Small-sided game: 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. Divide the playing area into two halves, with two goals.

HOW TO PLAY

Play a normal game, but each team has a designated half - their ‘home stadium’. When a team scores, all players (including GKs) go into that team’s home stadium, each player on the scoring team gets a ball. They have one minute to keep their ball within their stadium, while opposition players try to win the balls and take them to their own home stadium. If the scoring team has more balls in their stadium at the end of the minute, the goal stands. If not, the goal is discounted. Normal play continues until the next goal.

Adaptations: To reduce the challenge, allow the scoring team’s GK to start without a ball as a passing option for other players.

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.