Small-sided game: Dominate possession

WHY USE IT

This conditioned game with the overload players gives the team in possession multiple options for the ball carrier. In possession, the team will effectively have a defensive four, two central midfielders and attacking forwards. Opportunity to bed in some key movement patterns to dominate possession.

Set-up

Set out a pitch size suitable for the number, age and ability of your players. Play 6v6 with four supporting players (in full-back/wide forward areas). Each team sets up in a 1-2-2-1 formation, with supporting wide players occupying the space where a full-back or wide forward would be. Three zones are marked with flat markers.

HOW TO DO IT

The ball cannot move directly from the defensive zone to the attacking zone, it must travel through the central zone. This condition will encourage players to focus on making shorter passes and place greater emphasis on clever movement to find pockets of space. Players have free movement across zones. A goal is worth one point, while 10 consecutive passes earns two points.

PROGRESSIONS

• Body positioning when receiving – half turn, open hips
• Decision-making in possession – options for ball carrier, both ahead of and under the ball
• Focus on key movement patterns we might look for in a 4-3-3, like:
• Encouraging full-back to come infield to overload midfield area in possession and the same side wide player stay out to provide width and relief pass into space
• Wide forward dropping into a pocket of space to be a passing option when ball is in possession in the defensive third
• A player from the central zone dropping out into a pocket of space between the centre back, triggering the full-back to push higher and the wide forward to drop into central midfield space.