What to Expect

At U9, players begin to grasp basic team play and show better ball control and coordination. The focus is still heavily on enjoyment, but we now introduce more purposeful movement and tactical awareness.

Development Priorities

  • Encourage players to begin recognizing space and teammates.
  • Develop 1v1 and 2v1 attacking and defending habits.
  • Improve passing, dribbling, and ball control through repetition in game-like situations.
  • Introduce concepts of transition when possession is won or lost.

How We Train

Sessions use fun, competitive activities that include direction, targets, and decision-making. Small-sided games (3v3 to 5v5) are ideal for repetition and involvement. Start linking technical actions to simple tactical ideas—like spreading out, creating angles, and recovering to defend.