By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer
Activity 1
Two Grids running at the same time with each grid containing five (5) Possession Players and two (2)
Defending Players. Activity time can range from 30 seconds to 1 minute rounds depending on the fitness of
Your players. Play multiple rounds rotating defenders from the two grids (The team in POSSESSION in one
grid is the DEFENDING team in the other grid) At the completion of at least five rounds those with the most points win
SCORING
Players on POSSESSION team will score by connecting eight (8) passes in a row, however, all eight passes MUST be completed through the grid. Pass can be completed from side to side as long as they go through the grid. At least one (1) pass must be completed through the central POSSESSION player.
Players on the DEFENDING team will score by intercepting or winning the ball and then playing the ball to one of the players on the outside of the grid and getting it back in possession outside of the grid lines. Defending team can allow either of the two players to receive the transition possession ball or you can limit it to the player who plays it to the outside.
COACHING POINTS
1) POSSESSION team members on
the outside must ALL FOUR move
to allow a clear path from the ball
to their feet on EVERY PASS
2) As ball travels in possession look
at the hips of the player who will
be receiving the ball and adjust
your position based on where this
“visual cue” tells you they are
most likely to play the next ball
3) When passing in possession look
to play balls to the foot farthest
from you so that their first touch
will be able to take them away
from danger
4) Defenders should look to begin
possession with a “security pass”
right away so as to maximize your
chance to keep the ball!
Activity 2
Six (6) attacking players vs Four (4) defending players plus a GK. Field set up is approximately 50 yards long with two counter attacking goals at the top of the field towards the edge of the center circle. Attacking team is set up with three (3) midfielders and three (three) strikers. Defending team is set up with three (3)
defenders and one (1) defensive midfielder.
SCORING
Team in possession will be given ten (10) balls to attack the goal with. They will get one (1) point if they are able to possess the ball and get a shot on goal. They will get two (2) points if they are able to possess the ball and score a goal.
Players on the DEFENDING team will score one (1) point for winning the ball and connecting an immediate “Security Pass” plus one more pass before losing possession. They can gain two (2) points if they win the ball and can possess it through either of the two counter goals. They can play the ball through the gate or dribble the ball through the gate.
COACHING POINTS
1) POSSESSION team should focus
on recognizing players “visual 
cue”
(i.e. hips) and move as the ball
travels to that person so they will
be available for an immediate pass
2) Players should work to keep the
ball by finding places on the field
where they will be numbers up
over the defending team
3) Players will find greater success in possession if they begin by taking wide starting positions in order to stretch the defenders and force them to cover more ground. This will also allow for more passing and running lanes to open up for the team with the ball
4) POSSESSION should focus on
elimination lines of defenders. If you keep possession in East / West direction you offer more chances to lose the ball. However, if you keep the ball in a North / South fashion eliminating players with passes you are more likely to find success in possession and outcome.
5) REMEMBER YOU KEEP POSSESSION IN ORDER TO SCORE… so always keep possession focused on “first” going forward (if the cues allow it) and don’t over possess when you have a chance to go to goal as that is what the game is all about!
Activity 3
Two teams of Eight v Eight (8 v 8) plus goalkeepers. The field will be divided vertically, with cones, so that there are actually three vertical playing zones. Teams will be aligned in a 1-2-3-3 formation so that there will be maximum numbers of attacking players and the two defenders might find themselves outnumbered more often (allowing for better recognition of numbers up situations in possession)
RESTRICTIONS AND SCORING
Teams are not allowed to have more than three continuous passes in any vertical zone before the ball must travel to another zone. If a team is not able to keep possession by changing zones they will simply leave the ball and quickly transition to defending while the defending team’s closest player should take the ball and try to find a “Security Pass” ASAP beginning their possession.
Players are allowed to go into any vertical zone, however, the wider they are able to begin their starting positions the better able they will be to see the lanes necessary to keep possession and go to goal
Goals are scored as in games.
COACHING POINTS
1) Team in POSSESSION should 
follow this progression each time
they receive the ball. FIRST can
I keep possession going forward,
SECOND can I keep possession
going in the opposite direction
from where I am, THIRD can I keep possession by going backwards, FINALLY can I keep possession on the same side where I received the ball!
2) When keeping possession a player who dribbles the ball in a diagonal direction (forward) from one zone to the other will be able to find new passing lanes and unbalance defensive shape allowing for the vertical possession eliminating defenders and their lines.
3) Possession will be maximized if all players focus on their body position being open to the majority of the field. That means body position should receive the ball side on to forward, rather than facing backward, so that they can recognize quickly opportunities to possess towards goal. This will also increase speed of play in possession because it takes longer to receive and turn than to receive facing with head up.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
