
  2. An end player passes to the middle player, who receives, turns and passes to the opposite end.
  3. Repeat back the other way. Rotate roles.

Coaching points

  • Movement. End players find a passing line. The middle player finds space to turn into.
  • Receive on the right foot. Back foot or front foot depending on the pass and the space.
  • Side-on. Hold a side-on body shape and communicate with your voice and your hands.
Make it easier or harder

Make it easier

  • Make the space bigger.

Make it harder

  • Add defenders who can intercept.
  • End players can move anywhere in their zone.

Open the full drill with animation in TCMFree to view

Diagram: Combination passing pattern
Diagram from The Coaching Manual · By Lee Fletcher
Drill 2

Combination passing pattern

A passing pattern you design, where players follow their pass. It drills scanning, weight of pass and timing of movement.

  • 15 min
  • Area 25 x 20
  • 10 players
  • Cones, mannequins (or poles), 10 balls

How it works

  1. Set out cones and mannequins in a pattern.
  2. Players pass and receive around the sequence, following their pass to the next cone.
  3. Switch from clockwise to anticlockwise so players use both sides.

Coaching points

  • Check your shoulder. When the player before you receives, and again when you pass.
  • Keep it rolling. Receive with different surfaces and don't stop the ball.
  • Timing. Move off the cone at the right moment, as if losing a defender.

Open the full drill with animation in TCMPremium

Diagram: Diagonal passing
Diagram from The Coaching Manual · By Lee Fletcher
Drill 3 · In the session plan

Diagonal passing

Two players work in the middle around mannequins for 90 seconds, losing a 'marker' and receiving on diagonal lines.

  • 10 min
  • Area 20 x 20
  • 6 players
  • 6 cones, mannequins (or poles), 8 balls

How it works

  1. Two players in the middle, four on the outside.
  2. Middle players move around the mannequins to receive and pass diagonally to the outside players.
  3. Work for 90 seconds, then swap. Change direction the second time.

Coaching points

  • Check your shoulder. Every time the ball moves.
  • Lose the marker. Move before the ball arrives to create space.
  • Footwork. Crossovers, sidesteps and shuffles to arrive ready to receive.
  • Vary the receive. Half turn, in front of the mannequin, stepping across. Use inside, outside and sole.
Make it easier or harder

Make it harder

  • Middle players can pass to any outside player, not just diagonally.

Open the full drill with animation in TCMPremium

Diagram: Diagonal passing 2v2 + 2
Diagram from The Coaching Manual · By Lee Fletcher
Drill 4 · In the session plan

Diagonal passing 2v2 + 2

The diagonal passing idea under pressure: 2v2 in the middle with a target player at each end.

  • 15 min
  • Area 18 x 18
  • 6 players
  • 8 cones, mannequins (or poles), bibs, 8 balls

How it works

  1. A target player at each end. 2v2 in the middle.
  2. Score by getting the ball from one target to the other through the middle.
  3. After a goal, the receiving target dribbles past their mannequin before playing back in. Swap middle players every four minutes.

Coaching points

  • Look around. Know where both targets are all the time.
  • Lose your marker. Short sharp movements or longer runs.
  • Half turn. Be side-on to play forward quickly.
  • First touch away. Take it away from the defender.
Make it easier or harder

Make it harder

  • Targets can't pass to each other.
  • No passing back to a target once the ball is in the middle.

Open the full drill with animation in TCMPremium

Diagram: Quick passing into a 1v1
Diagram from The Coaching Manual · By Lee Fletcher
Drill 5

Quick passing into a 1v1

A quick pass, then straight into a 1v1. It links passing quality to what happens next.

  • 10 min
  • Area 16 x 12
  • 6 players
  • 2 mini-goals, 6 cones, bibs, 5 balls

How it works

  1. Players on three cones, A, B and C, with mini-goals at each end.
  2. A passes to B, then sprints to press C.
  3. B passes quickly to C, who takes on A and tries to score. If A wins it, A scores at the other end.
  4. Rotate A to B, B to C, C to A. Switch direction halfway to use both feet.

Coaching points

  • Pass quality. Weight and accuracy give the receiver time to attack.
  • Touch or one-touch? Decide based on the pace of the ball.
  • Shift and finish. In the 1v1, shift the ball into space and pass it into the goal.

Open the full drill with animation in TCMPremium

Diagram: End zone passing game
Diagram from The Coaching Manual · By Lee Fletcher
Drill 6 · In the session plan

End zone passing game

A 4v4 where a goal means receiving a pass in the end zone. It rewards forward passing and runs beyond the defence.

  • 15 min
  • Area 30 x 20 plus two end zones
  • 8 players
  • 16 cones, bibs, 12 balls

How it works

  1. Mark an end zone at each end.
  2. Score by passing to a teammate who receives in the end zone.
  3. After scoring, the team keeps the ball but restarts from a ball in a corner of their own end zone.

Coaching points

  • Heads up. See space, teammates and defenders.
  • Pass or keep it. Decide when to pass and when to hold on.
  • Half turn. Receive in a position to play forward.
  • Runs beyond. Forward runs into the end zone, with in-to-out and out-to-in movement.

Open the full drill with animation in TCMPremium

Common question

What makes a good passing drill for U12s

Passing in lines teaches technique but not decisions. By U12, players need both.

  1. Add a scan. Ask players to check over their shoulder before every receive. Patterns are the easiest place to build the habit.
  2. Receive side-on. A half turn lets players see the ball and the next pass at the same time.
  3. Keep the ball rolling. Stopping the ball dead slows everything down.
  4. Add a defender quickly. Move from unopposed patterns to 2v2 + 2 or end zone games in the same session.
  5. No long queues. Groups of three or four, plenty of balls.

Questions coaches ask

What are the best passing drills for U12s?

A mix of patterns and games: a passing and moving pattern through the middle, diagonal passing around mannequins, a 2v2 + 2 possession practice and an end zone game. Each adds movement, scanning or pressure.

How do you make passing drills game-realistic?

Add movement before receiving, a reason to scan, and a defender as soon as players can cope. Finish with a game where passing scores points.

What format do U12s play?

9v9 in both England and the US.

How long should a U12 session be?

Around 75 minutes, with most of the time in practices and games where players are working, not waiting.

Other ages

Drills for every age

Pick an age to see its drills and session plan, or read what to expect at each age.

U5U6U7U8U9U10U11U12U13U14U15U16U17U18

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