Practice: Individual possession

WHY USE IT

This practice encourages young players to stay on the ball, developing confidence in possession, and the technical and physical ability to both retain possession and escape into space, or use the ball.

SET UP

Set up an area relative to the age and ability of your players. Put players in pairs, with a ball between them.

HOW TO PLAY

Pairs aim to keep their ball but also try to win another and maintain possession of both. This gives players chances to develop decision-making skills for when to pass and when to keep the ball. Stronger players get a greater challenge, as if they have possession of two balls, there is no longer a passing option.

Progressions: Incorporate end zones. Pairs can score by dribbling into the end zone, but can’t score consecutively in the same end zone.

Adaptations: Make it less challenging by having groups of three, rather than pairs; or more challenging by pairs losing a point if they pass.

COACHING POINTS

• ‘Hide, manoeuvre and reveal’ the ball, when holding off a defender, before escaping into space
• Use furthest foot from the defender to move the ball
• Use arm and body to protect the ball.
• Maintain possession for as long as possible, as likely that team-mate may be under pressure from other defenders