Football / Soccer coaching resources
The world's most popular sport — played with two teams trying to score by putting the ball into the opponent's goal.
Football / Soccer at a glance
- Primary
- 7v7 or 9v9 · Size 4 ball
- High school
- 11v11 · Size 5 ball
- Squad size
- 10–14 primary · 16–18 high school
- Clock
- Running — stoppage time added at the end of each half
Based on the FIFA Laws of the Game, with junior modifications used by NZ Football (and NZSSF), Football Australia (MiniRoos) and US Youth Soccer. US high schools play NFHS rules, which differ mainly on substitutions.
Positions
- Goalkeeper (GK) — The last line of defence and the first attacker. Protects the goal, stops shots, organises defenders, and starts attacks. Must be comfortable playing with their feet.
- Centre Back (CB) — The organiser of the defence. Stops attackers, wins aerial battles, makes clearances, marks opposition forwards, and starts attacking play.
- Full Back (LB/RB) — Defends wide areas and supports attack. Defends against wingers, provides width in attack, supports midfield, and delivers crosses.
- Defensive Midfielder (CDM) — The shield in front of the defence. Wins the ball, protects defenders, breaks up attacks, and keeps possession.
See all 9 football / soccer positions explained, including where each one is allowed to go and whether junior players should specialise.
Reference and tools
Rules of the game
Formats, scoring, fouls, key terms and junior game durations by school year level.
Positions explained
Every position, what it does, and the areas of the field it covers.
Soccer rotation generator
Create fair youth soccer rotations in seconds. Plan substitutions, positions and playing time for your next match.
Drills, session plans and season programmes
The football / soccer coaching library — age-appropriate drills with setup and coaching points, ready-made session plans, and week-by-week season programmes — is part of Squaddie rather than free reference material. Your first team is free forever, so it costs nothing to look.
Year 1–2
Ages 5–7
FUNdamentals first. This is all about fun, movement, and falling in love with the game.
Year 3–4
Ages 7–9
FUNdamentals through to building the basics — fun, movement, catching, throwing, and falling in love with the game.
Year 5–6
Ages 9–11
Court awareness and positional play. Learning where to be and why.
Year 7–8
Ages 11–13
Team play and tactical thinking. Movement patterns, attack and defence structures.
Year 9–10
Ages 13–15
Competition-ready skills, structured training, and fitness conditioning.
Senior / Open
Ages 15+
Advanced tactics, strength & conditioning, and elite coaching frameworks.
Related
Football / Soccer rules
Formats, positions, timing and the junior variations, with the governing bodies they come from.
Football / Soccer positions explained
What each position does on the court or field, and where players are allowed to go.
Soccer rotation generator
Create fair youth soccer rotations in seconds. Plan substitutions, positions and playing time for your next match.
Football / Soccer team management app
How Squaddie handles lineups, rotations and playing time for football / soccer teams.
Coach football / soccer? Start free.
Fair lineups and rotation tracking, plus the full football / soccer drills library, session plans and season programmes.
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