Gafferbook
Possession ยท U10 to adult

Possession with the keeper as sweeper

A possession game where each team's keeper plays as a sweeper behind their outfield players, using feet to recycle. Builds the modern keeper's on-ball role.

U10 to adultAges
11 to 15 with keepersPlayers
Half pitchArea
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

  • Half pitch with a goal at each end.
  • Two teams plus a keeper each.

Equipment: Goals, bibs, balls

How it works

  1. Keepers stay in their own half and can receive and pass back-passes.
  2. 8 passes = point; a goal = 2 points.
  3. Keepers can't pick up back-passes.

Coaching points

  • Keepers: open body, stay available.
  • Use the keeper to switch play.
  • Outfield: create angles for the keeper's pass.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Keepers can use hands

Make it harder

  • Keepers two-touch

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

Questions about this drill?

Free AI coaching help from Gafferbook. Ask anything about coaching your team.

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.

See the drill โ†’

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.

See the drill โ†’

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.

See the drill โ†’

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.

See the drill โ†’

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.

See the drill โ†’

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.

See the drill โ†’