Directional Possession | Moving the Ball Forward with Positional Awareness

Overview

• Teams that want to sharpen possession as a full group
• Coaches who want players to lock in ball retention and pick directional passes
• Anyone looking to build decision-making in tight spaces
• Teams that need to handle an opponent’s press in games

Objectives

• Keep possession while always looking to push the ball forward
• Sharpen players’ feel for positioning in tight spaces
• Move the ball with quick decisions against the press
• Flip between attack and defense fast to build a game-like rhythm

Setup

This is an 8-player (4v4) possession drill where both teams go head-to-head in a 20m x 20m area. The attacking team scores by moving the ball from one end line to the other.

1) Split your 8 players into two groups and start 4v4

2) Kick off with a player on the sideline passing in to a teammate in the middle

3) The attacking team keeps the ball and scores by moving it to the far end line (they can score again and keep going)

4) The defending team works to win the ball. Once they win it, roles flip

5) Run several rounds of 2-3 minutes each