Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Possession and Training Activities

3 Team Poss 4 Mini Goal

3 Team Possession with 4 mini goals

Set Up 20x25 or 25x30 grid (adjust to players) 

Add 4 mini nets 2-3 yards from each corner of the grid (use flat cones in the corner so the ball doesn't skip) 

Break the players into 3 teams (if you don't have even numbers for 3 teams, you could make the extra players neutral. For ex. if you have 11 players - have 4 red, 4 blue and 3 NEUTRAL so it would always be a 7v4 and red or blue would always be the defenders - switch neutral players after 2-3 minutes). 

Teams in possession get 1 point for every 10 passes. EX. if red and blue make 10 passes before yellow wins the ball, it's a point for both red and blue. 

Defending team is trying to win the ball and score on 1 of the 4 mini goals.  **The team that gives the ball away becomes the new defending team. **

Out of bounds: the team who puts the ball out of bounds becomes the new defending team. 

X Dribbling

Create a 20x20 SQUARE and put a 2x2 square in the middle (using flat cones). In each corner there should be 2 cones to create a "gate" (color coordinate)

Players are working across the grid diagonally. The blue players will dribble diagonally at the same time and then the red players will dribble diagonally at the same time. 

 When players are dribbling diagonally, they have to make sure they dribble through the small square in the middle. To avoid collisions say players have to pass on the right side of each other within the small square. 

Before getting the players to complete moves in the middle square, do a variety of dribbling. 

- Inside of feet into the middle square and then normal dribble for the rest of the way 

- toe taps into the middle square and then normal dribble for the rest of the way

- Roll the ball into the middle square and then normal dribble for the rest of the way

- Inside L , outside R, inside L, outside R into the middle square and then normal dribble for the rest of the way

Moves to complete in the square: drop shoulder one way and go the other way and a scissor. 

Coaching Points 

- Dribbling Speed 

- How close you keep the ball to your body vs your speed and timing of move

PROGRESSION: 1v1 and 2v2 

Similar set up but pick up the middle square.  1 red player enters the grid with a ball, 1 blue player comes to defend. Red player with ball is trying to complete a pass to their teammate diagonal from them. Defender stays until they win the ball. When the defender wins the ball, they secure a pass to either one of their blue lines. The player in the blue line who receives the ball becomes the attacker and the red player who lost the ball defends. 

For 2v2, (if numbers allow) but the player who passes to the player in the gate gets replaced by the player receiving the ball in the gate. 

DO Phase of Play

Set Up - use half the field. If you have full field and big numbers, split the group in 2 and use both sides. If you have ~18 players, rotate players every 2-3 balls. 

FREE ZONE which is the shaded area - the red team (attacking team) can have the ball in that space and defenders cannot enter.

Phase of Play (Moment of the Game - Defending Organization)

Objective - Defending team regains possession and scores on 1 of the mini nets. Defending team is trying to prevent the ball from being played in between them. Force the ball outside and keep it to one side of the field. 

3v3s/4v4s

If you score, you keep the ball 

Play 3-4 rounds of 3:00-4:00 minute games 

Coaching Points: 

- Pressing the ball to force it wide (don't let them pass in between you) 

Box-Box Dribbling

Create a 25x25 square and an 8x8 square inside (lining up with the corners) 

Adjust to the size of your players 

1. Complete dynamic movements around the cone closest to your corner (shown with grey lines in picture)

 - jogging, skips (for height and distance), shuffles, butt kicks, lunges, sprints 

2. Add a ball to complete a technical warm-up 

 - Dribble around the cone with speed, right foot, left foot, inside-outside-inside-outside pattern, roll the ball with bottom of foot, turn the ball with the outside of your foot to get around the cone (outside cut), turn the ball with the inside of your foot to get around the cone (inside cut), ETC.

Progressions: Have a relay. Each player in the line needs to go twice and when you've completed it, sit down. First team to get back, wins.