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Soccer Possession Drills

SOCCER POSSESSION DRILLS, SOCCER POSSESSION TRAINING SESSIONS, POSSESSION IN SOCCER

Soccer possession drills, exercises, and training sessions to effortlessly move the ball around the pitch and away from your opponent.

Soccer Possession Drills

Possession is a key aspect of soccer that allows teams to control the game and create scoring opportunities. This page features drills designed to improve passing, movement, and decision-making to help players maintain and regain possession effectively.

5 Pass Possession Game

5 Pass Possession Game

This passing drill focuses on holding possession and completing a series of passes. This possession passing drill will work on awareness, speed of play, support, and movement to maintain possession.


Age: 9+ Field: 40X30
Players: 10 Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3.63 / 5 Views: 158,149
Published: 7/7/2011 Author: Chris Johnson
Center Mid Passing Combination 1

Center Mid Passing Combination 1

This is a great combination passing drill that will help focus on combination play and playing diagonal balls.


Age: 9+ Field: 20X20
Players: 6+ Focus: PASSING
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3.6 / 5 Views: 347,593
Published: 5/26/2013 Author: Chris Johnson
5v2 Angle of Support Passing Drill

5v2 Angle of Support Passing Drill

The purpose of this soccer passing drill is to focus on players angle of support, the weight of passes and the quality of 1st touch.


Age: 9+ Field: 12X12
Players: 7 Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3.6 / 5 Views: 65,316
Published: 9/22/2006 Author: Chris Johnson
2v1 ATTACKING RONDO

2v1 ATTACKING RONDO

This drill focuses on attacking in a number’s up situation and opening up and finding the attacker in a 1v1 situation. This drill puts much emphasis on good passing, receiving and general possession.


Age: 9+ Field: 20X20
Players: 5+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 10 mins.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3.45 / 5 Views: 70,667
Published: 12/10/2005 Author: Chris Johnson
6v4 Team Training Numbers

6v4 Team Training Numbers

This 6 vs 4 team training drill focuses on team movement, communication, and passing. This is a great session to end on after an intense passing practice.


Age: 9+ Field: HALF FIELD
Players: 12+ Focus: Game-like
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: YES Team
Rating: 3.38 / 5 Views: 134,072
Published: 8/14/2017 Author: Chris Johnson
Circle Rondo Soccer Drill

Circle Rondo Soccer Drill

This circle rondo soccer drill is a great warm-up drill before a game, or a drill for your practice session.


Age: 9+ Field: 10X10
Players: 8+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 15 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 3 / 5 Views: 35,573
Published: 1/24/2021 Author: Chris Johnson
4v4, Thirds of the Field, Shape and Positioning

4v4, Thirds of the Field, Shape and Positioning

This 4v4 drill is great for improving shape and positioning. Each player has their own responsibility: 1) attacker/target player stretches the field closer to the goal they are attacking. 2) winger players stretch the width of the field. 3) defensive player gives support to wingers and target player while staying the last man.


Age: 7-14 Field: 25X40
Players: 8+ Focus: Game-like
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 1 / 5 Views: 41,480
Published: 9/29/2022 Author: Chris Johnson
4v4+1 Corner Support Rondo

4v4+1 Corner Support Rondo

This drill improves quick passing, spatial awareness, and teamwork by encouraging players to use both central and corner support players to maintain possession. Players develop composure under pressure and transition awareness.


Age: 9+ Field: 15X15
Players: 9+ Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 5,691
Published: 2/13/2025 Author: Chris Johnson
3v1 Transition Rondo

3v1 Transition Rondo

The 3v1 Transition Rondo drill emphasizes quick combination passing to unbalance the defender and shift the point of attack to an adjacent grid. This exercise challenges the defender to transition rapidly between areas, enhancing their ability to react under pressure. The focus is on sharp passing and strategic movement to exploit defensive weaknesses.


Age: 9+ Field: 7x14
Players: 5 Focus: Possession
Difficulty: Medium Time: 15 min.
Goalkeeper: No Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 6,885
Published: 9/2/2024 Author: Chris Johnson
5v3 Switching Rondo

5v3 Switching Rondo

This drill trains players to recognize when possession is lost and react instantly by switching fields of play. The attacking team learns to keep the ball under pressure in tight spaces while the defending team works on winning possession and immediately playing forward. The switching element teaches players to read the game and anticipate transitions. Players must communicate who stays and who goes when the switch happens, building decision making skills under pressure. The numerical advantage for attackers creates confidence in possession while defenders learn to press intelligently when outnumbered. Moving between grids forces players to stay mentally engaged even when they're not directly involved in the current action. This back and forth rhythm mirrors real games where play shifts from one area of the field to another.


Age: 9+ Field: 12x24
Players: 10 Focus: POSSESSION
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO TEAM
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 1,283
Published: 10/26/2025 Author: Chris Johnson
2v2 with Target Players to Small Goals

2v2 with Target Players to Small Goals

This 2v2 drill focuses on penetrating passes to a target player to stretch the field and finish on goal.


Age: 9+ Field: 25X40
Players: 6+ Focus: GAME-LIKE
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 MINS.
Goalkeeper: NO Team
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 37,171
Published: 2/14/2021 Author: Chris Johnson
11v5 Positional Rondo

11v5 Positional Rondo

This drill teaches your full team to keep possession while maintaining positions on the field. Players learn where they should be in your formation and how to support teammates from their specific spot. The positional constraint forces players to understand spacing, passing lanes, and how their role fits into the team shape. The five defenders work hard in a numbers down situation, building fitness and pressing coordination. The attacking team of eleven develops patience in possession and learns to move the ball through different lines of the formation. Adding goals for the defenders creates real consequence for losing the ball, making players focus on smart decisions under pressure. This drill bridges the gap between basic possession work and full game situations.


Age: 13+ Field: 20X25
Players: 16+ Focus: Game-like
Difficulty: MEDIUM Time: 20 mins.
Goalkeeper: YES TEAM
Rating: 0 / 5 Views: 1,026
Published: 10/9/2025 Author: Chris Johnson

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