Half field possession

Overview

When your defenders are up against two, three, or even four strikers they need to remain cool under pressure to pass the ball out of defence. This half field game develops team possession, composure, movement off the ball and passing skills.

SET UP

• Pitch 30yds x 30yds with a half way line

See complete set up here

What you get your players to do

Start the practice by passing a ball into one of the teams.

The team in possession passes the ball around inside their own half.

Call the name of one of the opposing players (red) who immediately runs into the opposition’s half and attempts to win possession by regaining the ball or forcing the opposition to make a bad pass outside of the area.

The team in possession (white) tries to keep the ball for four passes.

If successful, you call out the name of a second red player who runs to help his team mate secure the ball.

Play continues until all four red players are inside the opposition’s half or until the ball has been won by the opposing (red) team.

If the team in possession gives the ball away or makes a mistake and passes outside the pitch, the game immediately switches to the other team’s (red) half with the player giving away possession now having to run and regain possession.

The game works continuously.

Rules

• The game is played continuously for ten minutes
• A team scores a point for each time it completes four passes. (Four passes = one point, eight passes = two points and 12 passes = three points)

Development/progression

You can make this game more difficult by reducing the number of touches each player is allowed to take on the ball (for example two touch maximum) or by reducing the size of the pitch and therefore placing more pressure on the team keeping possession.