Three weeks ago I volunteered to coach and manage U13 boys football team.
Last year they had very sporadic coaching which involved 1 ball and the coach
saying "go and have a kick about".

The school I work at is in the inner city of London and our playing fields
consist of one indoor hall and one 4 a side outdoor pitch. Between my squad
of twenty players only three own a football. All of them live in flats
without gardens or yards to kick a football about in even if they had one.

Last season, they lost every game. I don't want it to be the same this year.

At present, we train twice a week. One morning before school on an Astroturf
pitch which has goalposts, and one session after school in a local park that
has the markings for a pitch but no posts.

The equipment I have is a dozen balls, sixteen small cones, and some bibs.
Although some of the players already posses ball skills, their level of
fitness, team play awareness and self discipline is almost non-existent.

So far, I've worked hard to build respect between myself and them, to try and
maintain focus and motivation in training sessions. This is starting to reap
its rewards as the players arrive ready to work.

But how do I build team spirit? What can I get them to do regarding football
skills without a football? What fitness training would be suitable for boys
of this age?

If anything you know might help our team, please reply.

I've coached different sports before mostly Field and Ice-Hockey, but
football was my first love as a child, so I can play a bit myself. I've read
and filed all the coaching tips that are on the board today.

Many thanks.