Week 6 · U12
Passing & link-up play
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Pass firmly along the ground with the inside of the foot — passes a defender cannot step in front of
- 2Keep the ball moving with one and two touches in rondos (keep-away circles)
- 3Switch play — move the ball to the far side of the field when one side gets crowded
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
4v2 Rondo
The classic: four passers around the outside, two defenders in the middle. Defender who wins it swaps with the passer who lost it. Let them play — just demand firm passes and quick feet.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Rondo Ladder
Step the rondo up level by level. Level 1: 4v1, unlimited touches — success is rhythm. Level 2: 4v2, two-touch — now angles matter, keep moving off the ball to open passing lanes. Level 3: 4v2 with a bonus — a split pass (a pass between the two defenders) is worth 3 points. Finish with two grids side by side: after 5 completed passes, the team must switch the ball to the other grid — that is switching play in miniature.
Bigger squares, unlimited touches, and rotate defenders often so nobody gets stuck in the middle.
One-touch rounds for the brave, or shrink the grid until only perfect weight of pass survives.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
6-Pass Possession Game
Two teams, normal goals. A team earns a point for every 6 consecutive passes, and after earning the point they can attack the goal. Patience and connection first, then go score.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·Is your pass firm enough that no defender can step in — or soft enough to get cut out?
- ·Do you know where your NEXT pass is going before the ball reaches you?
- ·Five defenders crowd one side — where is the space, and how fast can the ball get there?
- ·One touch or two: what tells you which to use?
Reduce touches, require more passes for a point, let defenders press for real.
More touches allowed, fewer passes needed, widen every grid.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
When we get stuck on one sideline Saturday, look for the switch: the far wide midfielder in the 1-2-3-1 stays wide and calls for it, and the defenders step up to midfield to give a short option across the back. One switched ball beats ten forced passes into a crowd.
Message to forward to your parents
Your child is learning to connect the team through passing. Watch for switches of play and one-touch passing on Saturday — these are signs of growing game intelligence.
This week's two videos
Prep the night before; copy the activity on the field.
Rondo Progression: 10 Drills Every Team Should Use
Watch the night before to understand the idea
Ten rondos stacked from simplest to most demanding — the Practice-block spine of the month at this age. Watch before Week 1 and map one step per week so the rondo grows as the players do. Coach the receiving detail: back foot, open hips, next pass already chosen.
Watch on YouTube4 v 2 Rondo | Possession Exercise | Soccer Drill
A drill you can copy on the field
The classic 4v2 — numbers-up possession with real defenders, the bridge from technique to decisions. Introduce it in Week 2 with the 5 Second Rule for the two defenders so both sides of our game model train at once.
Watch on YouTube