Soccer Possession Drills
Possession drills teach a team to keep the ball as a group: making the field big, supporting the ball carrier and choosing when to play forward. These soccer possession drills move from keep-ball with neutral players to games with a direction, where keeping the ball has a purpose.
Each drill is animated so you can see how players should move off the ball. Use neutrals or overloads to help the team in possession succeed early on, then take them away.
Possession Drill with Neutrals (4v4+3)
Keep the ball with the help of neutrals who play for whoever has it.
Playing Through the Thirds Soccer Drill
Build from one end to the other, zone by zone, with an overload in each third.
End Zone Game for Soccer
Score by receiving a pass in the end zone you attack.
Switching Play Drill: Four-Goal Game
Two mini goals at each end: draw the defence to one, then switch to the other.
4v2 Rondo
Keep the ball round the outside against defenders in the middle.
Transition Rondo
A rondo in one half; win it and play into the other half, where your team is waiting.
Coaching tips
- Start with an overload (neutrals or an extra player) so the team in possession can succeed.
- Give the game a direction as soon as possible, so keeping the ball leads somewhere.
- Coach width and depth: the players without the ball create the passing options.
- Count passes or award points for switches to reward the behavior you want.
Turn these drills into a session
Add any drill to the free session planner with one click: it arrives with its diagram, setup and coaching points, ready to print as a PDF. To change the numbers or animate your own version, open it in DrawTactics.
Open the free session plannerFAQ
What is a neutral player in a possession drill?
A neutral plays for whichever team has the ball, giving the team in possession an extra player. It makes keeping the ball easier and is a simple way to adjust the difficulty.
How do you stop possession drills becoming aimless?
Add a target: an end zone to pass into, gates to play through, or goals to score in. Players then keep the ball in order to go forward, not just for its own sake.