Games that teach: coaching U10 and U12
Move from drills to games that build decision-making, support play and team understanding, and prepare for leagues and tournaments.
0 of 9 steps read
- Step 1Coaching U10 and U12: games that teach decisions
Why decisions are learned in game-like practice.
- Step 2Match formats for U8, U10 and U12 in India
Know the formats your players will meet in India.
- Step 3How to structure a grassroots training session
Use game – practice – game to structure sessions.
- Step 4Supporting play: helping the player on the ball
Teach movement off the ball so the passer always has an option.
- Step 5Find the space: 3v1 keep-ball
A simple game to practise support.
- Step 64v4 end-zone game
A small-sided game full of decisions.
- Step 7Adapting an activity for your space and numbers
Make any activity work for your numbers and space.
- Step 8Is this tournament right for your team?
Choose tournaments that help players develop.
- Step 9Coaching qualifications in India: where to start and what comes next
Plan your next official qualification.
Official coaching education: where to go next
- Verified fact AIFF offers an online grassroots course, Blue Cubs Leaders Level 1, and the 6-day D Certificate, an introductory course organised by state football associations.[4][1]
- Verified fact AFC's regulations describe the C Diploma as the basic diploma for grassroots football; in India, AIFF lists the D licence as its prerequisite.[3][2]
- Verified fact FIFA's Training Centre grassroots section offers age-specific coaching tips to explore after this pathway.[5]
Completing this pathway doesn't award a licence, meet any course prerequisite or count as recognised CPD. Only the football association running a course can say what it requires; check its current documents before applying.
Sources
AIFF · AIFF · Coach education programme · Checked 2026-10-21
Applies to: India
Limitations: No course dates; contact the state association (TNFA in Tamil Nadu) for upcoming courses.
What we checked in this sourceAIFF · AIFF · Coach education programme · Checked 2026-10-21
Applies to: India
Limitations: No course dates are listed.
What we checked in this sourceAFC · AFC · Regulation · In force from 1 September 2024 · Checked 2026-10-21
Applies to: AFC member associations, including India (AIFF)
Limitations: Member associations run the courses and set admission details, so AIFF's own course pages decide how this applies in India. Quotes come from extracted PDF text.
What we checked in this sourceAIFF · AIFF · Coach education programme · Partly checked 2026-10-21
Applies to: India
Limitations: Fee, length and languages were seen only in a page summary, so we don't state them. Check the course page.
What we checked in this sourceFIFA · FIFA · Coach education programme · Checked 2026-10-21
Limitations: A landing page: use it to find resources, not as evidence for a specific claim.
What we checked in this source