Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Possession Theme

Warm Up

Warm up - boxes - 10-15 mins

- 4 v 4 in each group

- ball per group of 4, working on passing and moving, no standing still always on the move

- start with taking 2 touches and incorporate a short dribble

- progress to limiting touches to 2 and encourage 1 touch passing and moving

- include playing a pass then having to do side steps/skips/lunge/high knees/heel flicks once you have played your pass 

- increase tempo with encouragement and getting players to make a 70% sprint to get round a cone after each pass

- swap players around so it becomes a 6 v 2 rondo

- progress to 5v3 then 4v4

- finish up with a 3-4 minute stretch to include all dynamic stretches

Drill 1 + 2

Possession Drill - 5-10 mins

Set up 

- 4 players per group

- 2 balls per group plus spares 

- area 20 x 15 adjust if req'd

- work each pair for no more than 3 mins then rotate

Coaching Points

- whilst in possession of the ball can we make quick, accurate, good weighted passes.

- prior to receiving each pass can we scan, check and communicate with our hands and voice.

- on receipt of the pass are we light on our feet, soft knees, ready to control and pass or set our feet and pass first time.

- Scan, Check, Communicate, Control, Pass!!!

1 - touch and change direction

- end feeder starts with the ball, 2 x central players are working, with the loud communication the feeder drives a pass into the central player, player plays a bounce pass back and changes direction to receive from the opposite feeder.

2 - open body receive

- as before end player starts with the ball, 2 x central players are working, with the loud communication the feeder drives a pass into the central player. Central player receives the ball on the half turn, takes a touch and passes to the opposite feeder. Central players then quickly swap sides and repeat, this is to enforce movement off the ball, communication is key and sharp movement off the ball is to be encouraged.

Central players to work for 2-3 mins then rotate.

Game Related Practice

Game Related Practice - Transitional Possession Game - 15-20 mins

Setup

- 8 v 8 (use floater for any odd numbers)

- 25x25 square

- 1 ball in play, all the rest round the side with coaches holding extras to keep the game active as long as possible.

- 2 x players from each team at the top/bottom and left/right

- 4v4 in the middle

GRP

- idea of the GRP is to keep possession within the square creating a 8 v 4 in your favour whilst in possession.

- as the game flows, encourage positive transition of the ball from end to end

- when the defenders win possession they are to work in the opposite direction  with the emphasis on a quick transition.

Coaching Points

- when receiving from end players is body position correct, on the half turn, scan, check and communicate.

- is the tempo of play quick enough, are we using too many touches, can we limit touches to 1 and 2.

- when each pass is played are we static or is there good movement off the ball to create space for our team.

- is there voices and leadership within the team, can we be more vocal!!

Rotate the end players every 2-3 mins but only 1 side from each team at a time to vary the 4v4 in the middle

Progression

- when players are played to the end players they are to drive into the game with the player playing the pass to the outside to take their place.

- this is to encourage positive play within the game.