Gafferbook
Possession ยท U10 to adult

End-to-end possession (target players)

Two teams keep the ball and try to play it from a target player at one end to the target at the other. Possession with a purpose: keep it, then go forward when it's on.

U10 to adultAges
10 to 16Players
35 x 25 mArea
15 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • A target player on each end line; two teams in the middle (e.g. 4v4).
  • Ball starts with one target.

Equipment: Cones, bibs, balls

How it works

  1. Team in possession plays from one target to the other for a point.
  2. Target who receives plays back in to the same team, who now attack the opposite way.
  3. Defenders win it and do the same.

Coaching points

  • Width and depth: make the pitch big.
  • Play forward when you can, keep it when you can't.
  • Receive half-turned to see the far target.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Add a neutral who plays for the team with the ball

Make it harder

  • Two-touch limit
  • Targets can only play one-touch

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

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More possession drills

Possession with neutrals (4v4+2)

Two teams of four play keep-ball with two neutral players who always help the team in possession, so it's always 6v4.

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Three-team possession

Two teams keep the ball together against the third. The team that loses it becomes the defenders. Intense, constant transitions and lots of overloads.

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Keep-ball with overloads (5v2 to 5v5)

Start with a big overload so players taste success, then add defenders every few minutes until it's even. A simple progression that builds possession under growing pressure.

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Possession to score through gates

Teams score by passing through a gate to a teammate on the other side. With gates everywhere, players learn to switch play and find the free option.

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Possession with wall (bounce) players

A 3v3 or 4v4 in the middle with bounce players on each side who play for whoever has the ball. Teaches using support players, quick combinations and switching.

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10-pass game

Teams score a point for every 10 consecutive passes. The simplest possession game, and a brilliant way to teach spreading out and moving to receive.

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