How to Plan Your First Football Coaching Session

The night before your first training session, staring at a blank page, is daunting. But planning a session is far simpler than it looks once you know the structure. Here's exactly how to plan your first one — step by step.

The simple session structure

Every session, whatever the age or topic, follows the same three-part shape: a warm-up (10-15 mins) to get them moving and touching the ball, a main part (20-30 mins) working on your chosen theme, and a game (15-20 mins) to finish. Plan those three blocks and you have a complete session. It really is that simple.

Step 1: choose your theme

Pick one thing to work on — passing, dribbling, shooting, defending. Just one. A single clear theme makes the whole session easy to plan and easy for players to follow. Base your choice on what you saw at the last game, or simply work through the core skills over the season.

Step 2: plan a ball-based warm-up

Start with something fun and active that involves the ball — dribbling in a grid, passing in pairs, a simple possession game. This wakes them up, gets early touches, and ideally previews your theme. Avoid laps and static stretching; kids want the ball from minute one.

Step 3: build your main activity

This is the heart of the session – a drill or two that works on your theme, starting easy and getting harder. For passing, you might start with simple pairs passing, then add movement, then add a defender. Build the challenge gradually so players succeed, then stretch them.

Step 4: finish with a game

Always end with a small-sided game. It's what the kids love, and it's where they use what they've practised under real pressure. You can even tweak the game to reward your theme — 'a goal from a pass counts double'. Finish on a high and they'll be back next week buzzing.

Step 5: write it down and arrive early

Write your simple plan on a card: warm-up, main, game, with the setup for each. Arrive 15 minutes early to set out your cones so you're ready before the players arrive. A coach who's prepared looks confident — and confidence is half the battle in your first few sessions.

Let a planner do the heavy lifting

Planning from scratch every week is a lot for a busy volunteer. This is exactly what DRILLPITCH is built for — ready-made, age-appropriate session plans with the warm-up, main activity, game and coaching points already mapped out, so you turn up prepared without the blank-page stress.

New to coaching? The DRILLPITCH Coaching Academy gives you ready-to-run sessions, coaching points and a planner to take you from your first session to match day.

DRILLPITCH covers football and soccer coaching for coaches worldwide, whichever term you use for the game.