The short answer
There is no single ideal weekly number for every junior footballer. Age, maturity, match load, training intensity, sleep, other sports and enthusiasm all matter. The right schedule leaves a child recovering well, enjoying football and able to perform at school and at home.
Quality before quantity
A purposeful session with many meaningful ball actions can be more valuable than several low-quality sessions. Young players need time for unstructured play and recovery too.
Watch the child, not only the calendar
Parents should notice persistent soreness, declining enthusiasm, irritability, sleep disruption or falling performance. These signs justify reducing load and, where appropriate, seeking professional health advice.
- Energy and mood
- Ongoing pain or soreness
- Sleep quality
- Desire to attend
- School and family balance
Build gradually
Add training progressively and avoid sudden jumps around trials, tournaments or school holidays. At least one genuine lower-load day each week is a sensible starting principle for many families.