This post will delve into the art of maintaining control on the soccer field through a curated collection of soccer possession drills and keep ball exercises. In the dynamic world of soccer, possession is key, and mastering the ability to keep the ball at your feet is a fundamental skill that sets elite players apart.
12 Soccer Possession Soccer Drills and Keep Ball exercises
Keep Ball Chaos
The purpose of this possession soccer drill is to encourage players to constantly play with their heads up and assess what is going on around them.
Not only do the teams have to be aware of the defending team but also where the other teams are.
The teams possessing the ball must keep the soccer ball in their team away from the defenders, for every 3 passes they get 1 point.
If the defenders are able to steal the ball they can score in either of the goals and they will get a point.
3v1 Rondo Drill
The 3v1 rondo is a great keep ball drill that really emphasizes a players movement off the ball to help the player on the ball.
When they player has possession of the ball they should have a minimum of 2 passes to choose from.
Every time the possessing team makes 5 passes they will get 1 point, if the defender wins the ball they will swap the player who lost the ball.
This is a fantastic progression from the 4v1 rondo.
4v2 Basic Rondo
The 4v2 Rondo is a great challenge for teams who are starting to gain confidence keeping possession of the ball.
There will be 2 defenders in the middle who will have to try and win the ball back with the players on the outside trying to combine as many passes as possible.
If the players on the outside can make 5 passes in a row they will get 1 point, however if they can play a pass that splits the defenders they will get 3 points.
4v2 team possession soccer drill
This is a great game that can help introduce your younger players to keep possession of the ball in soccer.
If players can combine more than 3 passes in a row they will get point however if the defending players are able to score in either of the goals they can also earn a point for their team.
The team with the most points at the end of the end of the round will be the winners.
Keep the rotations going until all the players have been defenders
Stay out of the middle soccer possession game
Watch here for the video explanation
Out of all my possession soccer and keep ball drills this is my favourite!
This is 3 team possession rondo soccer is a drill that should be staple in any youth soccer coaches session.
It is a flexible drill that can easily be adjust for the desired out come.
The possessing teams must make 5 passes before trying to switch to the opposite possessing team for 1 point.
However if the defending team is able to win the ball back they will become the possessing team and swap roles with the team who lost the ball.
4v1 possession rondo soccer drill
The 4v1 rondo is a great possession drill to use especially for your U8, U9 and U10 age group teams.
It allows the players to build a solid understanding of how move to help support the player on the ball as well working their passing and receiving skills.
The drill is easy to set up, explain and make more challenging depending on the skill of the players
Players can get a point for every 5 passes they complete, with the player losing the ball swapping with the defender in the middle
Target player possession soccer drill
This 2v2 target player rondo get your players trying to play to the target players as quickly and as directly as possible.
If the middle players can get the ball from 1 target player to the other they will get one point, however if a target player can play directly to the opposite target player they will get 3 points.
2v2 possession square
This is a tough possession passing drill that has a huge emphasis of moving off the ball to help support your teammate on the ball.
It’s a perfect pre-season soccer drill!
If teams are able to put 3 passes together they will get 1 point, teams can also gain a point by playing 1 pass that splits the opposition teams defenders.
The team with the most amount of points at the end of the round will be the winners.
2 team beginner rondo possession drill
This a great introduction for U8 – U10 players for keeping possession in a rondo.
The drill will gradually increase pressure with the more successful passes the possessing team can make.
For every 5 passes the possessing team makes they’ll get 1 point and allow another defender to come into the area.
If the defending team is able to win the ball back they will become the possessing team if they can pass
4v2 Transition rondo
This possession rondo is great for keeping the ball away from the defenders but for also quickly transitioning from attack to defense or defense to attack.
The teams will be divided into 2 teams of 4, with a possessing team starting with the ball.
2 defenders will go into the other players half to try and win the ball back and pass it back to their teammates who stayed in their own half.
For every 3 passes the possessing team makes they will get 1 point.
5v2 Rondo
This is fantastic possession rondo that will help players find spaces between opposition defensive lines.
The possessing team will get points if they can keep the ball away from the defenders and make 5 passes in a row.
They can also score points by combining passes with the central player as well!
If the defending team win the ball back they can score in either of the goals for 1 point.
Small sided possession game for playing out the back
The purpose of this soccer drill is to help players keep possession of the ball when they are in their own half.
Either when being pressured by an opposing team’s press or when looking to play out from the back.
Teams will get rewarded if they are able to combine 5 passes in their own half that then leaders to goal!
We hope you found these soccer possession drills and keep ball exercises helpful!
Make sure to check out our free soccer drill library
Related Posts:
- 15 Soccer Drills for Passing and Moving
- 10 Soccer Drills for Crossing and Finishing
- 10 Soccer Rondo Variations
