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A player looks to turn with the ball past an opponent.
Session programme

Session programme: Moving with the ball and turning to attack

The FA’s Chris Brammall provides a six-week football session programme to help 7-11s improve their moving with the ball and turning skills.

This six-week programme aims to help your players:

  • decide when, where, and how to move with the ball
  • use their moving with the ball and turning skills to beat the opposition.

If you're short on time, this structured training programme can be used as it is. Pitch sizes in this programme are shown as how long the pitch is x how wide it is, but these are just suggestions.


To make the programme more effective, adapt it to suit your players, your numbers and the space you have. If you want to skip, repeat or amend these sessions – that's fine. It’s up to you how you use this resource.


If you like this idea, download the whole programme and give it a go. And don't forget to share your experience on the England Football Community. We'd love to know how you got on.


If you’re coaching U7s, please note that from the 2026-27 season, changes will be made to the formats to improve the experience young players get across the country. Check out the Future Fit digital content hub to find out more and alter training plans accordingly.

Coaching points

  • Ask players to think about how they can beat a defender using their movement or a teammate.
  • Encourage players to look around to identify where the space is, where the opposition is, and where their teammates are.
  • Encourage players to create passing angles by finding areas of space where the player on the ball can see them.
  • Ask your players to think about how they time their movement. If they move too early, the defender may follow them and mark. If they move too late, the space may disappear, and the defender can intercept.
  • Help the players understand the end zone game by relating it to positions on the pitch. Passing into a target player can represent a midfielder playing into the feet of a striker.

On the pitch: week one

Looking for more detail? Check out this video to see what it can look like on the pitch. You can also get more information about the first week of the programme here.

  • Ask players to think about how they can beat a defender using their movement or a teammate.
  • Set up a ‘tactics zone’ for double trouble. Use this space to speak to individual players about what you’ve seen and get them thinking about what they can do better next time.
  • Encourage players to use their body to protect the ball by being in between the opponent and the ball.
  • Encourage players to use their speed to move with the ball into space.
  • When near a defender, get players to think about taking smaller touches and keeping the ball close to them. When there’s space, encourage players to take bigger touches to drive into the space.

On the pitch: week two

Looking for more detail? Check out this video to see what it can look like on the pitch.

  • Ask players to think about how they can beat a defender using their movement or a teammate.
  • When near a defender, get players to think about taking smaller touches and keeping the ball close to them. When there’s space, encourage players to take bigger touches to drive into the space.
  • Before receiving, encourage your players to adopt an open body shape to allow them to turn and play forward if they have space.
  • Ask players to think about how they can use clever, disguised movements to lose a defender. They might move away from the ball to create space for them to drop into, or move towards the ball to create space in behind for them to spin into.

On the pitch: week three

Looking for more detail? Check out this video to see what it can look like on the pitch.

  • Remind players to scan before, during, and after receiving the ball, so they know where and when to move and turn.
  • Give players some examples of turns they could use to escape interference, such as a ‘Cruyff’ turn, outside hook, or drag-back. Encourage them to use different types of turns when they’re on the ball.
  • Coordination skills are key in the arrival activity. Ask players to think about their turns as they’re throwing or retrieving their bibs.
  • Ensure players understand the importance of keeping the ball close to their body when they receive and turn. A tight turning circle helps when facing opposition or interference.

On the pitch: week four

Looking for more detail? Check out this video to see what it can look like on the pitch.

  • Remind players to scan before, during, and after receiving the ball, so they know where and when to move and turn.
  • Support players to understand how a change in direction and speed can help them beat defenders and progress forward.
  • Encourage players to use feints and body movement to disguise their intentions when moving with the ball.
  • Ask players to think about when they can move forward with the ball, or when they may have to turn and use support players to play away from pressure.

On the pitch: week five

Looking for more detail? Check out this video to see what it can look like on the pitch.

  • Remind players to scan before, during, and after receiving the ball to recognise and exploit the space around them and notice where their teammates are.
  • Ensure your players think about their body shape when they’re receiving the ball. An open body shape encourages moving forwards with the ball to attack opponents.
  • Ask your players to try and anticipate the turns and movements of their teammates. This allows them to position themselves in between the defender when the ball eventually makes its way towards them.