Possession #3 "Keeping the Ball"

Purpose:

This session will focus on the ability of team to possess the ball.  Incorporated into this lesson will be key components on shape including length and width.   The session will also focus on off the ball runs which open up space and allow for possession with ease.  The fundamental principles of play will be brought up continually in these sessions as they are the continual focus of a team in possession

Equipment:

Cones, pinnies, balls.

Progression:

Unrestricted:
The session begins with Dutch Diamond passing. All focus is on the touch and keeping the ball outside the shoulder, away from the body but within one touch. Speed of play begins with first touch so the focus here is on that areas as we begin to move into possession.

Restricted:
The game is 6v6 possession. Each team has two colors so blue and green are together and red and yellow are together. They play as a team but can only pass to an opposite color. Points are scored by consecutive passes. A neutral is added on the outside for additional success if needed.

One goal with counters:
The game is the same but now the game is played across end lines and a neutral is added to the play. The additional colors are taken away and it is simply possession with two teams.

Two goals:
The game is 6v6 to goals in a 44x 60.

Coaching Points:

• Create an appropriate shape.
• Open your hips to receive across your body into space
• Show to the ball in the seam. Play the way you face.
• Knock the ball down and deal with it.
• After you play the ball run forward and vacate the space
• Find an empty space and fill it.

Activity

Setup

Dutch Diamond passing Dynamic Stretching

• Form a diamond with cones ten yards apart.
• Two balls start with players opposite each other and passes in the same direction
• Either clockwise or counter clockwise depending on the foot.
• Pass and follow your pass.

Coaching Points:

• Play using two touches.
• Receive across body with a positive touch to space.
• 1st touch dictates play, so make sure first touch is acceptable.
• Get a look before you receive.
• When going clockwise ball should be received with left and passes with left. When going counter clockwise it should be a reception with the right and a pass with the right.
• Switch directions with verbal command to keep players focused on communication.
• Call for the ball.
  

Progress to:
up-back passes focusing on Playing The Way You Face.

Passing and receiving across body. Two balls moving at one time.

Same set up. Only one progression is shown.
Up, back, thru. Pass the ball forward as before but this time the receiving player checks back to the ball, laying it off. Then he must move around the cone to receive the ball back from the original passer.

6 v 6 with four colors

• Play in a 50x44.
• Play between the 18 yard box extended to half for ease.
• Red and yellow are one team.
• Blue and green are a second team. Purple players are the neutrals.
• The game is 6v6 with two neutrals on each endline.
• Add the restriction that the neutral can be played only once until the other neutral is played.
• 5 passes =1 point. If possession is won the count starts over. The neutral players passes do not count as part of the 5.
• Progress to two touch.
• Progress to every other touch must be one touch.
  

Coaching Points:

• Play the way you face! Turn when appropriate.
• Pass and run forward.
• Receive across body into space.
• Attack space to engage the defender whenever there is space.
• Time the runs into space properly.
• Weight the pass properly
• Pass to the proper foot based on pressure.
• Reverse the field; change the point of attack.
• Use length and width to spread the defense.
  

Key coaching point:

• The use of two colors forces the players to think while in possession. Before receiving they should know where the other players on their team are and which ones they can pass to. This added dynamic changes a basic possession game into a much more challenging game that forces player to think.
  

6v6 + 1 in a 50x44

• It is a possession game with six players versus six players and one neutral playing for both teams.
• Points are scored by possession and then dribbling across the endline.
  

Coaching Points:

• All points from above.
• Keep it competitive. Losers have some sort of “reward”
• Can you keep a team shape?
• Can you find a way to possess within a tight space?
• Attack free space with the dribble then split the defense with the passs.
  

Progress to:
Passing across the line.
The game is the same but now a point is scored by passing across to the endline. Player must be receiving the ball while moving across the endline as opposed to being stationary in the scoring zone.

Progress to:
Playing to large goals.