Training in Under-12 and Under-13 Age Groups: Building the Players of the Future (Patreon)

Inspired by the work of Rodrigo Magalhães & Luís Nascimento, SL Benfica Youth Academy

Introduction

The U12 and U13 stages mark a decisive moment in shaping young footballers. According to experts Rodrigo Magalhães and Luís Nascimento from SL Benfica, training at this age must balance the biological, psychological, and technical-tactical realities of pre-adolescence. The goal is to build versatile, skillful, and intelligent players ready to adapt to the demands of modern football.

Characteristics of Players Aged 11-13

Most players in these age groups are in the pre-pubertal period, with significant variability in biological maturity:

• Physical Development:

  • Harmonious growth in height and weight.

  • Ligaments become more stable, while bones are still lengthening.

  • Increased strength from neural and coordination improvements.

  • Excellent window for developing explosive strength and endurance.

  • Enhanced cardiovascular development, ideal for building aerobic capacity and later aerobic power.

  • Rapid development of reaction speed and movement execution.

  • High capacity for learning coordination and motor skills.

  • Good flexibility potential.

  • Strong enjoyment of movement and physical activity.

Yet biological development is not uniform. Players can differ by up to 4 years in biological maturity, leading to significant differences in strength, size, and coordination.

Some early-maturing players might already be in puberty, experiencing:

• Rapid skeletal growth, often faster than weight gain.

• Pubertal growth spurts up to 10 cm/year.

Cognitive and Psychosocial Aspects

• Good capacity for learning new information.

• Short attention spans; strong reliance on visual memory.

• Need for structured, systematic teaching to retain concepts.

• Shift from purely concrete thinking to more abstract reasoning.

Socially, players:

• Value discipline and fairness.

• Show curiosity about sexuality, often discussed freely among peers but reserved with adults.

• Are deeply influenced by peer groups rather than family.

• Seek personal affirmation, sometimes through rebellious behaviors (appearance, clothing, language).

• Admire and imitate idols, projecting themselves into these figures.

Overall Training Objectives

Training should continue multi-skill development, focusing more specifically on football fundamentals:

• Developing technical and tactical foundations.

• Promoting autonomy and decision-making.

• Shaping behaviors aligned with the team’s playing model.

Methodological Guidelines

Training in U12 and U13 should build on the methodology used in earlier stages but increase in:

• Specificity: Closer integration between the club’s playing model and all training components.

• Complexity: Exercises become more challenging, both technically and tactically.

• Repetition: Systematic practice of technical-tactical elements.

• Progression of physical demands:

  • Start with higher volume.

  • Gradually increase intensity.

Importantly, even though physical capacities are trained, they often remain secondary to technical-tactical objectiveswithin exercises.

Technical-Tactical Content

Key priorities include:

• Continuation of individual technical-tactical development, improving decision-making.

• Technical skill refinement, ensuring quality and consistency in execution.

• Deepening understanding of fundamental game principles.

• Training basic collective behaviors in attack and defense:

  • Offensive movements, creating space, combination plays.

  • Defensive movements, marking principles, compensations.

Collective complex actions at this stage should emphasize:

• Rational use of space based on simple tactical systems (e.g. 1-2-3-1, 1-3-2-1).

• Understanding basic offensive and defensive dynamics.

• Introduction of low-complexity tactical patterns and set plays.

• Teaching fundamental game methods:

  • Offensive: Organized Attack, Quick Attack, Counter-Attack.

  • Defensive: Basic Zone Defense concepts.

Above all, all tactical training should tie back to the club’s specific Game Model, ensuring consistency across age groups.

Physical Development Objectives and Contents

Coordinative Abilities

• Further refinement of general coordination:

  • Movement adaptation and transformation.

  • Motor control and motor learning.

• Special coordination abilities:

  • Differentiation, reaction, rhythm, balance, orientation, combination, anticipation.

• Integration of coordination into technical actions.

Endurance

• Development of aerobic capacity.

• Alactic anaerobic endurance.

• Specific endurance through game-based methods.

Note: Aerobic power training may begin for those entering puberty.

Speed

• Reaction speed.

• Acceleration speed.

• Movement frequency and speed.

• Execution speed (acyclic movements).

• Running technique improvements, emphasizing coordination.

Strength

• General muscular toning using age-appropriate methods.

• Development of explosive strength:

  • Focus on inter- and intra-muscular coordination.

  • Introduction of jumping exercises.

• Strength endurance via varied circuit training.

• Core strength development for spinal and abdominal muscles.

Strength work should integrate football-specific movements (e.g. shooting, jumping, changes of direction).

Flexibility

• Focus on active and dynamic flexibility.

Conclusion

The U12 and U13 stages demand precision and balance. Coaches must respect biological differences, foster technical-tactical growth, and develop physical qualities without compromising players’ health or enthusiasm. SL Benfica’s methodology underlines that the player’s long-term development remains the priority, creating footballers ready not only to perform but to think, decide, and adapt in the modern game.