Quick but careful

This training session is all about retaining possession to build. 

It begins with a passing practice which works on first touch and combinations. 

It then progresses into two possession games. The first uses neutral players to create overloads and allow a focus on controlling the possession. The second looks to turn keeping possession into creating and scoring, using an overloaded team to work on this, while also limiting the amount of counter-attacking opportunities the opposition gets. 

We end with a small-sided game in which neutral wide players play for the team in possession. The focus is on building to create and enacting quick counter-attacks, especially on transition from regains.  

“The focus is on building to create and enacting quick counter-attacks”

FIRST TOUCH AND COMBINATIONS

We begin with mannequins set up in a diamond, with a line of players at each end, and one player at each point in the middle. The player at the front of the line at each end uses the player in the middle to move the ball to the opposite end, using one or two touches as they progress up the pitch [1a].

[1a]

1. Set up in a diamond with a line of players at each end and one player at each point in the middle

2. Player at front of line uses the player in the middle to move the ball to the opposite end. Use one or two touches to move up the pitch

I’m looking for players offering support around and away from the ball, body shape, timing, awareness and execution of touch, passing and combinations. We can also work both directions equally to specifically work on both feet [1b]. We could run this with two groups of ten, with one coach working with each.

[1b]

1. Players should offer support around and away from the ball, considering body shape, timing, awareness

POSSESSION GAME 1

We set up with two teams of three, plus two neutral players who play for whoever has possession. The practice is all about controlling the possession. The neutral players have only one touch and can only combine with each other once before they must play to a player on team that has possession. Other players have unlimited touches - this is key because they need to control and run the game.

The ball will always be played into the middle zone by the coach to control practice. If one team has forced the other to lose control of possession, they will receive the ball from the coach on the side [2]. 

[2]

1. Two teams of three look to control the possession

2. Two neutral players have one touch and can only combine with each other once before playing to a player on the team in possession

Run this in short bursts of 60 to 90 seconds. The team of three that has kept ball the best stays in. The other team rotates with the neutral players to form a new team.

You can progress this by adding goals. 

“The practice is all about controlling the possession”

POSSESSION GAME 2

Set up with two teams of five plus two goalkeepers. The five red players in the middle zone are looking to retain possession initially against the three blue players on the inside. The aim is to then create and score, but also to control the amount of counter-attack opportunities they give the underloaded team. The ball will come in from a goalkeeper, and two players can drop into the end zone to build through the pitch with a 3v1 to then play into the middle zone [3a]. 

[3a]

1. The reds in the middle zone look to retain possession against the blues. If they make six passes they can look to score

If a team makes six passes in this middle zone they then have the opportunity to score in the goal at opposite end to where the ball came in from with the other goalkeeper. The team trying to score has six seconds to score once the ball enters the end zone [3b]. 

[3b]

1. The reds then look to create chance and score within six seconds once they are in the end zone

When any of the three blue players on the inside of the middle zone regain possession, they can help their team score by setting up a player in the end zone to score past the goalkeeper. One of the five players on the red team can recover in to defend in the end zone where the ball is played, and the blue team also has six seconds to score once the ball enters the end zone. The coach can also serve the ball in to the middle zone for this team to restart the practice. 

You can progress this by restricting the touches in the middle zone for the red team.

THIRDS GAME

When in possession, this is an 8v6 game – the wide players are there for the team in possession and should work off one or two touches. (You may choose to run this game without the wide players and operate just as a 6v6.) The entire game is below head height, with offsides applying in final third at both ends. The game always restarts from the end zone from the defenders (or goalkeepers if we have them), who build with a 2v1 [4a].

[4a]

1. In possession, this is an 8v6 game, with wide players there for the team in possession

2. The game starts and restarts from the end zone, with defenders building with a 2v1

“The entire game is below head height”

Teams can only score once they have played off their striker [4b]. 

[4b]

1. Teams can only score once they have played off their striker

This links to either building to create this opportunity or quick counter-attacks, especially on transition from regains. Depending on numbers, you could place an extra player in the middle zone and overload the midfield.