Possession Drills

Teams that keep the ball control the game. These soccer possession drills - rondos, keep-away games and overload exercises - teach players to create angles of support, move the ball before pressure arrives and stay calm in tight spaces. They double as brilliant warm-ups and fitness work with the ball.

35 drills
HomeDrillsPossession
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3v3 Plus 3

3v3 Plus 3 is a soccer possession drill for U10–U16 where two teams of three combine as a six to keep the ball from the third team.

15 min9 playersU10–U16
medium

Four Corners Passing Game

The Four Corners Passing Game is a soccer passing drill for U10–U16 that rewards teams for changing the point of attack.

20 min8–16 playersU10–U16
medium

5v2 Rotating Defenders

5v2 Rotating Defenders is a soccer possession drill for U9–U16 built on a classic rondo shape with one twist: the defenders arrive in fresh pairs, ball first.

15 min9+ playersU9–U16
medium

Split the Defenders Passing Game

Split the Defenders is a soccer passing drill for U11–U14 that puts a price on the game's most valuable pass: the one that goes between two defenders.

15 min6 playersU11–U14
easy

Angle of Support Possession Drill

The Angle of Support Possession Drill is a soccer passing drill for U8–U12 that teaches the single habit good possession teams share: always give the ball two options.

10 min3+ playersU8–U12
medium

Finding the Target Player

Finding the Target Player is a soccer passing drill for U11–U16 that trains midfielders and defenders to lift their eyes and play forward with purpose.

20 min10+ playersU11–U16
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Quick Transition Game

The Quick Transition Game is a three-team soccer drill that hammers home the basics of attacking and defending in one continuous flow.

25 min12–14 playersU10–U16
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4v4 to Lines or Small Goals

4v4 to Lines or Small Goals is the smallest true version of the full game, which is why coaches at every level lean on it.

25 min8 playersU8–U16
hard

Target Players

Target Players is an advanced soccer possession drill built around finding the forward and connecting with him.

25 min8 or 16 playersU12–U16
medium

4v4 Playing Wide Out of the Back

4v4 Playing Wide Out of the Back trains one of soccer's most valuable habits: after winning the ball in your own half, play it wide instead of forcing it through the middle.

25 min8 playersU10–U16
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Improving Combination Play

Improving Combination Play is a keep-away soccer drill that scores points for exactly the passing pattern you want to see in games: into a target, first-time layoff, out to a third player.

25 min8–16 playersU11–U16
easy

Circle Keep-Away Passing Game

The Circle Keep-Away Passing Game is a young player's introduction to possession soccer.

15 min8+ playersU7–U12
medium

3v1 Early Support

3v1 Early Support is a possession soccer drill that isolates one idea: start supporting before your teammate even receives the ball.

20 min6 playersU10–U16
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Trapping and Controlling the Ball While Facing a Defender

Controlling a bouncing ball is hard enough - doing it with a defender sprinting at you is the real test.

20 min3+ playersU10–U16
medium

4v4 Plus Target Players

4v4 Plus Target Players takes the classic small-sided game and gives it a purpose: find your target.

20 min10 playersU9–U16
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5v2 Angle of Support Passing Drill

The 5v2 is a soccer passing drill for U9–U16 players and one of the best tools there is for teaching support angles.

15 min7+ playersU9–U16
medium

Combination Play: Improving 1-2 Combinations (Part II)

This soccer passing drill for U11–U16 players builds on the basic 1-2 combination with a continuous pattern around a square.

15 min5+ playersU11–U16
medium

Improving Speed of Play: Passing Drill

This soccer passing drill for U8–U14 players attacks slow play at its source.

15 min4+ playersU8–U14
medium

Dribbling with Speed: Recognizing When to Dribble

Some players dribble at every chance; others never do.

20 min13 playersU10–U16
medium

2v1 and 1v1 Possession Game

This 2v1 and 1v1 game is a soccer possession drill for U9–U16 players that teaches two ideas at once: keeping the ball under pressure and switching the point of attack to penetrate.

15 min5 playersU9–U16
medium

4v4 Zone Game

The 4v4 Zone Game is a soccer possession drill for U11–U16 teams that gives keeping the ball a clear purpose: play through the middle.

25 min12 playersU11–U16
easy

Guard the Castle

Guard the Castle is a soccer passing drill for U6–U10 players disguised as a siege game.

15 min4+ playersU6–U10
medium

Soccer End Zone Game

The Soccer End Zone Game turns possession into a soccer attacking drill with real direction.

20 min8+ playersU9–U16
medium

Triangle Goal Game

A goal you can score on from three sides changes how teams attack.

20 min9–11 playersU8–U14
medium

5 Pass Possession Game

Keeping the ball is only half the job - this soccer possession drill makes teams keep it with a purpose.

20 min8+ playersU10–U16
easy

Lane Spacing and Separation Game

Young teams swarm the ball - this game makes spreading out the rule instead of the reminder.

20 min8+ playersU7–U10
medium

4v2 Angle of Support

4v2 Angle of Support is a soccer possession drill that hammers home three habits: move early, support at a good angle, and always give the ball carrier at least two passing options.

20 min8 playersU10–U16
easy

Reaction, Acceleration, and Winning the Ball

Reaction, Acceleration, and Winning the Ball is a soccer fitness drill that turns 50-50 duels into a game.

12 min6+ playersU8–U16
hard

2v2+4 Passing, Possession, and Combination

This 2v2+4 soccer possession drill builds composure in tight spaces.

20 min8 per grid playersU11–U16
medium

Dribbling to Beat Defenders

This soccer dribbling drill teaches U10-U16 players when to keep the ball and when to take someone on.

20 min12 playersU10–U16
medium

Combination Play: Improving 1-2 Combinations

This soccer passing drill drills the classic 1-2 combination into your team's habits, and it works well for U10 to U16 squads.

15 min4+ playersU10–U16
medium

3v1 Rotating Defenders

The 3v1 Rotating Defenders game is a small-space soccer possession drill that suits U9 to U16 teams.

15 min6+ playersU9–U16
medium

Passing to Beat the Defender

Passing to Beat the Defender is a competitive soccer passing drill for U9 to U14 teams that rewards finding the gap, not just keeping the ball.

20 min8+ playersU9–U14
medium

Center Mid Passing Combination 1

Center Mid Passing Combination 1 is a soccer passing drill for U10 to U16 teams that puts a central pivot at the heart of a four-corner passing pattern.

15 min9+ playersU10–U16
medium

Great Attacking Skills

Great Attacking Skills is a soccer attacking drill for U11 to U16 teams built on two adjacent grids and a constantly shifting overload.

20 min5+ playersU11–U16