WORLD CLASS COACHING
40 Possession Exercises
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART FOUR
Possession Exercises 3
Possession Exercises 3
Exercise 28 (make a pass and move): 5 v 5 - run forward to create numerical advantage
Set-up and sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 3 areas. 2 v 1 duels (defense with numerical advantage) are played inside the outer areas and a 2 v 2 duel is played in the middle third. The goal for possession team is to build up and to create 3 v 2 duels inside the middle third and the final third to finish. 2 v 2 and 1 v 1 duels are then played in the middle and first third during the final stage of the move. If the defending team wins the ball, the counter attacks must be played the same way and the players who lost the possession must run back toward their starting positions.
Coaching points: support the move running forward, create numerical advantage, run without the ball to finish.
Exercise 29 (make a pass and move): 5 v 5 - run forward and wide
Set-up and sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space. 6 wide squares are marked and numbered on each flank (1 - 2 - 3). The possession team must keep the ball, playing to attack and to defend a mini-goal: a forward run inside a wide square to complete a triangle combination or to receive as third man, must follow every pass. Every 2 complete passes and movements, a finish attempt is possible. The defenders can choose to play 1 v 1 or to close the passing lanes; if they win the possession, they must counter attack the same way.
Coaching points: support the move running wide and forward, be placed on different lines, run without the ball to finish, space coverage.
Exercise 30 (make a pass and move): 5 v 5 - run forward and wide
Set-up and sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space. 3 squares are marked along the center channel of the set-up. The possession team must keep the ball, playing to attack and to defend a mini-goal: a forward run inside a center square to complete a triangle combination or to receive as third man, must follow every pass. Every 2 complete passes and movements, a finish attempt is possible. The defenders can choose to play 1 v 1 or to close the center passing lanes; if they win the possession, they must counter attack the same way.
Coaching points: support the move running from the flank toward the center, be placed on different lines, run without the ball to finish, space coverage.
Exercise 31 (receive the ball across your body into space): 3 v 3 + 1
Set-up and sequence: a 3 v 3 duel is played inside a rectangular space and 4 goals that are turned toward the center, are placed in the middle. The red free player has finishing tasks after a passing combination of the possession team. When 2 of the 3 players have touched the ball, switching the side from a corner to another, the free player must run inside the goal space, without pressure, receiving across his body to shot toward the mini-goal in front of him. The defenders must try to recover the possession through 1 v 1 duels.
Coaching points: timing of support runs, switch the side as soon as possible, 1 v 1 defending duels.
Exercise 32 (receive the ball across your body into space): 4 v 4
Set-up and sequence: this exercise is a variation of the previous one. A 4 v 4 duel is played inside a rectangular space and 4 goals that are turned toward the center, are placed in the middle. When 2 of 3 players have touched the ball, switching the side from a corner to another, a third teammate must run inside the goal space, under the pressure of an opponents, receiving across his body to shot toward the mini-goal in front of him. The defenders must try to recover the possession through 1 v 1 duels, if they recover the possession, they must play the same way.
Coaching points: timing of support runs, switch the side as soon as possible, 1 v 1 defending duels.
Exercise 33 (receive the ball across your body into space): 3 v 3
Set-up and sequence: a 3 v 3 duel is played inside a center rectangular set-up and 8 goals that are turned toward the center, are placed on the corners of a larger rectangular space. When 2 of 3 players have touched the ball, a third teammate must run outside the middle space, under the pressure of an opponents, receiving across his body to shot toward the mini-goal in front of him and his run direction. The defenders must try to recover the possession through 1 v 1 duels or tracking the third man of the possession team; if they recover the possession, they must play the same way.
Coaching points: timing of support runs, 3rd man runs timing, 1 v 1 defending duels.
Exercise 34 (receive the ball across your body into space): 5 v 5
Set-up and sequence: this exercise is a variation of the previous one. A 3 v 3 duel is played inside a center rectangular set-up and 8 goals that are turned toward the center, are placed on the corners of a larger rectangular space. Each team attacks 4 goals and defends the other 4 thanks to 2 defenders who are placed in front of them. When 2 of 3 players of the possession team in the middle have touched the ball, a third teammate must run outside the middle space, under the pressure of an opponents, receiving across his body to shot toward the mini-goal in front of him and his run direction, before the second defender can counter him. The defenders must try to recover the possession through 1 v 1 duels, tracking the third man of the possession team or through the numerical advantage (2 v 1) in front of the goal; if they recover the possession, they must play the same way, counter attacking toward the opposite side.
Coaching points: timing of support runs, 3rd man runs timing, 1 v 1 defending duels, doubling the mark.
Exercise 35 (receive the ball across your body into space): 5 v 5
Set-up and sequence: a 5 v 5 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 3 areas. 3 v 2 duels are played inside the outer areas. 2 goals are placed along the sidelines of the middle area. The direction of play is vertical while building up the moves to send the ball to the forwards, and it becomes horizontal to finish; as the first forward receives, the second one must cut in front of him to receive across his body and to finish toward the easiest mini-goal. The defending team must try to close the passing lanes if outnumbered 2 v 3 and must put pressure when in numerical advantage 3 v 2. If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way.
Coaching points: support the move through cutting runs, quick finishing if outnumbered, run without the ball to finish, closure of passing lanes and pressure to recover the possession.
Exercise 36 (speed of play): 2 v 2 (+2)
Set-up and sequence: a 2 v 2 (2) duel is played inside a rectangular space. The possession team must finish within 8" after the first ball touch. Scoring worth double if the move is finished through a third man run and if both the red free players have touched the ball. If the defenders win the ball, after a pressure action or a closure of passing lane, they must finish within the same limit of time.
Coaching points: speed of play, finish with the fewest number of touches possible, escape the marker, exploit the numerical advantage.
Exercise 37 (speed of play): double 2 v 1
Set-up and sequence: a double 2 v 1 duel is played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 parts. The possession team must overcome the first 2 v 1 duel with the aim of building up within 4", after the first ball touch and the move must be finished again within 4", as the middle line is overcome. If the defenders win the ball, they can score directly or wait for the other teammate to create a 2 v 2 duel that must be won within 8".
Coaching points: speed of play, finish with the fewest number of touches possible, combine quickly, support play if the defenders win the ball.
Exercise 38 (speed of play):
Set-up and sequence: a 3 v 3 and a 2 v 2 duels are played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 parts. The possession team must overcome the first 3 v 3 duel with the aim of building up within 8" after the first ball touch and the move must be finished within 6", as the middle line is overcome, winning the 2 v 2 duel. If the defenders win the ball inside the lower area, they must score within 8"; if the defenders of the 2 v 2 duel win the possession, a 5 v 5 duel is created to shot toward the opposite goal within 14".
Coaching points: speed of play, finish with the fewest number of touches possible, combine quickly, support play if the defenders win the ball.
Exercise 39 (speed of play): 3 v 3 and 2 v 3 duel
Set-up and sequence: a 3 v 3 and a 2 v 2 (then 2 v 3) duels are played inside a rectangular space that is divided into 2 parts. The possession team must overcome the first 3 v 3 duel with the aim of building up within 8" after the first ball touch and the move must be finished within 4" as the middle line is overcome, winning the 2 v 2 duel that becomes a 2 v 3 duels thanks to a third forward, who supports the finishing phase. If the defenders win the ball inside the lower area, they must score within 8"; if the defenders of the 2 v 3 duel win the possession, a 5 v 5 duel is created to shot toward the opposite goal within 12".
Coaching points: speed of play, finish with the fewest number of touches possible, combine quickly, support play if the defenders win the ball.
Exercise 40 (speed of play):
Set-up and sequence: 1 goalkeeper and 4 defenders against 4 black attackers are placed inside an area 5 yards longer than the penalty area. A 2 v 2 duel is played inside a middle 10 yards area, acting as midfielders for both the teams. The goalkeeper passes the ball toward one of the attacking midfielders to build up and overcome the opposition pressure within 6". As the ball is played inside the finishing area, the attacking phase must be finished within 6". If the defenders win the ball a general 6 + gk v 6 duel is played to dribble over the last end line of the set up within 12".
Coaching points: speed of play, build up with the fewest number of touches possible, combine and finish quickly, support play if the defenders win the ball.
