Getting Started
First Soccer Practice Plan for a New Coach
Your first practice does not need to prove how much soccer you know. It needs to help players learn names, touch the ball often, understand one simple idea, and leave wanting to return. Use four blocks: welcome and movement, ball skill, a decision game, and free play.
A dependable 60-minute first practice
8 minutes: welcome with a ball
Greet every player by name. Put a ball at their feet immediately and play ball tag or red light, green light in a marked grid.
12 minutes: one ball skill
Use cone gates to practice close control and one turn. Demonstrate once, name one cue, and let players repeat.
15 minutes: one decision
Play 1v1 to two small goals. Two choices encourage players to look up and change direction instead of following a fixed pattern.
25 minutes: small-sided soccer
Play 3v3 or 4v4. Keep extra balls beside the field and restart quickly. Observe more than you instruct.
Common mistakes
- Talking for several minutes before players move
- Using elimination games that create long waits
- Planning too many disconnected drills
- Stopping the final game every time a player makes a mistake
Coach’s checklist
- One ball per player when possible
- 20 flat cones
- Two pinnie colors
- Pump and first-aid kit
- Four activities written on one page
Questions new coaches ask
What if players arrive at different times?
Use an arrival game that works with any number. Ball tag, free dribbling, and gates allow players to join without restarting the activity.
Should the first practice include conditioning?
The games provide age-appropriate movement. Separate running without a ball is usually unnecessary for a first recreational practice.