Possession

Four Corner Possession

Use the whole area to keep the ball

Possession

Passing

Team Shape

Four Corner Possession is a 16-minute possession drill for 8-16 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Possession

Passing

Team Shape

Skill Practice

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Minimal Equipment

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Duration

16 min

Players

8-16

Pitch size

30 x 30 yards

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Four Corner Possession — Four-corner square · 30 x 30 yards

Step 1 of 3Corner players are neutral and limited to two touches.

1. Corner players are neutral and limited to two touches.
2. Team in possession must use two different corners before scoring a point.
3. Three minute rounds.

Cones mark the area
Ball
Cones mark each station in the shape
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Use the whole area to keep the ball
-Find the corner outlets
-Rotate the play calmly

Setup

1A thirty yard square with a corner player in each corner.
2Two teams inside competing for the ball.
3Balls with the corner players.

Coaching instructions

1Corner players are neutral and limited to two touches.
2Team in possession must use two different corners before scoring a point.
3Three minute rounds.

Coaching points

-Open the body to receive from the corner
-Switch through the corners when the middle is blocked
-Give the corner player an early angle

Common mistakes

-Using the same corner repeatedly
-Corner player holding the ball too long
-No movement to receive back

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Age groups

Under 9

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
+Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
+Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
-Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
-Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
-Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
-Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
-Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
-Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
-Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
-Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch