Keep the Ball

Rondos to sharpen the mind and the feet — support angles, quick decisions, and the third man running.

Soccer
U14
60 min
12–18 players
1 coach
Effort 3/5
40x30m area
u14
possession
rondo
passing
support-play

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 10 footballs, 30 cones, bibs in three colours

Warm-up8 min

Triangles on the Move

Setup: Groups of three, one ball, moving through a 30×30m area. Several triangles working at once.

How it works: Pass and support in threes: whoever is not involved in the pass sprints to make a new triangle so there is always an angle either side of the ball. Two touches to begin, then one touch when the picture is good. Keep the shape moving as a unit up and down the area, not standing in one spot.

What to say

“Tell them: 'always give the ball two options — one either side.'”
“Say: 'the moment it leaves your foot, move to rebuild the triangle.'”
“Ask for heads on a swivel — a look before every touch.”

Easier

Two touches throughout and a bigger space between the three.

Harder

One touch only, and the receiver must be moving when the ball arrives.

Activity14 min

Rondo 5v2

Setup: A 12×12m box, five attackers around the outside, two defenders inside. Several boxes so nobody waits. Spare balls at your feet for instant restarts.

How it works: The five keep possession from the two in the middle. The outside players may move along their line to open a new angle, and one player floats through the middle as a bounce option. Eight passes is a point; splitting the two defenders with a pass through the middle is worth two. Lose it or miss the box and you go in. Refresh the middle pair every ninety seconds regardless.

What to say

“Say: 'receive on the half-turn so you can see both sides before you play.'”
“Tell them: 'play the pass the defenders are showing you, not the one you want.'”
“Reward the line-splitting pass loudly — that is the one that hurts a real defence.”

Easier

Go 6v2 in a bigger box with two touches allowed.

Harder

Drop to 4v2 with one touch, and a pass through the middle is compulsory before a point counts.

Activity14 min

Four-Plus-Three Possession

Setup: A 25×20m grid split into two halves. Four attackers with three neutral players who always play for the team in possession, against four defenders. Bibs: attackers one colour, defenders another, neutrals a third.

How it works: The team in possession keeps the ball using the three neutrals to make it seven against four. Score a point by keeping the ball through six passes and then transferring it into the far half under control, where the move begins again. When defenders win it, they become the team in possession and the neutrals switch to them. It teaches playing out under real pressure and using spare men wisely.

What to say

“Tell them: 'find the free man — the neutral is nearly always spare, use him.'”
“Say: 'when it is tight, one-touch it and move; when it is open, drive with it.'”
“On the turnover, ask the nearest two to press immediately and win it straight back.”

Easier

Add a fourth neutral and allow unlimited touches.

Harder

Take away a neutral and cap it at two touches, so decisions must be quicker.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

Free on PitchPlans — new sessions weekly.