Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session 9 - Possession Under Pressure

Warm Up (15 mins)

Warm Up

Duration - 16 minutes

Area needed - centre circle

Objective:  To prepare the players for a technical possession based session using relevant football actions and dynamic stretching

Method:

• 2 x Goalkeepers work with GK coach to undertake GK specific warm up
• Outfield players split into 2 teams of 8 - 6 players from each team spread around centre circle, 2 players from each team start inside with balls
• Warm up starts with players passing to their teammates on the outside and following pass to take up outside player's position.
• Outside player receiving the ball dribbles into centre circle and picking a pass to another outside teammate.

Coaching Points:

• Progress players through different movements/football actions
• Introduce dynamic stretching breaks
• Increase tempo in stages
• Finish warm up with high intensity, limited touches 2 v 2 + 6 possession bursts - 90 second rounds with active recovery

10 v 8 possession vs pressure (20 mins)

Game: 10 v 8 set up with focus on ball retention

Duration: 20 minutes 

Area Needed: One third of pitch

Objective: To improve our ball retention when under pressure

Method:

• 10  v 8 match
• Overload in favour of possession (Red) team, who have both GKs on their team
• Red Team try to keep possession
• Blue Team try to win ball and score in either goal

Orientation:

• Game starts through GK each time
• Blues stay behind line of engagement until first pass is played so control can be established within the drill

Coaching Points:

• Move ball quickly
• Create angles for passes
• Make the pitch as big as possible
• Use GK to switch direction of possession
• Transition to defend when possession lost



Progressions:

• Limit touches to increase tempo
• Award points to possession team for completing a set number of passes
• Change a player from the Blue Team into a neutral player, playing with whoever is in possession