Possession Soccer
Turning the Ball

by Coach George A. Lasher

 Introduction

The previous section discussed ways for individuals, and then small groups, to achieve possession of the ball and then to maintain it by effective shielding.  This section amplifies on this skill to explain the team concept of possessing the ball.

The first order of business is to increase the technical skill level of our players.   We must get them comfortable in playing with their back to the goal in middle and attacking thirds of the field. In order to do this we will progress through a series of exercises where they are exposed to constantly increasing levels of pressure until they can perform the footskill and first touch techniques automatically.

If you watch soccer at the higher levels,  the Woman’s National Team being a particularly good example, you will notice that many times players are situated with their back to the goal, i.e. coming forward towards their teammate to receive the ball or with their back to the goal at the top of the 18.    The US Women’s team in the 2-0, 1999 World Cup win over Brazil was constantly splitting two defenders with passes to players coming back at the ball.  The receiving player then either turned with  the ball towards her goal, or laid it off to a teammate making a run toward the goal.

Players turn the ball against pressure to create time and space to pass, shoot, or dribble.

Players who can receive and turn the ball against intense pressure and in tight space, and who can then take on defenders to go to goal, are extremely valuable to their teams. Such players have the ability to compete and contribute at the most competitive  levels.

Going back to the US Women’s Team example, during the Brazil game the US was very successful in coming back at the ball and turning.  Conversely, in the championship final the intense pressure put on the Americans by the Chinese National Team prevented the US from effectively turning in this game.  The result… a much tighter defensive battle that as we know ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.  If you have tapes of the game watch them back to back and you’ll see the difference a little more pressure makes on how your team performs.

 

Check Back Drill

The first exercise is a simple check to the ball drill.   It is a drill that helps develop the technical excellence we mentioned in receiving and distributing the ball as the player is coming back to her teammate.  It is a great progression drill since you can walk through it to start, then gradually increase the complexity by speeding up the center player, limiting touches, using both feet and different parts of the feet to touch and distribute the ball.

Set Up of Check Back

1. Two (2) sets of cones to act as markers.  With older players you can do this free form, but with the younger ages the cones act as a target towards which they can aim

 

 

2. Players at the ends each have a ball
   

3. Player in the middle starts at one set of cones and runs (walks if you need to simplify)  towards the other set
   

4. Player receives the ball and immediately gives it back to the passer
   

5. Player in middle reverses herself and runs back to the first set of cones, receives pass and returns it.
   

6. Process is repeated

 

Coaching Points of Check Back

 

Ø                  Allow a two touch pass to start and gradually progress to a one touch 

Ø                  Walk through the drill to start and gradually pick up the speed 

Ø                  Stress technical excellence since there is no pressure on either passer 

Ø                  Players on the outside can two touch continually since they have time between the runs.  Stress proper preparation of the first touch so that the second touch, the pass, is accurate and with the proper weight. 

Ø                  The ball must be played directly to the feet of the checking player. 

Ø                  Make sure that the checking player strikes the ball in the center or above so that the ball stays down. 

Ø                  Make sure that the checking player does not watch her pass after she makes it.  There is nothing she can do with her eyes and mind after the ball has left her foot. 

Ø                  Make this a competition among GROUPS of 3.  How many can the group get in one turn?  How many can the group get as a group?  Stress team  work…your pass enables a good receipt and return.. not just kick the ball and forget where it goes.  

Ø                  To increase the complexity of the drill further, you can add a second passer at each end that the passer has to play a ball to , and then receive from, each time the central player makes the pass to him

 

A word version of this article (Part 1A) is available here for downloading.

A word version of Part 1B of this article is available here for downloading

This article  is provided to www.DecaturSports.com through the courtesy of Coach George M. Lasher at Youth Soccer Coaching. George is an "A" licensed soccer coach from Long Island, New York and is a frequent contributor to  the soccer-coach-l mailing list.  George can be reached by e-mail at glasher@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US

Created: 12/20/99
Last Updated: 03/26/07

Since February 24, 1999
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