Possession

Tempo Target Player Possession

Keep the ball with a forward purpose

Possession
Passing
Attacking

Keep the ball with a forward purpose. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Possession
Passing
Attacking
Small-Sided Game
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Tempo

Age

Under 9 to Adults

Duration

18 min

Players

8-18

Area / pitch size

36 x 28 yards

Difficulty

Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones, Bibs

Coaching focus

Keep the ball with a forward purpose

Objective

  • -Keep the ball with a forward purpose
  • -Play into a target player under pressure
  • -Support the target quickly after the pass

Setup

  1. 1A pitch with a target player in an end zone at each end in a 36 x 28 yards area.
  2. 2Set a visible timer or have an assistant count aloud from the side of the area.
  3. 3Balls with the target players, two sets of bibs.

How to play

  1. 1Teams keep the ball and score by finding their target player.
  2. 2The target sets the ball back and the team must keep it.
  3. 3Targets rotate with outfield players every three minutes.
  4. 4The clock starts the moment the first pass is played in.
  5. 5The sequence must reach the end action inside eight seconds or the rep is void.

Coaching points

  • -Look forward before playing sideways
  • -Support the target on both sides
  • -Set the ball into space
  • -Pass with pace and intent — under-hit passes cost the clock

Progressions

  • +Cut the clock to six seconds
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Stretch the clock to twelve seconds
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Reps finished inside five seconds score double
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Hitting the target with no support
  • -Only passing sideways and backwards
  • -Slow, sideways passing that burns the clock

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