Soccer Drills for U9: A Practical Guide for Parents

Start soccer drills for U9 with four activities: dribbling gates, partner passing, receiving towards a marker and shooting at a target. Use these activities for girls’ and boys’ soccer in Canada, then finish with a game where players choose when to pass or shoot. Each activity below gives you an opening instruction and a practical adjustment you can use without a soccer background. For parents getting involved in youth soccer coaching, give each activity one clear goal, demonstrate it with the ball and let players begin without a long explanation.

• Dribbling Gates
• Partner Passing
• First Touch
• Shooting Targets
• Finishing Practice

How Do You Set Up a Dribbling Gates Game?

Make gates with pairs of markers and ask each player to dribble through an open gate while keeping the ball nearby. Spread the gates around your available space, leaving room for players to change direction. Demonstrate the task by walking through it with a ball, then let everyone begin. Your opening instruction can be, “Find a gate, take your ball through it, then look for another.” Keep the route open so players choose where to go instead of following a fixed circuit.

Once U9 players understand dribbling gates, ask them to look towards their next gate before leaving the current one. You can introduce gates of a different colour and call out which colour to visit next. If a player wants more room, widen the gates or spread them farther apart. In my opinion, changing the space is a useful first adjustment because the activity stays recognisable. For a parent working with one child, take turns choosing the next gate and following the route together.

What Is a Clear Passing Drill for U9?

Use a passing gate between partners, with the task of sending the ball through the opening along the ground. Place the players where they can comfortably reach each other, then demonstrate a pass using the inside of the foot. Ask the receiver to control the ball before returning it. Give one instruction at a time, such as, “Point your standing foot towards your partner.” Watch the next attempt before adding anything else, and let the players keep exchanging passes while you observe.

To add a decision to partner passing for U9 players, ask the receiver to move sideways after returning the ball. The passer must then look up and find the receiver’s new position before playing again. Move the gate with them, or remove it once finding the receiver becomes the task. For girls’ and boys’ teams, offer the same choices and adjust the distance to each pair. A child who wants a closer partner can practise the same activity without needing a separate explanation or a different label.

How Can Players Practise Their First Touch?

Ask players to receive a ground pass and guide the ball towards a marker before passing it back. Put the marker beside the receiver, rather than directly behind them, so the intended direction is easy to see. Explain the task as, “Meet the ball, guide it towards your marker, then return the pass.” Let the receiver choose a comfortable starting distance from that marker. The purpose of this activity is to give the first touch a destination, rather than simply stop every ball in place.

For a variation on first touch practice, let U9 players choose which side to use before receiving a pass. Ask the passing player to wait until the receiver is ready, then send a manageable ball along the ground. Ask, “Where would you like your next touch to go?” and let the child show the answer. In my opinion, that question gives parents a useful way into the activity without needing technical language. Keep the exchange conversational, with time for the player to reset and try a different direction.

Which Shooting Game Gives Each Attempt a Purpose?

Mark a target inside a suitable goal and ask players to choose where they intend to send the ball. Begin with a stationary ball, then invite the player to dribble towards the shooting position before striking. Let them choose a comfortable approach and pause between attempts to reset the ball. Your question is simply, “Which part of the target are you aiming for?” Keep the conversation about their chosen target and the contact they made, then ask what they would like to try on the next attempt.

Alongside shooting target activities for U9 players, consider Curl Master One, sold by The Giro X, for focused contact practice between coaching sessions. It works with a standard ball and spins it at controlled speeds, with six speed settings. It is intended for players from around age eight through adulthood, and players aged eight to twelve should use it with an adult nearby. In my opinion, this contact work deserves its own place alongside the shooting game, with the coach helping choose the detail the player will practise.

Curl Master One | Sold by The Giro X. Works with a standard ball and has six speed settings. Intended for players from around age eight through adulthood. Players aged eight to twelve should train with an adult nearby. No app or subscription required.

Hot Takes (Opinion)

• I would change the space before adding more instructions to a familiar drill.
• I prefer asking where a player wants the ball to go before discussing the attempt.
• I would buy Curl Master One to give contact practice a defined place between coaching sessions.

How Should You Finish U9 Practice and Plan the Next Session?

Finish with a game where players can use the passing and shooting choices they have just practised. Set out goals and let play continue while you watch for the session’s chosen action. Pause when you have a clear question, such as, “Where could you receive that pass?” Then restart and let the players decide. At home, a parent and child can take turns attacking a marked goal, with the defender adjusting the space to keep the activity inviting and the decisions understandable.

When planning the next U9 soccer practice, ask the child which activity they would like to revisit and share that choice with their coach. In my opinion, Curl Master One deserves a place in that plan because its adjustable speed settings offer a clear way to set up contact practice alongside coaching. There is no app or subscription, and the device comes with a 30 day money back guarantee and a one year warranty. Get Curl Master One for your child, then ask their coach which contact cue to practise with an adult nearby.

Practise with Curl Master One

Use Curl Master One with a standard soccer ball for focused contact practice.

Buy Now