Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Possesession Squares

Equipment & Layout

Equipment:

Cones = 8 Yellow - 8 Red

Bips = 5 Red - 5 Blue (This may change depending on numbers)

Goal = 1 (An additional goal may be added depending on numbers)

Balls = 10 (Coach to control and feed in to keep the tempo)

Players = 10 + goalkeeper

Set Up:

This example has been set out using 10 players, however if more players are available then set up using the full pitch with both goals and centralise the cones accordingly.

Cone areas are to be 10 yards square, if more players available then set square cone area out bigger to allow 2v1, 2v2 etc scenarios. In this example we are 1v1.

1 blue player and 1 red player in each square, including in the central area.

Possession Game

Possession Game Objectives:

1) Improve control, tempo, change of tempo / pace and switches in the direction of the game.

2) Improve the execution of crosses and controlled first touch.

3) Improve movement and angles.

4) Improve decession making

5) Improve the execution of organised, collective pressure.

6) Improve communication

How to play; one team in play (in this example blues are in control), the blue central player must work it around the four squares (in any order). Once he has complete a pass between all 4 squares the ball must then be played on the fifth pass into the shaded area.

Once the fourth pass is made the team in possession can release 2 players from any square plus the central player.

Defending team can release one player from a square plus the central player. This will create a 3 v 2 scenario. Team in possession must score and if they do it will count as 2 goals if not they are reward with 1 goal for completing the passes.

Numbers 1 - 4 are illustrating the return passes only from the players in the squares, number 5 is the pass into the shaded area.

Red arrows are showing the central player movement and on the 5th pass into the shaded area the blue active players ( 3 off as in possession) and the red defensive players (2 off).

If the defending team wins possession then they immediately take over the game and try and complete the passes.

Rotate central players and square players accordingly.

If attacking team has more than 3 players in the shaded area then defedning team becomes attackers.

Progression

Each time the central player receives a return pass from a square player then the player can leave the square to create a 2 v 1 and a 3 v 1 in the central area. Again on receiving the fourth pass from the square the player must make the fifth pass into the shaded area. 3 players from the possession side allowed in the shaded area and 2 defensive players from the opposite alllowed in to create a 3 v 2.