9v7 on End Zones
Nine attackers build from their keeper toward an end zone while seven defenders form a compact block to shut the buildup down — and counter into the far end zone when they win it.
Stopping the opponent from building up and creating chances in your half takes the whole team defending as one compact block.
Starting at Core — your team is set to mixed.
Up to 30 min · 9 reds (goalkeeper included) v 7 blues on one field (built for 16)
- Ages 9–11
- 9 reds (goalkeeper included) v 7 blues on one field (built for 16)
- Up to 30 min
- Cones, pinnies in two colors, balls
Grab Cones, pinnies in two colors, and a supply of balls.
Build Between the centerline and the penalty box, mark out a 55-by-24-yard field with 5-yard-deep end zones.
Place Nine reds in a 1-3-2-3 — their goalkeeper helping the build but always staying behind the end zone — against seven blues in a 3-3-1.
One 55-by-24 field between the centerline and the penalty box, 5-yard end zones at both ends, red's 1-3-2-3 against blue's 3-3-1, and the keeper behind red's end zone.
- 1
Organize the players
Set the field between the centerline and the penalty box, mark the 5-yard end zones, and set the teams — nine reds in a 1-3-2-3 with their keeper behind the end zone, seven blues in a 3-3-1.
“Reds, 1-3-2-3 — keeper, you build from behind the end zone. Blues, seven of you — 3-3-1.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk one rep — Red builds the attack with the keeper actively involved and scores by dribbling or successfully passing into the end zone; Blue defends as a block and scores by dribbling into the far end zone when they win the ball.
“Get compact, stay compact. Move with the ball — pressure, cover, balance.”
- 3
Play
Run it with two breaks, the source's own way — at the first break, ask the guided question and let them keep playing to discover the answer; at the second, they share answers with you and each other.
“Which passing options do you need to cut off? Keep playing — show me.”
Look for The block cutting off forward passes and forcing back passes and square passes instead.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Restart the build through Red's keeper after each score and keep the block moving with the ball. Switch variants when the level is wrong — that is the design, not a failure.
“Reset — keeper, build again. Blues, stay compact.”
Too hard? Switch to 8v8 — even teams, both in a 3-2-3, on the same end zones. Too easy? Go 9v6, and the defense can also score with a back pass to the keeper. Spend the thirty minutes either way.
Go deeper · 3 notes
Why it works
The model answers give your seven the whole compact-block playbook in kids' language — form a compact block, move with the ball, put pressure on the ball carrier, block forward passes and dribbling runs, mark the attackers closest to the ball — and name exactly what to force instead: back passes and square passes. Pressure, cover, balance is the session's own key-words phrase, and it runs through every phase of this one.
What they learn
Defending as a unit — getting compact, staying compact, moving with the ball, and cutting off the forward pass.
What's next
5+2 v 5 on the Big Goal — from stopping the buildup to protecting the goal itself.
Where does this come from?
US Soccer — Play/Practice/Play session plans for 9v9, U11–U12.
A governing body published this — the same organization that writes the rules your league plays by.