Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Possession Activities

4v4v4 Switching Play

Organisation: 

• 12 players - 3 teams of 4 players
• 2 teams are attacking (keeping possession) and the other (yellow in this case) is defending
• Coach starts play by passing into either end team. They look to make 5 passes (depending on age/ability) before switching play to the other attacking team.
• 2 yellow defenders press and attempt to win the ball back, the other 2 remain in the central area as blockers. These blockers become defenders once a switch of play is made.
• If yellows regain possession, they look to score in any of the mini-goals.
• Rotate every 2-3 minutes.

Modify: 

• Increase/decrease number of passes required to switch play
• Central 2 defenders cannot block through passes (lower age/ability)

• Quality Passing - Weight, Timing, Accuracy
• Play with head up - scan
• Movement from teammates
• Angles/Distance of Support
• Communication

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd/3rd player covers/gives balance
• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker
• Show wide/away from goal

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?
• How can we create space near the opponent's goal?

3v3-3v2

Organisation: 

• 9 players - 3 teams of 3 players
• 2 teams are attacking (keeping possession) and the other (blue in this case) is defending
• Coach starts play by passing into one of the attacking teams.
• Attacking team look to make 10 passes to score 1 goal.
• If defending team regain possession, they look to score in any of the mini-goals.
• Rotate roles every 2-3 minutes.

Modify: 

• Increase/decrease number of passes required to score.
  
• Instead of scoring, the defending team become at attacking team, with the team who lost possession now becoming the defending team.
• Instead of scoring in mini-goals, defending team look to make # of passes to score on regaining possession. 

• Quality Passing - Weight, Timing, Accuracy
• Play with head up - scan
• Body shape - open
• Movement from teammates
• Angles/Distance of Support
• Communication

• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker
• Show wide/away from goal
• Block passing lanes
• Compact

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Who should press and why?
• What are the other defenders doing?

4v4 Possession Game

Organisation:

• 8 players - 4v2 at any given time. 2 players of each team play inside & outside the grid as shown.
• The team in possession looks to make 5 passes to score a point.
• If the blue defender wins possession they look to play to an outside teammate and it becomes 4v2 to the blue team.

Modify:

• Defending team must win the ball back and score in a mini-goal before it is their turn to attack.

Attacking KP's:

• Quality Passing - Weight, Timing, Accuracy
• Play with head up - scan
• Movement from teammates
• Angles/Distance of Support
• Communication

Defending KP's: 

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd/3rd player covers/gives balance
• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker
• Show wide/away from goal

Transition KP's: 

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

Questions: 

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?

La Fiesta

Organisation:

• 12 players - 4v4+4 
• 2 possession games take place simultaneously.
• In the image, the blue A's are trying to move the ball from left to right. The blue B's are trying to move the ball from bottom to top. 
• Attacking teams score 1 point every time they play to a target player.
• If the defending team win the ball back, they become the attacking team.

Attacking KP's:

• Quality Passing - Weight, Timing, Accuracy
• Play with head up - scan
• Movement from teammates
• Angles/Distance of Support
• Communication

Defending KP's: 

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd/3rd player
• Angles of pressure
• Be compact
• Patience

Transition KP's: 

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

Questions: 

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Where is the space on the field?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?

Switching Play Game

Organisation: 

• Two neutral players are positioned at either side of the main playing zone.
• Neutral players will work with the team in possession. 
• All players are restricted to their zones.
• The team in possession will attack the main goal in an attempt to score. 
• The team defending will attempt to win possession and score in any of the three target goals in order to reverse team roles.

• Quality Passing - Weight, Timing, Accuracy
• Play with head up - scan
• Movement from teammates
• Angles/Distance of Support
• Communication

• Nearest player presses
• 2nd/3rd player covers/gives balance
• 'High to low' & 'Fast to slow' on approach to the attacker
• Show wide/away from goal
• Compact centrally

• Quick reaction to transition
• Can we pass forward/score quickly (attack)
• Can we regroup quickly (defence)

• How can you create space for your teammate on the ball?
• What sort of movement or run can you make?
• Which defender should press first and why?
• What is the other defender doing?
• How can we create space near the opponent's goal?