Keep Possession of The Ball

 

I was recently watching some “old football” in the TV and it featured legendary late 70s and early 80s Liverpool FC Manager, Bob Paisley and when asked about his philosophy on football simply replied “simple! My team play in red so everything we do is based on passing to a player in red, with the ball, and when we don’t have the ball we “work our socks off” to get it back then start the routine of passing to players in red all over again!!”

 

This team was arguably the most successful English side of all time, certainly the best English team in Europe - so it’s a great basis to build your team on, and even at grassroots the approach still applies!! 

GOOD HABITS ARE GOOD HABITS!!

 

Fads and trends come and go but the “right way” to play the game never changes!!

 

So, simply put, in a match you can’t do anything positive without the ball. 

 

With this in mind, here are some tips to help your team keep possession, so that you can create more chances, and score more goals. 

And, when you are in possession, your opponents cannot score (and .............. yes, for the “clever buggers” reading this, I do know you can score own goals!!!)

 

1. Obey The Law of Possession

Summed up by the  phrase ‘space = time =quality’

 

In essence, the law of possession states that the more space a player has, the more time they will have on the ball which helps them execute with quality. 

Whether a player is trying to dribble, pass, or shoot, it is easier for them when they have time and space to work with.

 

Without time and space, even professional players can struggle to execute simple passes and manoeuvres.

High pressure opponents close spaces quickly, which gives attackers very little time. 

It also shows why many teams nowadays are into “high pressing” as pressurising defenders means you pressure players who are normally (not always) less technically, and strong closer to the opposition goal!! 

 

When the attackers don’t have time, it usually results in lower quality attacking play.

 

So, how can teams use the law of possession to produce high quality attacking play? 

 

The key is to create time and space for players. The best players in the world follow the law of possession instinctively. 

For example, a current/recent player with high soccer IQ, who does this without thinking is Thomas Müller (and my favourite Lionel Messi)

 

If you ever watch Müller, or Messi, play, you’ll see that they are both always on the lookout for open spaces and they put themselves in positions to receive the ball with time and space.

 

Movement off the ball is critical to developing a possession game. This is why fitness is a crucial part of the game of football!

 

When players learn to move, and find open space, they will be more difficult to mark and execute with a higher level of quality when the ball comes their way.

 

“Keep away” drills are great for players to work on movement off of the ball. Here are a few of my favorites:

Targets in the middle

“Targets in the middle” is an excellent drill for players to work on moving the ball, keeping possession, and finding open teammates.

 

·        Set Up

To play targets in the middle, set up a grid with two target zones in the middle of the field. 

Divide players into even teams. 

This drill works well when there are between five and eight players on each team. 

Both teams assign a player to occupy one of the target zones in the middle.

 

·        How It Works

The two teams play keep away from each other, trying to complete six passes in a row. 

Once a team completes six passes, they can play a pass to their target player for a point. 

The game continues after a point is scored as the target player plays a pass back out to their teammates who try to maintain possession. 

The first team to earn three points wins.

 

·        Coaching Points

Emphasize movement from players when their team has the ball so that they work on finding open space and passing lanes.

 

Players should look to play to their target player when a good opportunity arises and avoid trying to force it if the middle is well defended.

 

Two teams against one

Two teams against one is a simple keep away drill that is very effective to help players work on keeping possession of the ball.

 

·        Set Up

Set up a playing field and create three even teams. 

Team sizes can range anywhere from two players to eight players but five or six players on each team works the best. 

The larger the teams are, the larger the pitch should be. 

 

·        How It Works

Assign one of the teams as a defending team to go against the two other teams. 

The two teams start with the ball and see how many passes they can complete in a row in one minute. 

After one minute, rotate the defending team so that all three teams have a chance to defend. 

The defending team that allows the least number of consecutive passes wins.

 

In the diagram shown red and yellow teams are working together against the blue team which is defending.

 

Coaching Points

Players in attack should move to find passing angles and avoid getting bunched up.

 

The more players practice this drill, the more consecutive passes they will complete in a row.

 

Adjust the size of the pitch so that the attack can be successful. 

 

The more space players have, the easier it is on attackers.

 

 

2. Use A Minimum Pass Requirement

One of the simplest and most practical ways to help players work on keeping possession of the ball is to use a minimum pass requirement in drills and exercises.

 

Many of the possession drills coaches use already require teams to complete six consecutive passes before they can earn a point (goal). 

 

I have found that six consecutive passes has been a pretty good number to use for grassroots level players because it keeps winning points attainable, while encouraging development at the same time.

 

With this in mind, a coach can choose any number of passes that is suitable for their team.

 

Sometimes when a season begins I will start with a lower minimum pass requirement and gradually increase the requirement as the season goes on. 

 

Increasing the difficulty over time is a great way to get players to improve regardless of their level of skill in the beginning.

 

This can also be a great way for players to see their progress over the course of a season. 

 

For example, in one season I had a team that struggled to complete even four passes in a row at the beginning of the season.

However, by the season’s end it was not uncommon for them to complete passing sessions of 20 or more, untouched by defenders. 

 

Reminding players how far they have come is always very inspiring, and it encourages everyone to keep working hard and improving. 

 

The great thing about a minimum pass requirement is that when it is enforced in practice, players start to see the value in keeping the ball.

In addition, it encourages team play because it makes it impossible for players to win a game all on their own. 

 

Players have to move the ball amongst one another and work together which builds a foundation of teamwork.

 

Here are a few drills that utilize the six pass minimum requirement before the teams can earn points:

Three grid possession drill

This is a great possession game to teach offensive players to be patient and keep the ball until an opportunity arises to move it on.

 

·        Set Up

Set up a large, three section, grid with a narrow section in the middle. 

Create three teams. All teams should have even numbers

 

·        How It Works

Two teams are attackers (in the two end sectors) and one starts out as defenders.

One team at either end starts to pass the ball to each other and tries to achieve six “untouched” passes. 

Once the attacking team makes its first pass - two of the defending team (in the middle sector) enter that area to try to get a touch of the ball.

Once the attackers complete six passes in a row, they pass the ball to the other attacking group (in the other end sector), passing the ball along the ground (the defending team members in the middle sector cannot intercept the ball). 

Once the new attacking group touch the ball, TWO defenders can leave the central area to try to touch the ball!

Repeat until ball is lost!

If the defending team wins the ball they earn swap with the attacking team who has lost the ball. 

Repeat until “bored”!!

 

Coaching Points

Work with the attacking units on ball retention and off the ball movement.

 

Make sure defenders only enter the area at the “right” time, your coaching is really about the ball playing team, but defenders need to keep structure, otherwise it get messy and the message you are trying to give “gets lost”!!

 

If an attacker doesn’t have an easy pass, work on supporting player movement AND “defending” the ball until an option to pass is available!

 

The attack needs to remain patient and keep possession of the ball until the final pass is open.

 

Find the final pass drill

Find the final pass is a great possession game to teach offensive players to be patient and keep the ball until an opportunity arises.

 

·        Set Up

Set up a large grid with a 2×2 yard square in the middle. 

Create two teams. The attacking team should have more players than the defensive team. 

This game works well with 4v2, 5v2, 6v2, 6v3, 7v3, 8v3, or 8v4.

 

·        How It Works

The team with more players plays keep away inside the grid. 

Once they complete six passes in a row, they can have a player check into the square in the middle. 

If the player in the middle receives a pass in the square the team earns a point. 

If the defending team wins the ball they earn a point. 

The first team to earn three points wins.

 

Coaching Points

Often, once an attacking team completes six passes one of the players will run into the middle of the square and wait.

 

The defence ‘puppy guards’ the square and the offence tries to force a pass into the middle.

 

If the pass in the middle isn’t there initially, the player running who is in the middle should check out to create space for someone else.

 

The attack needs to remain patient and keep possession of the ball until the final pass is open.

 

 

3. Play One Or Two Touch

As a player I never liked being limited to only one or two touches but as a coach I have realized the value of using a touch restriction at times.

 

This tip can be especially helpful when players are spending too much time on the ball and not seeing the pitch around them.

 

It takes quick thinking and a high level of skill to play with only one or two touches. 

When a player has a limited number of touches, they have to know exactly where they are going to go with the ball before it comes to them to succeed.

 

For this reason, I will use a touch restriction at times to get players to think one step ahead.

 

While a touch restriction can be applied to almost any game, it is much easier to implement in some drills than it is with others, as well as in small sided games!

 

I typically implement a touch restriction most frequently with a “rondo” drill: 

 

Rondo pressure drill

The rondo pressure drill is an easy keep away drill to get players moving the ball on offense and applying pressure on defense.

 

·        Set Up

Set up a grid rectangular grid with cones splitting it down the middle. Create two even teams and have each team start on one side.

 

·        How It Works

Put the ball into play on one side. 

The team with the ball can earn a point for every six consecutive passes they connect. 

The defending team sends two players to the opposite side to defend. 

Once the attacking team loses possession of the ball, toss a new ball out to the opposite side.

 

Coaching Points

For the best results, attacking players should move and communicate with one another. 

 

I try to encourage quick passes and speed of play from the attacking teams. 

 

On the other hand, the defensive players should hustle and apply as much pressure as possible

 

 

4. Increase The Difficulty In Practice

Last but not least, a great way to help your team keep the ball in games is to increase the difficulty in practice. 

When players become accustomed to having limited amounts of time and space, they learn how to execute under pressure. 

 

By increasing the difficulty, it prepares players for difficult situations in games.

 

One way to make possession drills more difficult is to increase the ratio of defenders to attackers in a drill.

 

Usually towards the beginning of a season I will include lots of neutral ‘yet attacking’ players so that players can experience success passing the ball. 

 

With that said, as players start to improve I will use less “neutral” players to ensure that the ratio of defenders to attackers is increasing and that players always being challenged.

 

Another way to make possession drills more difficult is to decrease the amount of space players have.

 

At first, when players try to establish a passing rhythm, having a lot of space can be helpful. 

With this in mind, decreasing the amount of space over time will force players to think more quickly on the ball which will benefit them come game time.

 

Here are a couple of drills where coaches can manipulate the number of neutral players and size of the grids to consistently provide an adequate challenge for players:

Possession to target drill

Possession to target players is a great possession game for teams to work on moving the ball and breaking down a defence. 

In this game teams try to pass to a target player after completing a certain number of passes.

 

·        Set Up

Create two teams to play against each other and assign a neutral target player to each end. 

A coach may also have one or two neutral players play all time offence in the middle.

 

·        How It Works

The teams in the middle go head to head trying to keep possession of the ball. 

Once a team completes six passes in a row, they can pass it to a target player for a point.

 

When a team scores a point in one direction they must attack in the other direction because they may not score points playing to the same target player twice in a row.

 

The first team to score three points wins.

 

If a team scores a point they don’t have to stop, they can continue passing starting back at zero. 

 

In addition, teams can play passes to either target player before they get six passes but it won’t count as a point unless they get six passes first.

 

Coaching Points

Shuffle teams after each round including neutral players.

 

Target players may move up and down the end line to help find angles for which ever team has the ball. 

 

Make sure players use the entire field and avoid bunching up. 

 

Switching the play can be very effective in this game.

 

Spread the field with gates

Spread the field with gates is a great possession game for players to work on connecting passes with each other and switching the field.

 

·        Set Up

Set up a grid with a cone gate towards each corner. 

Create two teams to play against each other and assign one or two neutral players to play all time offence.

 

·        How It Works

The teams in the middle go head to head trying to keep possession of the ball. 

Once a team completes six passes in a row, they can pass it through a cone gate to a teammate for a point. 

The first team to three points wins. 

If a team scores a point they don’t have to stop, they can continue passing, starting back at zero.

 

Coaching Points

Shuffle teams after each round including neutral players.

 

Make sure players are moving and communicating. 

 

Make sure players use the entire field and avoid bunching up. 

 

Switching the play can be very effective in this game.

 

 

SUMMARY

Whilst the media today, love their stats and possession stats are “all the rage”, and I am somewhat cynical of them, I truly do understand that possession is crucial in football as 

·        Without it you cannot score

·        Only with it CAN you score

·        When you have it your opponents cannot create an opportunity to score themselves

 

And, scoring IS the most important, and most relevant thing, in football!!

 

Simple, huh?