What a Good Training Plan Template Must Contain: 6 Criteria
Not every template is equally good. These six characteristics distinguish useful templates from pointless ones.
Criterion 1: Clear Focus
A template without a defined focus is merely a schedule. Good templates have a theme – one that runs through all exercises.
Criterion 2: Age-Appropriate Exercise Selection
What works for C-Youth (U14/U15) can overwhelm F-Youth (U8/U9). Every template must suit the age group – in complexity, player count, and training format.
Criterion 3: Accurate Time Management
Time specifications per phase and exercise. Buffer time for setup and breakdown. Realistic estimation of how long explanations will take.
Criterion 4: Progression Logic
Exercises are not randomly arranged. Phase 1 prepares for Phase 2, Phase 2 prepares for Phase 3. This is called progression.
Criterion 5: Coaching Points
What does the coach observe during each exercise? Without coaching points, a template is merely a schedule – not an educational concept.
Criterion 6: Equipment List
What do I need for this training session? Knowing in advance what needs to be retrieved from the storage room.
Template 1: F-Youth (U8/U9) – Ball Familiarization, 75 Minutes
| Phase | Exercise | Duration | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation | Catching game with ball: Player who loses the ball goes to the coach | 10 min | Balls for everyone |
| Technique | Passing Course: Players dribble through cone slalom, finishing pass to partner | 15 min | Cones, Balls |
| Main Part | 3v3+Joker: Small-sided game with a neutral joker player | 20 min | Cone goals, Bibs |
| Free Play | Funino on 4 small goals | 20 min | 4 Mini-gates, Balls |
| Cool-Down | Light stretching, Question: "What was fun today?" | 10 min | – |
Coaching Points Technique Phase: Ball close to the foot when dribbling, first touch from dribbling, pass to partner's foot.
Focus: Ball familiarization and first ball contacts. No tactical concept.
Template 2: E-Youth (U10/U11) – Passing Play, 90 Minutes
| Phase | Exercise | Duration | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation | Passing Square: 4 players in a square pass in a triangle, one player switches | 12 min | Cones, Balls |
| Technique | 4v4+Target Players: 2 target players on the outside, team must pass to a target player at least once before scoring | 20 min | Bibs, Cone goals |
| Main Part | 6v6 Midfield Zone: 2 points if ball is played through midfield zone, 1 point for a goal | 25 min | Bibs, Regular goals |
| Free Play | 5v5 free play | 20 min | Bibs, Goals |
| Cool-Down | Stretching, Question: "When did we pass well today?" | 13 min | – |
Coaching Points Technique Phase: Open body when receiving, first run to get free after the pass, forward vision.
Focus: Passing play and first game principles (getting free, offering support).
Template 3: D-Youth (U12/U13) – Transition Play, 90 Minutes
| Phase | Exercise | Duration | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation | Ball Activation in Triangles: 3v0, then 3v1, passing combinations | 12 min | Cones, Balls |
| Technique | Transition Exercise: 3v3 on small field, immediately play to second goal after winning the ball | 20 min | 4 Cone goals, Bibs |
| Main Part I | 4v4 Trigger: Ball win = immediate transition to the big goal | 15 min | 1 Large goal, Cone goals |
| Main Part II | 6v6 Four-Goal Game: Play on 4 goals, switch after winning the ball | 20 min | Bibs, 4 Goals |
| Finishing | 8v8 Three-Touch: Goal only counts after combinations with max. 3 touches | 15 min | Bibs, 2 Goals |
| Cool-Down | Stretching, Reflection: "When did we transition quickly?" | 8 min | – |
Coaching Points: Look forward after winning the ball, first pass into depth, runners into depth before winning the ball.
Focus: Offensive and defensive transition play.
Template 4: C-Youth (U14/U15) – Pressing, 90 Minutes
| Phase | Exercise | Duration | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation | Coordination Activation with Ball, short sprints in breaks | 12 min | Balls, Cones |
| Technique | 4v2 Pressing: 4 players keep possession, 2 press coordinated | 20 min | Cones, Balls |
| Main Part I | 6v6+Target Players with Pressing Task: Pressing team gets bonus goal | 20 min | Bibs, Small goals |
| Main Part II | 8v8 Pressing Directive: Pressing up to the halfway line, no retreat in the first 5 seconds | 25 min | Bibs, Regular goals |
| Free Play | Free play without task | 8 min | Goals |
| Cool-Down | Stretching, Reflection: "When was our pressing good?" | 5 min | – |
Coaching Points Pressing: Approach angle blocks back pass, second player covers the side, the rest shift compactly.
Focus: Pressing as a team action.
Template 5: B-Youth (U16/U17) – Game System, 90 Minutes
| Phase | Exercise | Duration | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation | Passing Relays with Running Elements: Combination, finish, sprint back | 12 min | Balls, Cones |
| Technique | Positional Passing in System: 7 players in formation play through patterns | 20 min | Cones, Balls |
| Main Part I | Positional Play 7v3: 7 players keep possession, 3 disrupt | 15 min | Bibs |
| Main Part II | 8v8+Joker: Joker switches to the attacking team | 20 min | Bibs, Regular goals |
| Finishing | Match Simulation with System Specification: Formation mirrored to opponent | 18 min | Bibs, 2 Goals |
| Cool-Down | Stretching, System Reflection: What worked, what didn't? | 5 min | – |
Coaching Points: Positional discipline in build-up play, off-the-ball movements in the final third, defensive cover upon losing possession.
Focus: Game system and automatisms.
Why Individual Coach OS Plans Are Better Than Generic Templates
The five templates above are starting points. But they are generic – and your team is specific.
Problem 1: Player Count Doesn't Match
Template 2 (E-Youth/U10-U11) assumes 12 players. Today you have 8. Exercises no longer fit.
Problem 2: Equipment Missing
Template 4 requires 4 regular goals. You have 2 large and 4 small ones. Adjustment needed.
Problem 3: Age-Appropriateness Isn't Always Right
Your D-Youth (U12/U13) team is exceptionally strong or weak developmentally. A generic U12 template might not fit.
Problem 4: No Periodization
Static templates don't take into account where you are in the season.
Coach OS solves all four problems:
- Player count is entered → only suitable exercises
- Equipment is specified → only feasible exercises
- Age group + training phase → automatically adjusted
- Season calendar stored → workload and focus are periodized
The PDF Export in Coach OS: What Players and Assistant Coaches See
Once you've completed a session in Coach OS, you export it as a PDF. The document contains:
1. Session Overview (Team, Date, Focus, Duration)
2. All exercises with drawing/animation screenshot
3. Full description of each exercise
4. Coaching Points
5. Equipment list
Usage scenarios:
- Print for the pitch
- Email to assistant coaches
- Digital archiving in the training history
- Basis for discussions with academy management
- Documentation for player development
Conclusion: Templates as a Starting Point – Individual Planning as the Standard
Training plan templates help you understand what a good session looks like. They show structures, time management, and exercise formats.
But for daily practice, you need plans that fit your team – with your player count, your equipment, your season.
Coach OS makes this possible – quickly, structured, without hours of tinkering.
→ Create your own training plans with Coach OS: coach-os.de
FAQ: Youth Football Training Plan
Where can I find free training plan templates for youth football?
You can find templates in coaching books, on DFB.de, and in app stores. Coach OS also offers individually adapted plans via its AI generator – free to test.
How does an F-Youth plan differ from a D-Youth plan?
F-Youth (U8/U9): Simple ball familiarization, short explanations, fun and freedom. D-Youth (U12/U13): First game principles (transition play), structured game forms, light tactical elements.
How many exercises do I need for a 90-minute session?
Typically 4–6 exercises across 4–5 phases. Prefer fewer exercises with depth over many exercises without learning effect.
Can I print Coach OS plans?
Yes. PDF export is integrated into Coach OS. All exercises, coaching points, and equipment lists are included.
How do I individualize a generic training plan template?
Adjust player count, check equipment, adapt the difficulty of exercises to your group's strength, align time management with the actual session duration.
Are there training plan templates for every age group in Coach OS?
Coach OS does not offer rigid templates, but instead generates individual plans for every age group – based on your specific inputs.