Possession Drills

Communication, accurate passing, movement without ball, and awareness are all important factors in this passing drill.  The set up requires 6 cones ore discs set up in a rectangular hexagon (see diagram) and a smaller box on the...

To set up this 1 vs 1 soccer drill mark off a rectangle that is about 10 x 20 yards. Two opposing players start in the rectangle, one player starts with the ball. The object of the game is to control the ball across the other players end...

Setup Make multiple fields as necessary. Players play 4v4 with a neutral player in the middle. Neutral player is on the team with the ball, so game is always 5v4 Teams attack the three goals on one side of the field. Outside goals are...

Setup If half field unavailable, use as much space as you can. The team you are coaching is defending the big goal, and is trying to score on the two small goals (3yds wide) Formation for black team: 1-4-2 (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #8...

This is a good passing drill to work on timing, communication, accuracy, and awareness.  Set up the five lines as shown in the diagram and give the ball to the first player in line #1.  The player in line #1 will start the drill...

This drill includes 10 players, 1 soccer ball, and 9 cones or discs.  Players will work on passing and receiving in several different ways, communicating, and staying focused / aware of their surroundings. The drill starts by player...

Setup Make field and place two 4 yard goals at each corner. Each goal will have a goalkeeper. Play 5v5, with two goalkeepers from each team in the goals. 3v3 on field. Each goal counts as 1pt. Normal soccer rules, except no corners....

The Two Touch Under Pressure passing drill focuses on receiving the ball on one foot and making a pass with the other foot while facing token pressure.  Players will form four lines as shown with three players starting in the middle...

This is a great drill to add to your bank of passing and possession drills.  You should be able to run this drill with players 12 and up depending on their skill level.  Players in the U14 age level and above should definitely be...

Setup In each grid have three attackers, and a line of three defenders. When the coach starts the game, the first defender plays a ball to the furthest away attacker, and runs into the grid to try and get it back. The attackers try to...

This is a 5 vs 5 drill but it can be adapted to be 6 vs 6 or 7 vs 7 depending on the number of players you have.  The drill is played in a rectangular area about 30 yards long by 20 yards wide and can also be adjusted if you have more...

Setup Make multiple fields depending on numbers at practice. Each field needs 7 players. Two players are in the center and are trying to get the ball from the other 5. If a defender gets the ball, the person who’s been in the center...

Can your players climb the mountain?  This soccer passing drill offers a great way to test the passing ability of your players. Set Up Place four lines of players as shown in the diagram with line #1 starting with the ball. The...

To set up this soccer drill, set up four cones in a rectangle that is about 15 x 25 yards.  There will be 3 players on one team against 1 defensive player. One offensive player is inside the rectangle and is gaurded by the defensive...

This is a good soccer passing drill that is like a game as well, especailly for players in the U16 age level.  Players are split up into groups of six and within those groups they are divided into three teams of two.  Each group...

This game encourages possession, creativity, and problem solving.  Divide players into two teams of at least five players each.  Mark out a rectangular field about 40 yards long and 20 yards wide.  On the ends place a cone...

4 v 4 Intercept is a soccer drill focusing on possession and passing. Setup a small pitch split into 2 10 x 15 zones. Separate teams of 4 into each zone. Give each player on the team a number between 1-4. Teams pass the ball while moving...

SETUP Play 5v5. If your numbers are short, decrease size of field to 30x20 and play 4v4. Cones for goals are 5yds wide and use goalkeepers. COACHING POINTS None! Just sit back and let them play. Help remind them of the rules for...

This soccer drill promotes creativity and passing skills. The set up for this drill is determinded by the coach. Place numerous pairs of cones or discs in a random fashion on the field. The pairs of cones or discs should be 3 to 4 feet...

This drill is about ball control when passing between two players.  Have the players pair up with one ball for each pair.  The players should be about 10 - 15 yards apart.  On the whistle players pass the ball back and forth using...

Setup a box about 25 x 25 using cones to mark the corners.  On one side place two more cones to mark where the drill will start (see diagram).  The drill starts with the player between these two cones (line #1).  The first...

In this variation there is one main difference, there is an extra pass between player #2 and player #3. Therefore the sequence is as follows: Player #1 passes to player #2 Player #2 passes to player #3 Player #3 passes back to player...

This can be used as the second progression after the Square Pass and Follow drill. Now there will be two squares set up as shown in the diagram, a large one and a small one inside of the larger one.  Place one player at each disc of...

This game is designed to give the advantage to the team with possession. You will have three teams of four players each.  Two of the teams will play inside the boundry. The other team will be just outside the goaline on each side and are...

This soccer drill requires players to pay attention at all times or it falls apart quickly, hence the name "Wake Up Passing Drill".  With 7 players, each player is involved in the drill. There are two roles in which players rotate...

There is a lot of movement in this soccer drill. The basic idea is that players need to pass and move to an open spot.  This drill is best for teaching quick movement after passing.  The pattern of movement resembles a diamond shape....

The setup for this drill includes a large square marked out with cones or discs with a smaller box within the larger box (see diagram below). Divide players up into two teams. One team of four players and one team of eight players. The...

One Sided 2v2 is an offense and defensive minded soccer drill which focuses on quick play and possession. Setup a small pitch 20 x 20 with one goal.  Team 1 starts with the ball  and Team 2 defends the goal.   Team 2...

Set up this drill with four cones or discs in a square that is 15 - 20 yards wide on each side.  Place two players at each cone and give a ball to the first player at cone #1 and cone #3.  On the whistle the first player at cone...

Split up the players in groups of three and set up discs as shown in the diagram for each group. Player #1 will start on one corner, player #2 will start in the middle, and player #3 will start at the opposite corner. Player #1 starts the...

In this soccer passing drill, four cones are set up in a square anywhere from 10 to 20 yards apart. In this diagram, F1 starts the drill by dribbling to the open cone and then making a pass diagonal to P2. P2 then dribbles the ball to the...

This drill can get a little overwhelming for the younger age levels so we recommend using this with U14 age levels and older.  Set up the drill as shown in the diagram where you have two diamonds and the cones about 15 - 20 yards...

Here is a passing drill that can be used for working on passing, possession, touch, awareness, and communication. It requires a minimum of 5 players, 1 soccer ball, and six cones, discs, or flags. To start the drill, player #1 will start...

This soccer drill is a spin off of the childhood game pickle in the middle. It is pretty similar to the actually game, but instead of throwing the ball to one another, players are passing the ball by foot. There will be three players, one...

Set up this drill in a 15 to 20 yard square with one player at each disc and the line of players in position #1.  The first player in position #1 will make a pass across the box to player #3, player #3 will pass it right back to...

Setup Play 7v7. If your numbers are short, decrease size of field to 40x25 and play 6v6. Cones for goals are 6yds wide and use goalkeepers. Coaching Points None! Just sit back and let them play. Play full rules for your age group...