Passing drills for U8 to U12

Three passing practices, one each for U8, U9 and U12, drawn for 6, 8 or 10 players. U8s and U9s play 5v5 with a size 3 ball. U12s play 9v9 with a size 4 ball. Pick your number and the picture changes.

Last updated: 26 October 2026

Passing practices by age

U8 · 5v5 · 10 min

Passing: pass, then find a new space

Pass and move

Players tonight
10

Set up

The Passers work in twos with one ball. The two Defenders start in the middle of the square.

10 players, 4 balls, 2 adults

Pass to your partner, then move to a new space.

Set up

Mark a 20 x 20 m square. Players work in twos with one ball between them. Two defenders in bibs start in the middle with no ball.

Who goes where

  • Passers: 8, in the square.
  • Defenders: 2 in yellow bibs, in the square.
  • Every two minutes, the defenders swap with a pair.

How to play

  1. Partners pass to each other, then both move to a new space and pass again.
  2. The defenders try to touch a ball.
  3. After a touch, they leave it and go for another.
  4. Defenders get a point for every ball they touch.

Coaching points

Say this to start

Pass to your partner, then run to a new space. Defenders, touch as many balls as you can. We swap every two minutes.

Say while it runs

  1. As soon as the ball leaves your foot, run to a space.

    Praise it when they move off as soon as they pass

  2. Roll it along the grass to your partner's feet.

    Praise it when the pass stays on the ground and reaches their partner

Ask at the drink Where can you run so your partner can pass to you?

Five minutes in

Too easy

If the defenders hardly touch a ball, make the square 4 m smaller.

Too hard

If the defenders touch every ball, play with one defender.

More U8 practices

U9 · 5v5 · 12 min

Passing: find a team-mate who is free

Pass through the gates

Players tonight
10

Set up

Players work in pairs, with one ball between them. The cones make gates around the square. Each pair passes through a gate, then moves to a new one.

10 players, 5 balls, 2 adults

Pass through a gate to a team-mate who is ready for it.

Set up

Mark a 20 x 20 m square. Put 7 gates inside it, two cones 1.5 m apart. Players work in twos with one ball between them.

Who goes where

  • Players: 10, in the square.

How to play

  1. Partners pass to each other through a gate, then both find a new gate.
  2. Each time, find a gate you haven't used yet.

Coaching points

Say this to start

Pass to your partner through a gate. Then both of you find a gate you haven't used yet.

Say while it runs

  1. Look at your partner before you pass.

    Praise it when their head comes up before the pass

  2. Stop it with the inside of your foot.

    Praise it when the inside of the foot meets the ball

Ask at the drink When is your partner ready for the pass?

Five minutes in

Too easy

If pairs score easily, make the gates 1 m wide.

Too hard

If passes miss the gates, make them 2.5 m wide.

More U9 practices

U12 · 9v9 · 15 min

Passing: play it forward to the target

Target player game

Players tonight
10

Set up

Reds play Blues. The Reds aim for their target in the far box. The Blues aim for the box nearest us.

10 players, 1 ball, 2 adults

Play the ball forward to a target player when the pass is on.

Set up

Mark a 22 x 30 m pitch with a 3 m target box across each end. Two teams of 4 in bibs, each with a target player in the box at the far end. One ball.

Who goes where

  • Reds: 4 in red bibs, in the pitch.
  • Blues: 4 in blue bibs, in the pitch.
  • Red target: 1 in red bibs, in the pitch.
  • Blue target: 1 in blue bibs, in the pitch.
  • The player who made the pass swaps places with the target.

How to play

  1. Each team passes to keep the ball and works it forward to its target player.
  2. Only the targets go in the boxes.
  3. When you lose the ball, win it back and attack the other way.
  4. After a point, the other team starts with the ball.
  5. A point when your target player stops a pass inside the box.

Coaching points

Say this to start

Reds, your target is at that end. Blues, yours is at this end. Get the ball to your target for a point. If you make the pass, you swap with them.

Say while it runs

  1. Before the ball reaches you, check where your target is.

    Praise it when they glance over their shoulder before the ball arrives

  2. Open up on the half-turn so your first touch goes forward.

    Praise it when their first touch takes the ball towards the target

Ask at the drink When is the right moment to play it forward to your target?

Ten minutes in

Too easy

If targets get the ball easily, make the pitch 4 m narrower.

Too hard

If teams lose the ball before halfway, make the pitch 4 m wider.

Not quite your group?

Say what's going wrong with their passing, the age group and how many you have. Bibs On sets out one drill for exactly that.

Make a drill

Three drills a month free with an email address. A drill does not use one of your sessions.

Passing drill questions

Do I need cones and bibs?

For 10 players: Pass and move needs 4 cones, 4 balls and 2 bibs. Pass through the gates needs 18 cones and 5 balls. Target player game needs 8 cones, 1 ball and 10 bibs. Pick another number and each card says how many balls to bring.

What if only five turn up?

Pick 6 on the stepper and make the area a few metres smaller. Or make a drill for exactly the number you have. Say what to work on and how many came, and Bibs On sets one out for them.

How long should a passing drill last?

The FA doesn't set a length. The practices on this page run for 10 minutes at U8, 12 minutes at U9 and 15 minutes at U12. Take drinks when you change practices rather than stopping for separate breaks.

Are these passing drills free?

Yes. The three practices on this page are free to use and print. Three drills a month free with an email address. A drill does not use one of your sessions.