Building Up Possession in a

Fluid Playing Style

Category: Soccer Training Programs
Hits: 1983

Number of players: 18+2

Duration: 90 min
Comment: This soccer training program focuses on innervating changing positions
during possession and developing combinative play in a fluid playing style.

Warm Up
Description: Players perform athletic movements, different passing exercises in pairs
and stretching to prepare for the training's main part.
Duration: 15 min

Exercise 1:

Pass and Move / Break Up and Rebuild

Goal: This soccer drill helps 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
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.

Group of three's basic formation.

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

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.

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

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 - 6
Time: 5 - 15 min

Intensity: 40-70 %

Equipment

Small Cones: 17 - 22

Exercise 2:

Innervating Changing Positions in

Possession /Barca Style/ 4
Goal: This soccer passing drill emphasises innervating changing positions in possession
and developing passing-receiving skills. The passing exercise also focuses on
cooperation, developing cognitive abilities, movements off the ball and endurance. This
complex soccer passing drill helps to build up a short passing style of the team and
innervate a fluid playing style.

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.

Set Up

Innervating Changing Positions in Possession /Barca Style/ 4: 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.

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 movemenst 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 - 8

Equipment

Small Cones: 4

Exercise 3:

3v2 Shape Construction and

Destruction to Maintain Possession
Goal: 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.

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
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.

3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game

3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game Player B changes grid after passing the ball. Player A
reconctructs the shape destructed by Player B.

3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game To be able to maintain the possession players always
have to create triangles.

3v2 Small Sided Soccer Game

Coaching Points
To be able to perform 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 its 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

Area: 12x12 m
Time: 10 - 20 min
Intensity: 50-90 %

Equipment

Small Cones: 9
Vests: 5
Balls: 1

Exercise 4:

Maintaining Possession with the

Midfielders
Goal: This soccer drill helps to develop maintaining possession with a fluid role of the
midfielders. This soccer game also focuses on practising cooperation of players while
possession and helps to teach the defending role and building fast breaks after an
interception.

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
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.

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

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/.

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

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

Changing the sides when it is possible.

When the defending team win 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
Area: 45x45 m
Time: 15 - 25 min
Intensity: 60-90 %

Equipment

Small Cones: 9
Vests: 8

Cool Down
Description: Light jogging and collecting equipment.
Duration: 5 min