This curriculum is used to guide coaching and help develop players to maximize both individual and team progression

LUFC – U8 Suggested Coaching Curriculum 

During the “fundamental phase” these young players are attempting to: 

• Have fun and be excited for their next soccer get-together 

• Rotate through ALL of the positions, including goalkeeper, to avoid the desire for early position specialization 

• Experiment with the qualities of a rolling or spinning ball 

• Lift the ball with their feet with intent to juggle 

• Receive balls passed on the ground with the inside and sole of the foot 

• Develop their shooting ability with the inside of the foot 

• Enhance and apply their basic individual techniques; dribbling while changing direction 

• Further develop their coordination and basic motor skills like walking, running or jumping combined with ball handling and ball control 

• Understand the rules of the game pertaining to goal boxes and offside 

• Learning the roles of each position on the field 

• Show you what they can do while excitedly trying new things 

Skill Priorities: 

• Dribbling with ALL sides of BOTH feet 

• Dribble out of, and away from, pressure (the pack) 

• Dribble past someone, intentionally and purposefully 

• Soft touches while dribbling to keep the ball close 

• Soft first touch when receiving (trapping) a pass from a teammate 

• Introduce the inside of the foot pass to the players who can dribble out of trouble 

• Introduce proper shooting technique (head steady, shoulders & hips square to target and follow through) 

• Proper throw-ins; hands behind head, keeping both feet on the ground 

These young players love to “play”, therefore all practices should be based on fun and games. Players must spend the maximum time possible in contact with the ball and experiment by themselves. Give different responsibilities to the players in order to develop a sense of team. 

By the end of the U8 age group, players should be capable of the following: 

• Dribbling skills including: 

• Dribble with all sides of both feet 

• Dribble out of trouble 

• Dribble past someone, intentionally 

• Stopping and running with the ball at speed 

• Shield the ball from another player with their own body 

• Demonstrate a soft first touch (including trapping) 

• Demonstrate basics of proper shooting technique 

• Demonstrate basics of proper passing with reasonable accuracy at 8-12 yards 

• Very basic tactical skills such as: 

• Maintaining position but moving with play (not chasing the ball everywhere it goes) 

• Moving forward and spreading out when attacking 

• Retreating and become more compact when defending 

• Basic quick, coordinated movements with and without the ball 

Special Topics (mix in as needed): 

• Throw-ins – Throw it up the sideline towards the opposing team’s goal. 

• Goal Kicks – Kick it toward one side. Don’t kick it across your goal or to the other team. 

LUFC – U9-U10 Suggested Coaching Curriculum

During the “team oriented” phase these young players are attempting to: 

• Have fun, compete, and be excited for their next soccer get-together 

• Understand how to create space to receive the ball and keep possession 

• Embracing the opportunity to move AWAY from the ball to open up space 

• Occupy the correct space in relation to the ball and to their teammates 

• Become more accurate with their individual soccer techniques 

• Show improvement in collective team related soccer techniques 

• Develop speed, coordination and balance with and without the ball 

• Interact positively with their teammates during the game and feel confident within the group 

Skill Priorities: 

• Dribbling with ALL sides of BOTH feet (continued from U8/U9) 

• Dribble out of, and away from, pressure (the pack) 

• Dribble past someone, intentionally and purposefully 

• Soft touches while dribbling to keep the ball close 

• Receiving (trapping) the ball with all parts of the body (feet, thighs, and chest) 

• Passing with the insides and outsides of both feet 

• Shooting the ball with both feet – using the laces as well as the insides of both feet 

• Proper throw-ins; hands behind head, keeping both feet on the ground 

Developing good technique is essential at this age. Create an environment where you can achieve the maximum repetition of technical skills for each player. Speed, coordination, balance and agility are the main physical aspects to improve during this stage of development. 

By the end of the U10 age group, players should be capable of the following: 

• Attacking and defending in basic skills in 1v1 situations. 

• Application of basic attacking tactics 

• Recognizing when they are under pressure 

• Wall passes and give-and-go’s 

• Movement without the ball to support a player or create space 

• Understanding the offside rule 

• Application of basic defending tactics 

• Staying between an attacker and our goal when we do not have possession – even if that attacker does not currently have the ball (getting “goal-side”) 

• Compressing space when we lose possession 

• Basics of the roles of pressuring and covering 

• Basic techniques on tackling 

• Coordinated movements at speed 

• Able to change speed and direction with the ball 

• Faints and simple moves to beat opponents 

• Accurate ground passes at 15-20 yards 

• Receive ball while moving and set up next move (dribble, pass, shot) with a good first touch 

Special Topics (mix in as needed): 

• Throw-ins – Throw it up the sideline towards the opposing team’s goal. 

• Goal Kicks – Kick it toward one side. Don’t kick it across your goal or to the other team. 

• Free kicks – Setting up the team offensively and defensively for corner kicks, walls or indirect kicks 

LUFC – U11-U12 Suggested Coaching Curriculum 

During the “critical transition period” these young players are attempting to: 

• Have fun, compete, and be excited for their next soccer get-together 

• Develop attacking/defending principles and combination play 

• Attacking: penetration, support, mobility, width, depth and creativity on the ball 

• Defending: recovery, cover, pressure, balance, compactness and counter attack 

• Increase accuracy and speed in individual and collective soccer techniques 

• Focus on the quality of passing and receiving technique as well as individual ball control within game situations 

• Push oneself to increase speed, coordination and balance within competitive game situations 

• Cooperate with their teammates in collective tasks while increasing self-confidence with their peers 

Skill Priorities: 

• Changing speed and direction to beat an opponent 

• Shielding the ball and learning to use the shoulder to win and keep a ball 

• Playing accurate ground and air passes at 20 yards 

• Short passing with appropriate touch 

• Passing with the insides and outsides of both feet 

• Passing to pace with intent so players can run onto the ball 

• Shooting the ball with both feet with accuracy – using the laces as well as the insides of both feet 

• Proper throw-ins; hands behind head, keeping both feet on the ground 

Between U12 and U14, roughly 75% of players will quit playing soccer. These players need to be allowed to have fun and soccer should be enjoyable above all else. 

By the end of the U12 age group, players should be capable of the following: 

• Attacking and defending skills in 1v1 situations. 

• Application of attacking tactics 

• Recognizing when they are under pressure and protecting the ball 

• Recognizing no pressure and moving the ball up the field (penetrating) 

• Able to change the point of attack when needed including switching the field 

• Wall passes and give-and-go’s to move the ball forward and penetrate defenses 

• Movement without the ball to support a player or create space 

• Understanding the offside rule 

• Application of defending tactics 

• Staying between an attacker and our goal when we do not have possession – even if that attacker does not currently have the ball (getting “goal-side”) 

• Compressing space when we lose possession 

• Understanding the roles of pressuring and covering (1st and 2nd defender) 

• Recognition of opportunities for and support of counter attacks 

• Good techniques on tackling 

• Moving around the field as a team in reaction to the play of the game 

• Active communication with teammates in game situations 

• Understanding the different thirds of the field (defending third, midfield third and attacking third) 

Special Topics (mix in as needed): 

• Volley kicks – proper technique 

• Heading – Practice safe and proper technique (not too often, limit heading when can) 

• Free kicks – Setting up the team offensively and defensively for corner kicks, defensive walls or indirect kicks