 Inside Tactics - Soccer Hints & Tips |  |
Keeping Possession Of The Ball
If anyone watched the two big derby games over the weekend between Manchester United vs Liverpool, and Real Madrid vs Barcelona then this weeks tip will be pretty clear, but its a situation that I see week after week on many junior and youth pitches.
Let me use the performances of the Liverpool & Barcelona teams to make a point. One player in particular for the Liverpool team constantly gave the ball away... Lois Garcia is a flair player and can unlock defenses but there is a time and a place for little flicks and lay offs, Liverpool had only just won the ball after 20 - 30 passes by United but they immediately conceded possession again because of one players inability to adapt to the game.
On the other hand, the Barcelona team seemed at odds last night in the Grand Classico at the Bernabau stadium. Whether their defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League in mid week or the fact that Raul scored within 2 minutes of the start of the game last night is what knocked them off their stride, the team found it difficult to keep possession of the ball. It is no wonder why both teams were beaten so comprehensively over the weekend.
So what can we learn from these two top European teams and put in effect with our own.
Well, sometimes during a game its important for your team to put their foot on the ball and keep possession.
This is especially important when your team come up against a team that are having a lot of possession and wave after wave of attack is raining in on your penalty area. If your opponents are strong, then the last thing you want your team to do is to concede possession, cheaply.
Therefore, your players need to know when its important to keep the ball and when to take risks where the potential for losing the ball may occur. In your own half and in the middle third of the pitch is where you want to keep the ball, coach players that its OK to pass the ball back into defense if that means keeping possession.
But in order to do that safely, all players must be on the move, supporting and making themselves available for the ball.
The negative effects of constantly chasing the ball has a double negative effect on you team...
- #1 Morale is effected as heads start to go down because they are just chasing the ball without getting a touch
- #2 Bodies become tired and lethargic, tired bodies and minds make mistakes and your team will punished
Both of these factors are intertwined, one feeds the other.
To combat this hold practice sessions with your players where they are confined to tight practice area's. Touch, vision, movement, support and passing skills are all key components of succeeding in a tight area.
Short quick passes to move the ball are important, no long "Hollywood" balls or risky passes.
This way your team should keep possession of the ball and therefore control the game. It's no different when they go out on to the competitive field of play. If you want them to keep possession, get word out on to the pitch and encourage short passes. Make the ball do the work by moving it quickly around the pitch.
A patient build up will have your opponents chasing the game, but as your team is controlling the pace of the game they can then quickly switch the tempo and spring an attack. Launching this kind of attack after a steady build up will have your opponents thinking twice about going on an all out offensive.
 Neil Travers - Co Founder JSC. |
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Your FREE possession soccer drill is posted below.
That's it for this week, hope your team played well over the weekend and good luck in training this week.
Best wishes
Neil
PS...
If you know other coaches who would benefit from our Inside Tactics Tip, then please feel free to print this out and take it to your next club managers meeting.
Why not use the soccer possession drill below in this weeks training session?
Print this page off and you'll have a ready made session for your players. No need to spend time thinking a good pattern of play to work with your players this week, we've done it for you.
Being able to keep the soccer ball while under pressure is a key element to successful play. In this soccer drill effort is focused on good passing technique, players getting their head up and looking for passing channels. Accurate, well weighted passes both along the ground and in the air should be encouraged. For the closing down team, this is equally a good drill and forces the players to try and prevent passes.
While this drill is confined to small area, and is suited to both outdoor and indoor it can be very game like with quick decisions needed and fast feet.
ORGANISATION
Set up a cirlce approximately 15 yards in diameter, or suitable to the age and technical proficency of your team. Divide your squad into two teams and chose 2 floating players. Place 5 players around the outside of the circle and 5 players inside the circle. The two floating players always stay in the middle and are constantly on the side who are in possession.
The aim of the game is keep possession by quick accurate passing around, and across the circle by using a combination of long and short passes, using where possible the two center players. I often put two of my midfield players in the center to really test their vision, shielding and passing ability while under pressure.
Once the defending team in the center wins the ball then swap with the team on the outside of the circle and the game recommences.
The team in the center who are closing down should concentrate on marking the two free players in the center and also covering each other minimising the amount of passing lanes that exist.
The two central players should also be encouraged to use their body strength to move defenders and create some passing lanes.
EQUIPMENT
An area approximately 20 x 20 yards, minimum of 10 players players ( 4 v 4 & 2) upwards, balls & bibs, cones to mark the circle
COACHING POINTS
For the team in possession
- Close control
- Accurate, well weighted passes
- Quick feet, anticipating the ball and moving into its line
- Head up and vision
- Good communication
- Support from team mates
For the two free supporting players, as above but with
- Upper body strength to move defenders
- Shielding the ball
For the defending team
- Closing down quickly
- Good communication
- Taking a line of the first defender
- Principles of 1st, 2nd defender
- Covering
- Forcing the play
- Minimising passing lanes
Click here to see more tips on coaching passing in soccer.
PROGRESSION
- Start three touch for the team in possession then reduce to one touch football
- Specify a number of passes that each team must make to score e.g. 5 completed passes in succession equals one goal
- Receive the ball with one foot and pass it with the opposite foot
Possession Play 7 v 5
To watch this soccer drill video click here Soccer Drill - 7 v 5 Possession
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