Coaching kids is about one thing: keeping it fun. If they are laughing and running, they are learning. If they are standing in lines waiting for their turn, you have lost them. Here is a 30-minute session plan we love for youth programmes at PAKTB Grace Sports Centre.
Warm-Up: Traffic Lights (5 Minutes)
Every player has a ball. On “green” they dribble freely around the area. “Red” means stop and put a foot on the ball. “Amber” means slow dribbles with the sole only. Add challenges: “green left foot only” or “green with a trick before you go.” The kids love it, and it develops close control without them realising.
Skill Station: Pass and Move Triangles (10 Minutes)
Set up triangles with cones about 5 metres apart. Groups of three. Pass to the right, follow your pass, receive, pass again. After two minutes, switch direction. Then add a challenge: two-touch only. Then one-touch. The kids who struggle with one-touch are the ones who need it most.
Small-Sided Game: 3v3 or 4v4 (12 Minutes)
Use small pitches (15m x 10m) with small goals. No goalkeepers. First team to three goals wins and stays on. Losing team rotates out and the next group comes in. This keeps intensity high and gives every child maximum touches. Celebrate effort, not just goals.
Cool Down: Keepie-Uppies Challenge (3 Minutes)
Everyone counts their best streak. Personal bests only, no comparing. Let them end on a high. Ask each player to tell you one thing they did well today. Positive reinforcement sticks.
Interested in our youth programmes? Get in touch and we will match your child with the right group.
