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Football coaching by ageWhat to coach at every age, U5 to U18
Children change enormously between five and eighteen, and so should the coaching. Pick an age to see what players need technically, tactically, physically, psychologically and socially, which match format they play in England and the US, and drills and session plans for that age.
Drills and sessions by age
The four corners, with one change
Most coaches know the FA’s four corner model: technical/tactical, physical, psychological and social. It’s a good way to make sure sessions develop the whole child, not just their football.
We split the first corner in two. Technique and tactics need very different amounts of attention at different ages. A six-year-old needs thousands of touches and almost no tactics. A fifteen-year-old needs both. Lumping them together is how under-8s end up being drilled on positions and shape when they should be dribbling.
So every age on this page is described in five areas: technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social.
The FA’s four corners, with the technical/tactical corner split in two.
What to expect, age by age
Tap an age. Match formats are for the 2026/27 season.
Fun first. A ball each, short games, lots of success. Football should feel like play.
Technical
Lots of touches. Dribbling, stopping the ball, turning and shooting, with both feet. A ball each wherever possible.
Tactical
Almost none. Which way am I going, where is the goal, where is some space. That is plenty.
Physical
Running, jumping, hopping, landing, changing direction. Agility, balance and coordination through games, never laps.
Psychological
Short attention spans, so short explanations. Confidence comes from success, so make sure every child scores and wins sometimes.
Social
Most play next to each other rather than with each other. Sharing the ball is hard. Taking turns is a skill to learn.
Still play first, but children can now follow simple rules and enjoy keeping score.
Technical
Lots of touches. Dribbling, stopping the ball, turning and shooting, with both feet. A ball each wherever possible.
Tactical
Almost none. Which way am I going, where is the goal, where is some space. That is plenty.
Physical
Running, jumping, hopping, landing, changing direction. Agility, balance and coordination through games, never laps.
Psychological
Short attention spans, so short explanations. Confidence comes from success, so make sure every child scores and wins sometimes.
Social
Most play next to each other rather than with each other. Sharing the ball is hard. Taking turns is a skill to learn.
The first matches. In England that now means 3v3, so every child is always involved.
Technical
Close control, beat-the-player moves and turns. First passes and receiving. Shooting with both feet.
Tactical
When to dribble and when to pass. Starting to notice teammates. Bunching around the ball is normal: fix it with the game, not by shouting positions.
Physical
Coordination, agility and quick changes of direction. Short, intense games with plenty of rest.
Psychological
They care about winning and can be upset by losing. Challenges, points and personal bests work well.
Social
Friendships form. Pairs and small groups work. Fair rotation and equal playing time matter to them.
Dribbling confidence first, passing second. Expect bunching and design games that spread play out.
Technical
Close control, beat-the-player moves and turns. First passes and receiving. Shooting with both feet.
Tactical
When to dribble and when to pass. Starting to notice teammates. Bunching around the ball is normal: fix it with the game, not by shouting positions.
Physical
Coordination, agility and quick changes of direction. Short, intense games with plenty of rest.
Psychological
They care about winning and can be upset by losing. Challenges, points and personal bests work well.
Social
Friendships form. Pairs and small groups work. Fair rotation and equal playing time matter to them.
Skills come quickly now. Keep sessions game-based and full of 1v1s.
Technical
Often called the golden age for learning skills. Receiving on the half turn, passing over different distances, 1v1 attacking and defending, finishing.
Tactical
Small-unit ideas: support angles, width, creating space, pressure and cover. Try different positions rather than fixing them.
Physical
Coordination is easy to build now. Speed and agility through games. Some children start growing early.
Psychological
More self-aware and more likely to compare themselves with others. They can handle more detail and good questions.
Social
Team identity grows and peer opinion matters. Give responsibility: setting up, leading a warm-up, captain for the night.
Bigger pitches reward receiving on the half turn and playing forward.
Technical
Often called the golden age for learning skills. Receiving on the half turn, passing over different distances, 1v1 attacking and defending, finishing.
Tactical
Small-unit ideas: support angles, width, creating space, pressure and cover. Try different positions rather than fixing them.
Physical
Coordination is easy to build now. Speed and agility through games. Some children start growing early.
Psychological
More self-aware and more likely to compare themselves with others. They can handle more detail and good questions.
Social
Team identity grows and peer opinion matters. Give responsibility: setting up, leading a warm-up, captain for the night.
Principles of play start to make sense. Deliberate heading is restricted at this age in both England and the US.
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.
Passing range and playing out from the back. Growth spurts begin for some players.
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.
A bridge year: more tactical detail while still developing every player in every position.
Technical
Technique at match speed, positional detail without losing all-round skill. Keep working the weaker foot.
Tactical
Team shape, units and roles. The move to 11v11 brings new ideas: lines, distances, switching play.
Physical
Peak growth for many boys. Growth-related aches in knees and heels are common. Early and late developers can look years apart, so don't select on size.
Psychological
Self-conscious and testing independence. Drop-out risk rises. Give them a voice in how the team works.
Social
Teammates matter enormously. Respect, belonging and a reason to keep turning up keep players in the game.
The 11v11 game. Big physical differences between players of the same age.
Technical
Technique at match speed, positional detail without losing all-round skill. Keep working the weaker foot.
Tactical
Team shape, units and roles. The move to 11v11 brings new ideas: lines, distances, switching play.
Physical
Peak growth for many boys. Growth-related aches in knees and heels are common. Early and late developers can look years apart, so don't select on size.
Psychological
Self-conscious and testing independence. Drop-out risk rises. Give them a voice in how the team works.
Social
Teammates matter enormously. Respect, belonging and a reason to keep turning up keep players in the game.
Results start to matter more to players. Development still comes first.
Technical
Position-specific detail and technique when tired. Players should own their own technical targets.
Tactical
Game plans, reading opponents and changing things during a match. Players increasingly lead the problem solving.
Physical
Strength and conditioning now earns its place, built on good movement. Recovery and load start to matter.
Psychological
Competition and results matter more to players. Resilience, handling mistakes and exam pressure all show up on the pitch.
Social
School, work and social life compete for time. Keeping the game enjoyable keeps them playing.
Position-specific work and structured strength and conditioning.
Technical
Position-specific detail and technique when tired. Players should own their own technical targets.
Tactical
Game plans, reading opponents and changing things during a match. Players increasingly lead the problem solving.
Physical
Strength and conditioning now earns its place, built on good movement. Recovery and load start to matter.
Psychological
Competition and results matter more to players. Resilience, handling mistakes and exam pressure all show up on the pitch.
Social
School, work and social life compete for time. Keeping the game enjoyable keeps them playing.
Preparing players for adult football.
Technical
Mastery and specialism, with the all-round base still in place.
Tactical
The adult game: systems, set pieces, analysis and in-game adjustments.
Physical
Progressing towards adult training loads, with individual programmes where possible.
Psychological
Performance mindset, ownership and leadership.
Social
The jump to adult football is where many players stop. Pathways into open-age teams, coaching and refereeing keep them involved.
Keep them in the game as players, coaches or referees.
Technical
Mastery and specialism, with the all-round base still in place.
Tactical
The adult game: systems, set pieces, analysis and in-game adjustments.
Physical
Progressing towards adult training loads, with individual programmes where possible.
Psychological
Performance mindset, ownership and leadership.
Social
The jump to adult football is where many players stop. Pathways into open-age teams, coaching and refereeing keep them involved.
Technique always. Tactics later.
This is our view of how much attention each area deserves as players grow. Technique stays at the top throughout. Tactical work builds slowly and only becomes central from U13.
Until about U14, put development ahead of results: equal playing time, every player trying every position, and success judged by how much players improve.
| Age | Technical | Tactical | Physical | Psych. | Social |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U5 to U6 | |||||
| U7 to U8 | |||||
| U9 to U10 | |||||
| U11 to U12 | |||||
| U13 to U14 | |||||
| U15 to U16 | |||||
| U17 to U18 |
How many players a side, by age
England’s formats changed for 2026/27 under the FA’s FutureFit plans. U7s now play 3v3, every age stays in smaller formats for a year longer, and 11v11 starts at U14. Teams already playing a bigger format can carry on with it as they move up.
In the US, US Soccer’s small-sided standards put U6 to U8 at 4v4, U9 and U10 at 7v7, U11 and U12 at 9v9, and 11v11 from U13.
Sources: The FA: What is a format in football?; US Soccer: how small-sided standards change youth soccer
| Age | England (2026/27) | US |
|---|---|---|
| U5 | No matches: play-based games | Small games, often 3v3 or 4v4 |
| U6 | No affiliated matches yet: 1v1 to 3v3 games in training | 4v4, no goalkeepers |
| U7 | 3v3, no goalkeepers (new for 2026/27) | 4v4, no goalkeepers |
| U8 | 5v5 | 4v4, no goalkeepers |
| U9 | 5v5 | 7v7 |
| U10 | 7v7 | 7v7, with a build-out line |
| U11 | 7v7 (England keeps U11s at 7v7 from 2026/27) | 9v9 |
| U12 | 9v9 | 9v9 |
| U13 | 9v9 (England keeps U13s at 9v9 from 2026/27) | 11v11 |
| U14 | 11v11 | 11v11 |
| U15 | 11v11 | 11v11 |
| U16 | 11v11 | 11v11 |
| U17 | 11v11 | 11v11 |
| U18 | 11v11 | 11v11 |
Questions coaches ask
What are the FA's four corners?
The FA's four corner model describes a player's development in four areas: technical/tactical, physical, psychological and social. Coaches use it to make sure sessions develop the whole player, not just their football.
Why does The Coaching Manual split technical and tactical?
Because they need different amounts of attention at different ages. Young children need lots of technique and very little tactics. Tactical understanding grows from around U11 and becomes central from U13. Keeping them separate stops younger teams being over-coached on shape and positions.
What size matches do children play at each age in England?
From the 2026/27 season the FA's formats are: U7 3v3, U8 and U9 5v5, U10 and U11 7v7, U12 and U13 9v9, and 11v11 from U14. Teams already playing a bigger format can carry on with it as they move up.
What formats does US Soccer use?
US Soccer's small-sided standards are 4v4 for U6 to U8, 7v7 for U9 and U10, 9v9 for U11 and U12, and 11v11 from U13.
When should children start playing in fixed positions?
Not before about U12. Before then, rotate players through different positions so they learn the whole game. Fixing a seven-year-old as a defender limits what they learn.
Should youth teams play to win?
Children want to win and competition is good for them. But until about U14, a coach's job is to put development ahead of results: equal playing time, every player trying every position, and judging success by how players improve.
A season plan for every age
The Coaching Manual has ready-made season plans for every age group, with 2,000+ full sessions and video. Start free as a coach, or give every coach at your club the same plan.