Under 13s & Under 14s

Physical development phase with advanced tactics, game management, and early specialisation

The Under 13s and Under 14s age group coincides with early adolescence and the beginning of significant physical development. Players are ready for more sophisticated tactical instruction, position-specific work, and game management concepts. This is the age where football begins to resemble the adult game in format (11v11) and complexity. Coaches must navigate physical development differences, maintain engagement during adolescence, and balance competitive demands with long-term development.

Development Priorities

1Physical development and strength building
2Position-specific technical skills
3Advanced tactical concepts (pressing, build-up play)
4Game management and in-game decision-making
5Mental resilience and handling pressure
6Leadership and taking responsibility
7Understanding different formations and systems

Session Structure

✓Sessions of 90 minutes standard
✓Include position-specific training blocks
✓Tactical periodisation concepts introduced
✓Video analysis for game review and learning
✓Physical conditioning integrated into ball work
✓Match preparation and opponent analysis basics

Common Mistakes

!Ignoring physical development differences between players
!Over-training physically during growth spurts
!Expecting consistency from players in adolescence
!Neglecting technical work in favour of pure tactics
!Creating excessive pressure around results
!Failing to address social and emotional changes

Suggested Drills

✓Positional-specific technical work
✓Phase play (build-up, midfield, final third)
✓Counter-attacking transition patterns
✓Defensive shape and compactness drills
✓Attacking patterns against set defences
✓Pressing and counter-pressing organisation

Ask FootballGPT

“How do I manage different physical development stages?”

“What formations should Under 13s and 14s play?”

“How do I balance winning with development?”

“When should position specialisation begin?”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I handle physical development differences at this age?

Accept that players develop at different rates. Support late developers with encouragement, focus on technical quality over physicality, and avoid dropping technically good players simply because they are smaller. Physical maturity will equalise over the next few years.

What tactical concepts are appropriate for Under 13s and 14s?

Players can understand sophisticated tactics including pressing triggers, positional rotations, build-up patterns, and defensive organisation. Introduce concepts progressively, use video analysis, and allow players to problem-solve rather than spoon-feeding solutions.

Should I specialise players in positions now?

You can begin meaningful specialisation, but retain some flexibility. Allow players to develop position-specific skills whilst occasionally experiencing other roles. Late developers may still surprise you, so avoid completely closing doors.

How important are results at this age?

Results matter more to players and parents now, but development remains the priority. Use competition to teach game management, handling pressure, and resilience. Winning is a byproduct of good coaching, not the primary objective.

How do I keep adolescents engaged and motivated?

Involve players in decision-making, provide clear rationale for training activities, offer position-specific challenges, and foster team culture. Adolescents respond to being treated with respect and given autonomy within structure.

Related Age Groups

🏃Under 11s & Under 12s 🎯Under 15s & Under 16s 🔥Under 17s & Under 18s

Expert Advisors

🎓

Academy Mind

Academy pathway U13-U18

🏆

The Pro's Pro

Professional/elite coaching

📈

Youth Rising

Academy pathway for teenagers

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