Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Possession

Possession (all types)

2 Teams 1 Area:

This is the most basic form of a possession drill.

Variations:

• 1, 2 or even 3 bouncers so as to make it easier in possession.
• Objective to just keep possession of the ball
• Objective to make a certain number of passes before being able to progress the play (attack another area or score into a goal)

3 Teams 3 Areas:

These are your transfer type games. One team is central and they are the defending team, with the other two in the outside areas keeping possession and trying to transfer the ball across to the other side.

Variations:

• Defending team rotates when they win the ball
• Defending team rotates when they win the ball and transfer it to the other side
• defending team defends for a certain amount of time and counts how many times they win possession
• Defending team can intercept the ball as it is being transferred from one side to the other
• Defending team can’t intercept the ball as it is being transferred from one side to the other

2 Teams 2 Areas:

This is where 2 teams have their separate areas for keeping possession of the ball

Variations:

• Number of players that can go in to win the ball can be varied depending on the players ability and your purpose
• Number of defenders allowed in can gradually increase with number of passes (for example, 1 defender in up until 5 passes, 2 defenders in up until 10 passes, 3 defenders in up until 15 passes etc.,)
• Defending team must just win the ball or kick it out
• Defending team must transfer the ball back to their side
• Objective is a certain number of passes
• Objective to make a certain number of passes before being able to progress the play (attack another area or score into a goal)

Rondos:

Rondos are basically possession with the attacking players on the outside and the defenders on the inside

Variations:

• shape of the area (circular or square)
• Size of the area
• Attackers inside the area, on the borders or outside the area
• Number of defenders
• Objective is a certain number of passes
• Objective is the hit a central target (split the defenders)
• Objective to make a certain number of passes before being able to progress the play (attack another area or score into a goal)

3 Teams 1 Area:

This is the most complex form of a possession drill and should be used with caution. It can cause a lot of confusion and caos so plan for this by making clear and simple rules.

The basic format is that two teams are keeping possession while the third team tries to win possession. So for example, if you had 3 teams of 4, in possession it would be 8 attacking players (4 players from 2 teams) trying to keep possession off 4 players (the 4 players from the 3rd team).

Vartiations:

• defending team allocated by coach for a time limit
• Defending team allocated by ‘the team who last lost the ball’
• Objective is a certain number of passes
• Objective to make a certain number of passes before being able to progress the play (attack another area or score into a goal)

Note: For kids in particular, it is best practice for the coach to allocate a defending team for a time limit, instead of the players having to remember which team lost the ball.

Coaching Points:

• Movement off the ball

• Change the point of attack (where is the space)

• Draw a defender to play around them or through them