Possession, progression

What this session is about

1. Keeping possession.
2. Adding purpose to possession.

What to think about

Players must have:

• Good passing technique – correct pace, accuracy, penetration, disguise, etc.
• Good receiving technique – movement to create space, first touch into space, decide what to do with the ball before it arrives, etc.
• Verbal and visual communication.
• Back-up support – correct angles, distance, etc.
• Ability to use both feet.

Set-up

What you get your players to do

Set up an area, as shown in the top picture and place four attackers on each side of one of the 10-yard squares, with a defender in the middle. Position a fifth attacker (a target player), on the end line of the adjoining square.

In the 4v1, attacking players attempt to complete six consecutive passes, without the defender intercepting it or kicking it away. If successful, they pass the ball forward to the target player. The defender then moves into the second square, while the three attackers nearest the target player reposition themselves on the perimeter of the second square to create another 4v1. The remaining attacker from the initial 4v1 doesn’t move, and becomes the new target player.

After another six consecutive passes the ball and players switch back to the original square to repeat. Attackers get a point each time they find the target man and the defender gets a point for each interception.