Building Up Possession in a Fluid Playing Style (Free)

This soccer training program focuses on innervating changing positions during possession and developing combinative play in a fluid playing style.

Duration: 90 minutes
Published: 16.08.2012.
Last updated:
Category: Soccer Training Programs
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Warm up

Players perform athletic movements, different passing exercises in pairs and stretching to prepare for the training's main part.

Duration: 15 minutes

Exercise 1:
Pass and Move / Break Up and Rebuild

This soccer drill helps to develop players' reaction ability, soccer vision and cooperation.
This progression also aims to innervate the movements of players to build fluid possession.

Organisation

Cones are placed about 10-12 meters apart as shown to form triangles.
One or two group of three are involved in this soccer passing drill.
Teams of three are working together with one-one ball.

Description and Graphics

This soccer passing drill is played by a group of three. Players stand next to the cones creating a triangle. One of them holds the ball so that the others can create a triangle. After the first pass is made, the player who served the pass has to move from one cone to the other to break up and rebuild the triangle. The player who gets the ball must consider the movement of his teammates and pass the ball to one of them. After the pass he must also move to another cone to renew the triangle. If one movement is not enough to create the triangle, others must react and move to build up the shape.

See In Download In  Group of three's basic formation.

Group of three's basic formation.

See In Download In  Player A moves (2) to the next cone after performing the first pass. Player B reacts and rebuilds the triangle (2).

Player A moves (2) to the next cone after performing the first pass. Player B reacts and rebuilds the triangle (2).

See In Download In  Player C gets the first pass and the new triangle is created by the movements of Player A and B. Player C passes (3) the ball to Player A and moves to another cone. Player B reacts and moves to Player C's position.

Player C gets the first pass and the new triangle is created by the movements of Player A and B. Player C passes (3) the ball to Player A and moves to another cone. Player B reacts and moves to Player C's position.

See In Download In  Changes and movements can be performed by dribbling, as well.

Changes and movements can be performed by dribbling, as well.

See In Download In  The shape must be constant but the positions and directions must change continuously.

The shape must be constant but the positions and directions must change continuously.

Coaching points

Take care of the introduction. Force the players to keep their continuous movements; they should not stand next to the cones. Cones are only tools to mark the directions.

  • Keep the ball on the ground
  • Do not force the speed of this soccer passing drill but the right rhythm and weight of passes
  • Heads up from the ball
  • Receive the ball with movements, do not stop the ball
  • Create new triangles
  • Reactions of players is imperative
  • Never show your back to the ball
  • Reacting of the players to each others' movements
  • Encourage players when they miss right movements
  • Stop the play when needed and give instructions to players

Set up

Number of Players: 3
Time: 5 - 15
Intensity: 40-70 %

Equipment

  • Small Cones: 17 - 22

Exercise 2:
FC Barcelona - Changing Positions in Possession - 4

This soccer passing drill emphasizes creating automatic instinct of changing positions in possession and developing passing-receiving skills.
The tasks also focus on the cooperation, develop cognitive abilities, the movements off the ball and endurance.

Video

Organisation

Place four cones as shown.
Distances must be adequate to the age group.
There are two players in positions B and C and one player in positions A and D.
Players change positions continuously between position B - C and they change positions periodically in positions A and D.
Players start the soccer drill from position A and they perform the soccer drill with one ball.

See In Download In  Player A begins the progression. Players A and B switch after a one two pass (1,2) and Player B opens space by moving out from his position. Player A performs a sharp pass (4) to Player C who lays the ball back (5) in angle to Player B. Player C moves towards and opens space on the left side of his team-mate (Player B). A long sharp pass (6) is performed by Player B to Player D who passes the ball (7) to Player C. Player C plays (8) Player B who towards the ball (9) to Player D. Players change between B and C positions.

Player A begins the progression. Players A and B switch after a one two pass (1,2) and Player B opens space by moving out from his position. Player A performs a sharp pass (4) to Player C who lays the ball back (5) in angle to Player B. Player C moves towards and opens space on the left side of his team-mate (Player B). A long sharp pass (6) is performed by Player B to Player D who passes the ball (7) to Player C. Player C plays (8) Player B who towards the ball (9) to Player D. Players change between B and C positions.

See In Download In  Soccer passing drill continues to the other direction with the same rules.

Soccer passing drill continues to the other direction with the same rules.

Coaching points

  • Continuous movements of the players
  • Vision to be able to start the movements in the correct time and rhythm
  • Timing and correct angles of passes
  • Heads up from the ball
  • Communication
  • Changing pace with and without the ball
  • Keep the ball on the ground
  • Use both feet to pass the ball
  • Open passing channels by moving and performing passes in angles
  • Changing the server positions periodically

Set up

Number of Players: 6
Time: 10 - 20

Equipment

  • Small Cones: 4

Exercise 3:
3v2 Shape Construction and Destruction to Maintain Possession

This small sided soccer game focuses on learning and innervating continuous movements of the players to be able to maintain possession. This soccer drill also helps to develop players' passing and dribbling technique, endurance and cooperation.

Video

Organisation

Cones are used to mark an approximately 12x12 meters square which is divided into four equal squares. 5 players are involved into this 3v2 soccer drill. Three players are possessing and two defending. Changes between defenders and attackers are continuous in every break. Repetitions and the load of the game depend on the level of the players' technical skills, endurance, the age group and the supposed aim. Take care to avoid too much load and stop the play when needed.

Description and Graphics

Players in possession try to keep the ball. Attackers have to move continuously. After performing a pass players have to change the grid and with that movement he strips the shape of the triangle so other two must have to react and construct the shape with movements. Defenders' activity should be raised continuously, but it is important to begin this soccer drill by passive defending role.

See In Download In  3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game

3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game

See In Download In  Player B changes grid after passing the ball. Player A reconctructs the shape destructed by Player B.

Player B changes grid after passing the ball. Player A reconctructs the shape destructed by Player B.

See In Download In  To be able to maintain the possession players always have to create triangles.

To be able to maintain the possession players always have to create triangles.

See In Download In  3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game

3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game

Coaching points

To be able to do this small sided soccer drill successfully games should be played on an adequate area for different age groups. We always have to consider the players’ technical skills and their cognitive abilities. Besides this the quality of the pitch is also very important. If it’s necessary we can change the size of the area during the game.

  • Activity of the defenders
  • Continuous supporting movements without ball
  • Concentration
  • Destructing and constructing the shape
  • Keep the ball on the ground
  • Do not lose the ball, dribble and keep it until the teammates are constructing the triangle
  • Take care of the load and resting periods
  • Vision, heads up from the ball
  • Instruct players and correct their mistakes
  • Take care of extra balls

Set up

Number of Players: 5 - 15
Repetitions: 2 - 4
Series: 2 - 4
Time: 10 - 20
Intensity: 50-90 %

Equipment

  • Small Cones: 9
  • Bibs: 5
  • Balls: 1

Exercise 4:
Maintaining Possession with the Midfielders

This soccer drill aims to develop maintaining possession with a fluid role of the midfielders. 
The game also focuses on improving cooperation of the players while possession and helps teaching the defensive role and building fast breaks after an interception.

Video

Organisation

Players are split into two teams of eight.
The area is marked by cones and it is divided into four equal squares as shown.
One defending and one attacking (possession) team are named.
Teams change role periodically.
The goalkeeper is also involved in the exercise.

Description and Graphics

This soccer tactical game is a functional exercise to the 4-3-3 playing system. It can be played in other formations as well but the set up of the players must adopt to the chosen formation. The three midfielders act in all four squares. Full backs are responsible for one area. Wingers move in two squares on their sides. The central attacker helps in two grids to create the 5v3 situations. The players in possession have to try to perform some good passes in a square and change the grid with long passes when they are not able to keep the possession in that square.

See In Download In  Set Up of the players according to the playing system 4-3-3

Set Up of the players according to the playing system 4-3-3

See In Download In  The keeper starts the game by playing one of the full backs. To create the outnumbered 5v3 situations all of the midfielders and the winger moves to the area /RD/.

The keeper starts the game by playing one of the full backs. To create the outnumbered 5v3 situations all of the midfielders and the winger moves to the area /RD/.

See In Download In  When players change grid with a deep pass to the central attacker the winger and the midfielders go to help him keeping the possession against the three defenders.

When players change grid with a deep pass to the central attacker the winger and the midfielders go to help him keeping the possession against the three defenders.

See In Download In  While defending the three players must always be in the square where the play is actually going.

While defending the three players must always be in the square where the play is actually going.

See In Download In  Changing the sides when it is possible.

Changing the sides when it is possible.

See In Download In  When the defending team wins the ball they have to try to perform an immediate counter attack and score a goal. The players in posssession have to try to win back the ball right after losing it.

When the defending team wins the ball they have to try to perform an immediate counter attack and score a goal. The players in posssession have to try to win back the ball right after losing it.

Coaching points

This soccer drill requires the players' huge concentration and presuppose of a good quality of tactical knowledge. The size of the area must be adequate to the age-group and the technical - tactical level of the players.

  • Concentration and quick decisions to build the outnumbered situations in each areas
  • Accuracy and weight of passes are vital
  • Communication is vital
  • Keeping the ball after changing an area until team mates are able to help maintaining possession
  • Try to change zones easily, search the best opportunity to pass the ball out form the area
  • Movements of the midfielders should have to be fluid
  • After winning the ball the attackers must try to win back as soon as possible
  • After winning the ball the defenders must try to build a fast break to score a goal
  • Stop the exercise and correct mistakes when needed
  • Take care of enough resting periods

Set up

Number of Players: 16
Time: 15 - 25
Intensity: 60-90 %

Equipment

  • Small Cones: 9
  • Bibs: 8

Cool Down

Light jogging and collecting equipment.

Duration: 5 minutes

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