U12 LESSON PLANS
A. Warm-up (10m)
1. Juggling (5m)
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeReBZ-4AJ0
o Bounce, laces, catch – repeat – bounce, laces, catch – repeat...(alternate feet)
o Bounce, laces, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (alternate feet – 5-20 juggles)
o Thigh, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – thigh, bounce, laces, catch – repeat…(alternate thighs & feet)
o Thigh, bounce, laces, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (alternate feet)
o Chest, thigh, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (alternate thighs & feet)
o Head, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (alternate feet)
o Head, thigh, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (alternate thighs & feet)
o Head, head, thigh, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (alternate thighs & feet)
o Head, shoulder, thigh, bounce, laces, catch – repeat – (KEEP IT FUN!)
o No bounce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYjpcx1eiys
o Juggling with no bounce – laces, laces, catch – repeat  laces, thigh, head, catch – repeat...
o Keep it fun and set attainable goals! = 2 juggles, 5 juggles, 10 juggles, 15 juggles
2. Foot skills (5m)
o Teach 1-2 foot skills per week depending on the skill level of your team – See page #3
Week #1 – How to dribble a soccer ball activity
Week #2 – Pullback & “L”
Week #3 – Cut & “V” cut
Week #4 – Matthews 1&2
Week #5 – Maradona
Week #6 – Rivelino & Preki (followed immediately by a pullback)
Week #7 – Cryuff (followed immediately by a pullback)
Week #8 – Up to the coach
B. Small Sided & Expanded Activities (25m)
1. Run activities 3 & 4 of the following weekly lesson plans:
Week #1:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=qqPlyquAmdO1SRl3yhLWYRjhnt5562C
cPJePxcbGQKE=
Week #2:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=7+33zq+AhWodRJv6URHgveEaP4nUU
2gm3DtBw6QV2Ag=
U12 LESSON PLANS
Week #3:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=xcGx0/7lRFFUePkocK2/Nmr3obFM/O9
No46isrWwls8=
Week #4:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=Y2g0yCpPJqG7Y33qlGSdu0iZyL0aqR+
JphjHOZb+n+0=
Week #5:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=gcaQgD7gikwGxvlS/so5JFysjULULJ44Y
5ZY2mOPrGU=
Week #6:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=hUxaKiZql5TODtkf9gDTDDOhbugYDH
QlEE6ARf2Jwe4=
Week #7:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=4QFRhXnVV4LBKAACqLyooh5QXpWeI
udMZ+UaworEnr4=
Week #8:
http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/FileDownload.aspx?D=ipwqSMUsf8wE/bIRJljMeH4vROCC+jJy
XTAWggB/2vE=
C. Game (20m)
1. Teach re-starts during natural scrimmage stoppages
a. Re-starts: Kick-offs, goal kicks, corner kicks, throw ins, free kicks, penalty kicks, drop balls
U12 LESSON PLANS
FOOT SKILLS BY AGE GROUP
U5-U6

Toe-Taps & Pendulums (Bells)
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzVcPLnOTrQ

Pull back(s)
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UfDKfeL-64

“L”
o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bHFqvJfzVI

Rake
o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjD00lbhbhw

Inside & Outside turn
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gms0BBPdGiY
U8-U12
 How to dribble a soccer ball
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI5LI2H9GR4
 Pull back
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UfDKfeL-64

“L”
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bHFqvJfzVI
 “V” Cut
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUCOoShWJVw
 Cuts
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96WT8S9Us4w
 Matthews 1 & 2
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UVm3kAfSdM
 Scissors
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dcW1VhK3Yw
 Cryuff
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVEeum8wA6U
 Rivelino
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ahsj9PKgNY
 Double Scissors
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMZkru9Msw
 Preki
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcGrjtDzJzQ
 Maradona
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeDBXcdnTxU
If you need to challenge players even further, perform one of the moves above followed by a pull back (combination of moves) at
a faster speed.
U12 LESSON PLANS
JUGGLING EXPECTATIONS BY AGE GROUP
U6 = 2-5 juggles with a bounce & 1-2 without a bounce
U8 = 2-8 juggles with a bounce & 2-4 juggles without a bounce (no thighs)
U10 = 5-15 juggles with a bounce & 3-9 juggles without a bounce (no thighs)
U12 = 5-20 juggles without a bounce (no thighs)
FOOT SKILLS EXPECTATIONS BY AGE GROUP:
U6:
Toe-Taps & Pendulums (Bells)
“L”
Pull back(s)
Rake
U7-U12:
Pull back
“L”
“V” Cut
Cuts
Matthews 1 & 2
Scissors
Cryuff
Rivelino
Inside & Outside turn
Double Scissors
Preki
Maradona
Practice Useful Information
 Lesson plan – be prepared and rehearse the activities and progressions prior to practice; set up your initial grid prior to
practice (boundary lines are important to youth players)
 Have a plan for those players who don’t behave appropriately during soccer practice (Guided Discovery – problem
solving and exploration)
 Your players should not be facing the sun during instructions (they will lose focus)
 Always provide honest positive reinforcement
 Coach during natural stoppages
 Behavior/performance prize!!! – signed soccer ball, stickers, medal, etc.
 NO LAPS – NO LINES – NO LECTURES
Game Useful Information
 Be early to warm up your team – run a game related warm-up/activity
 Before the game provide your players with 2-3 things to work on during the first half. Re-evaluate at half-time and then
work on the same or different things during the second half. During half-time, you can also go over what we’re doing
correctly and what we need to improve upon. USE VISUALS before the game and at half-time!!!
 3 points for a pullback (and any other foot skill), 1 point for a good pass, 1 point for using your left foot, 1 point for an
assist, 1 point for a goal, 1 point for a 3 second throw-in, etc…