Denver Parks & Recreation Youth Sports center badge

Soccer - Ages 9-10

Skills & Drills | Sample Practice Plans

Throughout the course of the season, coaches should work to deliver age-appropriate skills (program outcomes) for each player and as a team.

View/Download: Sample Practice Plans

Program Outcomes

Click on a program outcome below to be redirected to an instructional video demonstrating that skill and/or drills for additional development.

Ages: 9-10

Program Outcome / Skill

 Dribbling
  • Dribble with head up
  • Continue footwork (ball mastery)
  • Ball mastery in tight spaces
  • Guard the ball while dribbling
  • Find open space
  • Recognize options while dribbling
    • Dribble
    • Pass
    • Shoot
    • Hold

Passing

  • Short & medium distance passing
  • Using both feet to pass
  • Using inside and outside of foot to pass
  • Chip passes
  • Intermediate triangle passing
  • Passing into open space

Shooting

  • Form
  • Unopposed shooting
  • Shooting under pressure
  • Shoot with right and left foot
  • Shooting from angles and distance

Loose Balls

  • Recognize options on loose balls
    • Pursue
    • Defend
    • Find space

Fouls

  • Player safety
  • Playing with an official
  • Understand yellow cards & red cards 

Offensive Skills / Strategy

  • Spacing
  • Attacking pairs / threes
  • Introduce tactics and formations
  • Introduce set plays

Defensive Skills / Strategy

  • Team defense
  • Using the body to defend
  • Transition to attack
  • Goalkeeping
  • Denying goal scoring opportunities
  • Defending set plays
 Game Play and Themes
  • Rules
  • Specific positions
    • Offense
    • Defense
    • Both (Midfielders)
    • Goalkeeper
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Full-field awareness