Training Library

Youth football drills I use with Japanese grassroots teams — each with an animated diagram, setup, key factors and my own coaching notes. Every drill can be downloaded and opened in the free TRAINING DESIGNER app. 36 drills so far; more are added every week.

3v1 Rondo (Attack)4 players · U-7 · Keeping the ball

3v2 Rondo — Choosing Outside or Inside Support3+2 players · U-8 and up · Keeping the ball

3v3 + 1 Floater Possession — Escaping the Press with Fluid Movement3+3+1 floater players · Any age · Keeping the ball

4v4+4 Possession (No Passes to Your Own Colour)12 players · U-12 · Keeping the ball

5v2 Rondo (Variable) — Creating a Local Overload5+2 (4 outside, 1 inside) players · U-11 and up · Keeping the ball

5v2 Rondo with Position Changes5+2 players · U-11 and up · Keeping the ball

5v5 + 2 Floaters Possession (Progressing)5 + 5 + 2 floaters players · U-11 and up · Keeping the ball

6v6 Possession — Keeping the Ball Moving with Equal Numbers6+6 players · U-11 and up (from around 10–11 years old, Japanese grade 5) · Keeping the ball

Backpedal Control & Pass (Triangle)5 players · U-10

Check the Goal, Then Shoot2 players · Finishing

Multi-Ball Rondo with Irregular Grids4–6 players · U-11 and up · Keeping the ball

Square Dribbling Race4 players · U-7

1v1 + 1 Floater — Wall Pass or Dribble to Beat the Defender1+1+1 floater players · U-8 and up · Attack

2v1 + 2v1 Rondo (Directional)(2v1) + (2v1) players · U-10 and up (around 9–10 years old, Japanese grade 4 and up) · Keeping the ball, progressing

2v1 Breaking Down & Shooting (with Transition)2 + 1 (+ GK and coach) players · U-8 and up (around 7–8 years old, Japanese grade 2, and up) · Attack

2v1 Progression (Fijar) — for Younger Players2+1 players · U-8 and up · Attack

2v1 Progression — Learning the Height of Support (Works for U-9)2+1 players · U-9 and up · Attack

2v1 Wall Pass or Dribble to Beat the Defender (Groups of Four)2+1 (groups of four) players · U-9 and up · Attack

2v2 + 2 Servers Rondo — Losing Your Marker and the Third Player6 (2 + 2 servers + 2) players · U-11 and up · Keeping the ball, progressing

2v2 Attack (Progressing) — Building Combinations2 + 2 (10–12 in total) players · U-11 and up · Attack

2v2 Combination + Switch — Diagonal Support2 + 2 + support players players · U-10 and up · Attack

2v2+3 Rondo — Width and Depth with Your Teammates2+2+3 players · U-11 · Keeping the ball, progressing

3v2 Attack (Oleada Format) — Breaking Down the Defense from a Numerical Advantage3 + 2 + GK players · U-11 and up · Attack

3v3 + 1 Breaking Lines — Improving Combinations and the Quality of Movement3+3+1 floater players · U-10 and up · Attack

4v2 Rondo (+ Mobility)4+2 players · U-11 · Keeping the ball, progressing

4v2 Rondo (3 outside, 1 inside) — Attack4+2 players · U-10 and up · Keeping the ball, progressing

4v4 + 2 Servers Possession (Directional)10 players · U-11 · Progressing

4v4+3 Floaters (Servers) Directional Possession11 players · U-10 and up · Progressing

5v3 Rondo — Creating Local Overloads and Fluidity5+3 players · U-11 · Keeping the ball, progressing

Double One-Two in Groups of Four4 players · U-9 · Progressing / breaking lines

2v2+1 Rondo with Transition — Transition Is the Key2+1 floater+2 players · U-9 and up · Transition

2v2+2 Rondo with Transition — Don't Lose It Right After Winning It2+2+2 players · Any age · Transition

2v2 Attack + Third-Player Support — Delaying the Attack2+2 (12 players in total) players · U-9 and up · Defending

4v2 Rondo — Learning Challenge & Cover4+2 players · Any age · Defending

5v3 Possession (Directional) — The Basics of Pressing5+3 players · U-11 and up · Defending

8v4 Possession (Directional) — Winning the Ball with Organized Pressing4+4+4 floaters players · U-11 and up · Defending