Basic Lesson Plans

for Football

Developed in conjunction with the

Tesco Football Coaching Team –

Five UEFA qualified coaches
(all ex professional players)
 Basic Lesson Plans for Football

Key

Player movement

Cone

Ball movement

Mini hurdle

Attacking player

Defending player

Variable line position

GK
Goal Keeper

Introduction

In order to improve technical ability at football children should be encouraged

to work hard at training drills which in turn will improve their overall game and
help them progress.

Frank Lampard is one of the Premiership’s most exciting attacking midfielders

and is a key player for Chelsea and England. He strongly believes that
success in a match is “achieved through hard work during training and by
thinking about technique when practicing training drills - always practice using
both feet!”

Here are six classic basic football training drills which can be used during a
football training session and can be made harder depending on the skill level
and age of the children participating. They include the three exercises
featured on the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs DVD.

Use these drills to develop key football skills. The joy of these exercises is
that all you need to do is set them up and let the kids learn for themselves -
Let the game be the teacher!

Typically, you can spend about 10-15 minutes on each exercise depending
on how long you have. Don’t forget to spend 5-10 minutes on a warm up
and cool down at the start and end of each lesson!
Pass and Control (Exercise 1 on DVD)

OBJECTIVES: To develop dribbling and

passing skills.

Organisation
s Players behind cones.
s Dribble around cones and pass
through gate.
s Pass to next player.

Harder
s Vary positions of cones.
s Increase number of cones /
hurdles.

Skills
s Chances to experiment with
dribbling the ball.
s Improves awareness.
s Allows player to experiment
with different turns.

Coaching Points
s Play with head up – be aware
s Keep ball close to you
s Use both feet
. s Try and accelerate after each
turn

Running & Shooting (Exercise 3 on DVD): OBJECTIVES: To improve dribbling

and close control as well as shooting
technique and composure in front of
goal.

Organisation:
s Two lines of players
s Sets out cones for players to
dribble round before
shooting
s Groups go one at a time

Harder
s Put a Goal Keeper in or use
targets to aim for depending
on age and ability
s Add a defender in
s Go further away from goal

Skills
s Create the feeling of scoring
a goal
s Improve dribbling skills
s Create a competitive
situation (i.e. who can score
the most goals)

Coaching Points
s Shoot with your laces
s Keep head and knee over
the ball when shooting
Possession / Keep Ball (Exercise 2 on DVD)
OBJECTIVES: To improve close
control, one touch passing and
awareness.

Organisation:
s Set up grid 20x20m
s Split into to 2 teams
s Keep possession for
as long as possible.

Harder
s Decrease size of grid
s Limit number of touches
per player
s Create competitive
environment, for example
ten passes equals a goal

Skills
s Players learn to play
while under pressure
s Players learn to play with
fewer touches and
improves accuracy of
passing
s Decision making

Coaching Points:
s Make eye contact before
passing to team mate
s Think before you pass
s Use side of foot to pass

The next three drills are not on the Tesco Sport for Schools and Clubs DVD
but are simple to set up. Remember, let the game be the teacher.
Short Passing & Dribbling:

OBJECTIVES: To develop short

passing, dribbling and close control in
1-on-1 situations.

Organisation:
s 1v1 - 30x10 Grids
s Split players in to four
groups
s One player attacks the
defender and tries to get
past him/her
s Defender must stay on the
line to begin with

Harder
s Allow defender to move from
line
s Add in second defender
(see Diagram 2)

Skills
s Improves dribbling skills in
1v1 situation
s Close control
s Awareness of when to do
trick to beat defender.

Coaching Points:
s Be positive
s Do trick at the right time, not
Diagram 1 Diagram 2 too early, not too late
s Accelerate past defender.

OBJECTIVE: To focus on close ball

King of the Ring: control and awareness as well as
regaining possession. This game
should be fun, have a few rounds!

Organisation
s Form a circle with footballs
in the middle with one less
ball than number of players
s Kids run around in marked
area and on command take
control of a football by
putting their foot on it.
s The child that does not get a
ball then has 20 seconds
(flexible) to tackle one of the
other children and steal
possession.
s After the 20 seconds is up
the exercise is restarted and
the child without a ball is
encouraged to work harder
and move faster.

Skills
s Players develop awareness
of others
s Develops close ball control
You can end your session with a small-sided game or use the following
exercise to offer some variety.

Heading for success:

GK
OBJECTIVE: To improve heading while
developing support play and decision-
making.

Organisation:
s Two teams inside 30x10
playing area with goals and
two Goal Keepers
s Throw, head, catch
sequence
s Intercept pass with a catch

Harder
s Add floating players on the
outside of playing area to play
off
s Only intercept with a header
s Decrease playing area
s Make it competitive

Skills
s Learn to control headers
s Decisions and support play
s Communication skills

Coaching Points:
GK s Encourage high tempo
s Encourage communication and
quick decision-making.