U11/12 Brackets

🏟️

What a U11/U12 Game Looks Like

U11/U12 is the final step before full 11v11 soccer. Nine players a side on a significantly larger field — and for the first time, goalkeepers can punt, players can slide tackle, and the game looks and feels remarkably close to what adults play on weekends.

⚽ U11/U12 Game Specs — CYSA Rules

Format

9 v 9

Roster Max

14 players

Goalkeeper

Yes ✓

Game Time

2 x 30 min

Field Size

45–55W × 70–80L yds

Ball Size

Size 4

Goal Size

7 x 21 ft

Offside

Full — entire field

Heading

Not allowed (CYSA)

Slide Tackling

Allowed ✓

GK Punts

Allowed ✓

Free Kicks

Direct & Indirect

⏱️ Longer games at U11/U12: Games are two 30-minute halves — five minutes longer per half than U9/U10. For coaches, that means more time to observe and coach during the game, but also longer periods without a natural break. Plan your substitutions intentionally — don't wait until halftime if a player needs a rest. For parents, this is a great time to grab a snack and settle in.

🥅 GK Can Now Punt

Goalkeepers can punt or drop-kick the ball from their hands for the first time. This is a big change from U9/U10 — the ball can now fly 40–50 yards instantly. It opens up new attacking options but also new responsibilities for the GK.

🦵 Slide Tackling Allowed

Legal slide tackles can be used to win the ball — but they must be from the side, reach the ball first, and not endanger the opponent. Reckless slides are still fouls. This rule requires clear coaching before the first game.

⚖️ Full Offside Rule

Unlike U9/U10, offside applies across the entire field from the halfway line. There is no build-out line at U11/U12 — the halfway line is the reference point for everything. Players must be level with or behind the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them.

🟡 Yellow & Red Cards

Cards continue from U9/U10. Yellow = official caution, stays on the player's record. Red = ejection; the team plays with 8 players for the rest of the game. Unsporting behavior, dangerous play, and deliberate fouls are the most common causes.

⚠️ No heading at U11/U12 — this is a CYSA rule. Even though U11/U12 players are old enough to head a ball, CYSA prohibits heading for players U12 and below. If a player intentionally heads the ball during a game, the referee restarts play with an indirect free kick for the other team. Do not practice or encourage heading at this age. This rule protects developing brains from repeated impact.

ℹ️ U11 and U12 play together on Kalama teams. Some seasons the roster may include a mix of ages. The rules and format are the same for both — and experienced U12 players can be a great resource for newer U11s who are adjusting to the larger field and new rules.

📋 CYSA Official Rules 📄 U12 Practice Session Plans

🆕

What's New at U11/U12

Coming up from U9/U10, four significant changes kick in. These make the game feel noticeably different — both for players and for coaches on the sideline.

NEW THIS YEAR 🥅 GK Punts

NEW THIS YEAR 🦵 Slide Tackling

NEW THIS YEAR 👥 9v9 Format

NEW THIS YEAR ⚖️ Full Offside

NEW THIS YEAR 📏 Bigger Field

From 7v7 to 9v9

Adding two more players per side creates a lot more ground to cover. Positional discipline becomes much more important — a 9v9 team that all chases the ball leaves massive open space behind them. This is the year to make positions stick.

The Field Gets Much Bigger

The 9v9 field can be up to 80 yards long — nearly twice the length of a U8 field. Players will be much more tired than they expect. Substitutions become a real tactical and physical necessity, not just a courtesy.

GK Punts Change Everything

A goalkeeper who can punt instantly changes the attacking rhythm of the team. Forwards need to be aware of long punts that travel deep into the opponent's half. Defenders need to know what to do when a punt drops near them.

Full Offside — No Build-Out Line

At U9/U10, offside only applied beyond the build-out line. At U11/U12, there is no build-out line — offside applies anywhere on the field from the halfway line. Forwards who drift past the halfway line waiting for a ball need to time their runs carefully.

⚖️

Offside & GK Distribution

Two of the biggest changes from U9/U10 — and the two things coaches most often get wrong in the first game of the season.

⚖️ Offside at U11/U12 — No Build-Out Line

At U11/U12, there is no build-out line. The build-out line was a training-wheels rule for younger ages — it's gone now. Offside applies across the entire field, with the halfway line as the reference for attackers.

A player is offside if, at the moment the ball is played forward to them, they are:

In the opponent's half of the field (past the halfway line), AND
Closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball AND the second-to-last defender

What's changed from U9/U10: At U9/U10, players couldn't be offside in their own half. At U11/U12, they can — technically. In practice, the halfway line is the key boundary. Forwards who hang past the halfway line waiting for a long ball need to time their run carefully.

Coaching tip: "Wait for the ball, then go." Teach forwards to stay level with the second-to-last defender until the pass is actually played. Early runners get flagged every time.

🥅 GK Distribution — Punts Are Now Allowed

At U11/U12, the goalkeeper can punt or drop-kick for the first time. There is no retreat rule when the GK has the ball — opponents can press immediately. The GK needs to be decisive.

Roll or throw to a nearby defender — best choice when defenders have space
Throw to a winger or midfielder — good when pressure is moderate
Kick it long over the pressure — best when defenders are closed down and space is behind the opponent's defense

Coaching tip: "Look before you punt." The GK who scans the field before releasing the ball is worth more than one who just boots it long every time. A well-placed throw to an open winger is often more dangerous than a punt into traffic.

🦵

Slide Tackling — The New Rule Coaches Must Teach

Slide tackling is introduced at U11/U12 — and it's the rule that requires the most pre-game coaching. Players who come up from U9/U10 will sometimes attempt slides instinctively, not understanding the difference between a legal and illegal slide. Teach this before the first game of the season.

🦵 What Makes a Slide Tackle Legal

Approach from the side — not from behind the player

Make contact with the ball first, not the player's leg

Only one foot extended — the other is on the ground

The slide is controlled — not out of desperation

NOT legal: sliding in from directly behind the opponent

NOT legal: two-footed tackle (both feet off the ground)

NOT legal: making contact with the player before the ball

NOT legal: tackle that endangers the opponent, even if the ball is won

Simple rule of thumb for players: "If you can run alongside them and poke the ball away with your foot, do that first. Save the slide for when that's not an option — and when you do slide, go for the ball, not the player." Reckless slides are dangerous and will earn a yellow or red card, even at U11/U12. The referee's job is to protect both players.

ℹ️ For coaches — teach this in the first practice of the season. Run a simple drill: one player dribbles, the other tries a controlled side tackle from a safe angle. Practice 10 times slowly before any full-speed attempts. Players who understand the rule will use it well. Players who haven't been taught it will slide dangerously out of instinct.

📍

Positions & Formations for 9v9

9v9 is the first format where named positions and formations really matter. At U11/U12, players are ready to understand — and mostly execute — a real positional structure. The goal isn't perfection; it's giving each player a zone to own and a role they understand.

🥅

Goalkeeper

1 player · Penalty area & box

Now has the option to punt. Organizes the defense constantly. Calls for balls in the box with confidence. Communicates with defenders about where pressure is coming from.

🛡️

Defenders

3 players · Defensive third

Three at the back creates a solid defensive platform. Central defender is the anchor — reads the game, heads off danger (wait: no heading rule applies). Wide defenders track wingers. All three must hold a compact shape when defending.

⚡

Midfielders

3 players · Middle third

The engine room. Box-to-box players who defend when the team doesn't have the ball and attack when it does. Central mid is usually the most tactically aware player. Wide mids support wingers and overlap on attack.

🎯

Forwards

2 players · Attacking third

Two forwards can split wide to stretch the defense, or play closer together for combinations near goal. They press the ball when the other team has it in defense — setting the defensive tone starts at the front.

Common 9v9 formations (GK + 8 field players). Read as: Defenders – Midfielders – Forwards.

3-3-2

Most Balanced · Recommended

3 defenders, 3 midfielders, 2 forwards. Solid defensive coverage with good attacking options. The easiest formation for volunteer coaches to manage.

★ Best starting formation

4-3-1

Defensive Shape

4 defenders, 3 midfielders, 1 forward. Very solid at the back — good for teams early in the season or playing a stronger opponent. The lone forward needs to work harder up front.

Good for defensive situations

3-2-3

Attack-Minded

3 defenders, 2 midfielders, 3 forwards. More goals — but the midfield duo works extremely hard. Only sustainable if your midfielders have good stamina and positioning.

Fun for confident teams

ℹ️ Rotate players through positions. At U11/U12 it's tempting to lock your best players into their positions and leave them there all season. Don't. Every player should experience multiple positions — it builds a better understanding of the game, reduces burnout in the best players, and helps quieter players find where they thrive. Rotate every game, not just when a player asks.

🧢

Coaching Positions at U11/U12

U11/U12 players are ready for more specific positional coaching than younger age groups. Here's what's appropriate to expect from each position — and how to communicate it in a way that actually lands with 11–12 year olds.

🥅 Coaching the Goalkeeper

What they're ready to understand: When to punch vs catch a cross. When to come off the line to claim a through ball. How to distribute intelligently — choose the right restart (punt for space, throw for possession). Organize the wall on free kicks.

Key addition at U11/U12: The punt. Teach when to use it (create instant attack when the defense is exposed) versus when not to (when you have a teammate open and pressure is low).

"You have options now. Short pass to a defender, throw to a winger, or punt to skip all the pressure. Look before you decide — don't just blast it."

"If their forward is putting pressure on you, get rid of it fast. If you have time, take it — find your best option."

🛡️ Coaching Defenders

What they're ready to understand: Holding a back line. Communicating with each other — "man on," "turn," "clear it." Supporting wide players without leaving gaps centrally. The offside trap (simple version: hold your line and don't chase the ball forward).

Slide tackling: Teach defenders that a well-timed side tackle from a good angle is a powerful weapon — but only when they've practiced the technique. When in doubt, stay on your feet and force the attacker wide.

"Hold the line — if we stay connected across the back three, we're much harder to play through. Don't leave a gap."

"Communicate. Call 'man on' when your teammate doesn't know someone's behind them. That one word can save a turnover."

⚡ Coaching Midfielders

What they're ready to understand: The box-to-box role — when to get forward to support the attack, when to track back and help defend. Finding pockets of space between the lines. Switching the point of attack to the weak side when the center is crowded.

The hardest concept to teach at this age: Patience in possession. When to hold the ball, recycle it back, and wait for the right moment — rather than always trying to play forward immediately.

"If the center is crowded, switch it — look to the other side of the field. The weak side usually has space."

"You're allowed to go backward. A safe pass back to a defender is not a mistake — it resets the attack and buys time."

🎯 Coaching Forwards

What they're ready to understand: Movement to receive — don't stand still waiting for the ball. Runs in behind the defensive line. Pressing the ball when the other team's GK or defenders have it. Shooting technique: placement vs power, which corner to aim for.

Offside awareness is critical at U11/U12. The offside rule now applies everywhere, and eager forwards will get caught a lot in the first few games. Practice timing runs — "wait until the ball is played, then go."

"Run to a space, not to the ball. If you run to where the ball is, someone's already there. Run to where it will be."

"Watch your timing — wait for the ball to move before you go. If you go too early, the flag goes up."

Universal rule at U11/U12: One concept per game. Pick one positional focus for each game — "midfielders, switch the ball today" — and reinforce it every time you see it, even imperfectly. At this age, players can absorb more than U9/U10, but they still benefit from a focused coaching theme rather than constant multi-point instruction.

🌟

Season Goals for U11/U12

U11/U12 is where recreational soccer starts feeling like a real team sport. These season goals are still realistic for volunteer-coached teams — but the expectations are meaningfully higher than U9/U10.

1

Hold a Positional Shape

Defenders stay back, midfielders cover the middle, forwards press up front. Not perfectly — but consistently enough that the formation is visible from the sideline.

2

Distribute Out of the Back

The GK and defenders choose smart restarts — short pass to build, long ball to create space — rather than always clearing the ball as hard as possible.

3

Press the Ball in Defense

Forwards apply pressure when the other team's GK or defenders have the ball. Not one person chasing — a coordinated press where multiple players cut off passing lanes.

4

Switch the Point of Attack

When the center of the field is congested, players recognize the space on the far side and move the ball there. Even one or two successful switches per game is meaningful progress.

5

Understand Offside (and Stay Onside)

Players time their forward runs to avoid getting flagged. They understand why the flag went up when it does — and adjust. Offside awareness is a skill that takes the whole season to develop.

6

Play Slide Tackles Safely

Players who attempt slide tackles do so from the correct angle, going for the ball, under control. No reckless lunges. Safety and confidence with this new tool is a real development goal.

7

Have Fun & Keep Coming Back

Same as always. Tactical improvement is real at U11/U12 — but it means nothing if players aren't enjoying the game. The best thing a coach can do is keep the environment positive and make everyone feel valued.

🎯

Skills & Drills

U11/U12 practices should focus on the new skills that define this age group: safe slide tackling, GK distribution, positional shape, and set pieces. The drills below cover these areas. Each follows a Play-Practice-Play structure: free play first, focused drill, then a game.

🦵

Defending — Tackling & Pressure

Safe slide technique + 1v1 defending + defensive shape

🦵

Diagram
coming soon

1v1 Tackle Box

1v1 · 8×8 grid · 10 min · Defending focus

Two players face each other in a small grid — one dribbles, one defends. Defender must win the ball using either a standing tackle (preferred) or a controlled side slide tackle if the attacker gets past. No two-foot tackles. Attacker tries to reach the opposite end of the grid. Rotate roles every 60 seconds.

8×8 yard grids. Pairs. One ball per pair. Run drill slow-motion first: defender slides, coach checks technique (one foot extended, side approach, ball first). Then full speed.

Watch for: defenders rushing their tackle too early and going to ground when they don't need to. Standing tackles win more balls at this age than slides. Remind players: slide is the last resort, not the first tool.

U11/U12 DefendingBall Control All PlayersDefender Intermediate Technical Pairs Balls Only ⚡ High Energy ⭐⭐ Fun Factor

🛡️

Diagram
coming soon

3v3 Compact Defending

3v3 · 20×25 grid · 15 min · Defensive shape

3 defenders vs 3 attackers on a compact field with small goals at each end. Defenders score by winning the ball and dribbling through a cone gate at the opposite end. Emphasis on staying compact as a unit — when the attacker moves, the whole defensive unit shifts together. No one chases; everyone adjusts.

20W×25L grid. 2 small goals (cones). 3v3, no GK. Multiple grids if possible. Coach starts each round by serving ball to attackers.

Freeze play when defenders break their shape — show players the gap that opened. Ask: "If the attacker passes here, who's free?" Making the problem visible is more powerful than telling them what to do.

U11/U12 DefendingPassing All PlayersDefenderMidfielder Intermediate Game/Play Small Group (3–5) Goals NeededCones Only ⚡ High Energy ⭐⭐ Fun Factor

🥅

Goalkeeper — Smart Distribution

Punting, throwing, reading the field before releasing

🥅

Diagram
coming soon

GK Decision Game

GK + field players · Half field · 15 min · GK focus

GK stands in goal with a supply of balls. Four teammates spread across the half-field. Coach calls "pressure" (defenders close in) or "space" (defenders drop). GK must choose: punt long if there's pressure, throw or roll to an open player if there's space. GK gets a point for finding the open player correctly; a point is deducted for punting into pressure.

Half field. 1 goal. 4 outfield players spread out. 2–3 passive defenders. Coach has a supply of balls and calls the scenario before each restart.

The habit to build: look before catching. Before the GK catches the ball, they should already be scanning for where the pressure is coming from. Catching and then looking is too slow. Make "look before you catch" the coaching phrase for this drill.

U11/U12 GoalkeepingPassing GoalkeeperAll Players Intermediate Technical Small Group (3–5) Goals Needed Medium Energy ⭐⭐ Fun Factor

🤝

Attacking — Combinations & Shooting

Wall passes, overlapping runs, finishing under pressure

🎯

Diagram
coming soon

4v4+GK Finishing Game

4v4 + GK · 35×40 field · 20 min · Finishing focus

4 attackers vs 4 defenders + GK on a compact field. Attackers score in the full goal; defenders score in two small counter goals. Attackers must complete at least 2 passes before shooting — a rule that forces combination play and prevents individual runs and blasts. Builds patience in the attacking third and creates 2v1 opportunities organically.

35W×40L. Full goal with GK one end. Two small cone goals at other end. 4v4. Restart: defenders' GK rolls ball to attackers.

Count the passes out loud as a team: "One... two... shoot!" It makes the rule fun instead of restrictive. Ask after a goal: "What combination worked?" Make players able to describe what they did — that's real tactical learning.

U11/U12 ShootingPassingDribbling All PlayersStrikerMidfielder Intermediate Game/Play Full Team Goals NeededCones Only ⚡ High Energy ⭐⭐⭐ Fun Factor

🏃

Diagram
coming soon

Overlap & Cross

3v2 · Half field · 15 min · Winger + forward focus

Winger starts wide with the ball. Midfielder overlaps around the outside of the winger. Winger chooses: play back to the overlapping player who crosses, or cut inside for a direct shot. Two defenders try to stop them. Striker makes a timed run to meet the cross. Focus on the timing and communication between the overlapping players — calling "go" or "hold" clearly.

Half field, wide channels marked with cones. Start positions: winger near sideline at midfield, midfielder 5 yards behind. 2 passive/semi-active defenders. GK in goal. Striker starting position at top of box.

Teach the overlap call system: "Overlap!" = midfielder is going around; winger waits. "Inside!" = winger cuts inside; midfielder pulls wide. A simple verbal cue between two players is the foundation of all advanced combination play.

U11/U12 PassingShootingReceiving WingerMidfielderStriker Intermediate Technical Small Group (3–5) Goals NeededCones Only ⚡ High Energy ⭐⭐ Fun Factor

📐

Set Pieces

Corner kicks, free kicks, and throw-ins — use them as weapons

📐

Diagram
coming soon

Corner Kick Routine

7–9 players · Full goal · 15 min · Set piece focus

Two standard corner kick plays: Option A — near post flick: one runner goes near post to flick on, second runner attacks far post. Option B — short corner: ball played short to a midfielder who crosses from a different angle. Practice both plays three times each. No goalkeepers to start — let attackers practice making the run and meeting the ball. Add GK and defenders once the movement is established.

Full goal. Corner flag positions. 2 runners, 1 corner taker, 1 midfielder for Option B. Add GK and 2 defenders as the drill progresses.

At U11/U12, "near post run" + "far post run" is enough. Don't over-complicate it. The value of a set piece routine is that players know their job before the kick — confidence, not complexity, is what makes corners dangerous.

U11/U12 PassingShootingReceiving All PlayersStrikerMidfielder Intermediate Technical Small Group (3–5) Goals Needed Medium Energy ⭐⭐ Fun Factor

📄 U12 Full Season Plans (MA Youth Soccer) 📋 CYSA Rules 🎯 More Drills — Mojo Sport

Website Manager

WELCOME TO KALAMA SOCCER

WELCOME TO KALAMA SOCCER

⚽ U11 / U12
How to Play & Coach

What a U11/U12 Game Looks Like

What's New at U11/U12

Offside & GK Distribution

Slide Tackling — The New Rule Coaches Must Teach

Positions & Formations for 9v9

Coaching Positions at U11/U12

Season Goals for U11/U12

Skills & Drills

Contact

Site Links

Website Manager

WELCOME TO KALAMA SOCCER

WELCOME TO KALAMA SOCCER

⚽ U11 / U12How to Play & Coach

What a U11/U12 Game Looks Like

What's New at U11/U12

Offside & GK Distribution

Slide Tackling — The New Rule Coaches Must Teach

Positions & Formations for 9v9

Coaching Positions at U11/U12

Season Goals for U11/U12

Skills & Drills

Contact

Site Links

⚽ U11 / U12
How to Play & Coach