Directional Soccer Possession Drill

Field size: 50 yards by 30 yards

Number of players: Three teams of six players

Age range: 14-16

Description: Three teams in vests, a few players from the team that’s not playing act as support players on the sidelines but only have one touch.  Two teams play in the middle. Teams score by stopping the ball on the line and the team who scores keeps the ball and goes in the other direction – as in ‘make it take it’. 

This is a good warm up drill where you start out on the jog and then pick up the pace as the game goes along, stopping to stretch after ten or fifteen minute of play.  Team should try to move the ball as quickly as possible from one end of the other in quick one and two touches passes.  And since there’s no offsides players can stretch the field and post up near the endline.  Have players start off playing with unlimited touches and then move into two touch and try one touch towards the end of the drill. 

The team on the sidelines stands only on the sides and not on the ends where the teams playing are trying to score. Only two players need to stand on each side, and can move up and down the line to get open, playing give and goes with the offensive team who has possession of the ball. The two spare players can chase down balls that go out of bounds.

One touch is probably the hardest thing to do in soccer, but it’s beautiful and works to perfection when everyone is on the same page and moving off the ball. The great teams do it, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid play the ball in and out and from side to side in one and two touches.

Equipment needed: Cones and practice vests.

Keep the ball for yourself and leave the opposition to chase their tails, courtesy of this drill from the Nike Academy