Practice: Dominate possession

WHY USE IT

This is a possession box that encourages players to think about their movement to support the ball carrier and dominate possession.

Set-up

Set up an area suitable for the number, age and ability of your players. Play 5v5 in the central area, with six supporting players - four on the outside and two centrally. Four supporting players have free movement around all sides of the area, but must keep a gap between other supporting wall players (signalled by a flat marker or cone).

HOW TO DO IT

Central players look to dominate possession of the ball, utilising the 11v5 overload when they have possession of the ball.

Supporting wall players should maintain space between each other to allow central players to drop out of the box into those pockets of space.

PROGRESSIONS

• Body positioning when receiving: half turn, open hips
• Decision-making in possession: options for ball carrier, both ahead of and under the ball 
• Supporting players on outside of area, scanning, awareness, and movement in relation to where other supporting players are
• Encourage central players to make movements into pockets of space left between supporting wall players, focus on body position, positive first touch, awareness of what’s around for next pass 
• Highlighting triggers: if a player drops into a pocket of space, what’s the knock-on effect on other players’ movement?