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JOIN NOWHow to improve possession to dictate the speed of the game?
Best way to improve junior team in possession of the ball? To dictate the speed of the game
Joe SKidmoreCoach, England
ANSWERS
Tom BeanCoach, England
Hi Joe,
The best way to get your junior team to keep possession of the ball is to keep the practices fun and enjoyable, awarding them points for keeping the ball, rather than giving them a goal to shoot in.
By taking away the goal to shoot, they will not be so set on selfish play to try and score a goal for themselves.
You can then gradually incorporate their passing and possession skills into a more game specific scenario to teach them how to dictate play in order to create space to attack in.
My favourite drill is below. It encourages the players to keep possession without focussing on purely scoring a goal, yet also teaches them about creating space to make goal scoring opportunities.
Hope this helps!
Tom
5 v 3 End Zone
DESCRIPTION
The 5 attackers must get the ball from one end zone to the other without losing possession to the defenders.Encourages use of width, depth and possession.
5 v 3 End Zone
DESCRIPTION
The 5 attackers must get the ball from one end zone to the other without losing possession to the defenders.Encourages use of width, depth and possession.
Tom BeanCoach, England
Hi Joe,
The biggest thing when teaching kids about possession is to develop their patience, rather than looking to be direct and shoot straight away.
This drill is perfect to encourage them to keep the ball and pass at the right times then to increase the speed of passing when the opportunity is there to penetrate the defence and get a shot off.
I hope this helps!
Keep Passing to Shoot
DESCRIPTION
3 teams of 6: red blue and yellow. Set up an area starting at the edge of the penalty box, 44 yards wide and about 20 yards long. 2 teams start in the area with the other team spaced evenly around the edge. Games of 6 vs 6 using the outside players as extras for whichever team has the ball: 3 minute rotation (including the players on the outside) The aim of this is for teams to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible. The players on the outside are 2 touch only. Have a goal at each end with Goalkeepers. The 2 outside players (yellow) nearest the top goal are numbered "1" and those nearest the bottom goal are numbered "2". One team attacks towards the end with the "1" players, the other towards the "2" players. Once a team in the area has had 6 consecutive passes then they can play the ball to the players "1" or "2" and then can enter the penalty area to shoot at goal. Players "1" or "2" only have 2 touches to pass to the player running in. If players aren't getting enough opportunities to take shots, due to not breaking through Defence then each team can shoot in both goals. This will create more space for both of them. 6 games, so each team plays the others twice.
Keep Passing to Shoot
DESCRIPTION
3 teams of 6: red blue and yellow. Set up an area starting at the edge of the penalty box, 44 yards wide and about 20 yards long. 2 teams start in the area with the other team spaced evenly around the edge. Games of 6 vs 6 using the outside players as extras for whichever team has the ball: 3 minute rotation (including the players on the outside) The aim of this is for teams to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible. The players on the outside are 2 touch only. Have a goal at each end with Goalkeepers. The 2 outside players (yellow) nearest the top goal are numbered "1" and those nearest the bottom goal are numbered "2". One team attacks towards the end with the "1" players, the other towards the "2" players. Once a team in the area has had 6 consecutive passes then they can play the ball to the players "1" or "2" and then can enter the penalty area to shoot at goal. Players "1" or "2" only have 2 touches to pass to the player running in. If players aren't getting enough opportunities to take shots, due to not breaking through Defence then each team can shoot in both goals. This will create more space for both of them. 6 games, so each team plays the others twice.
