36-P13 · Advanced lead-in to 11 v 11 · U15 up to adult
Maintaining Possession in the Midfield
Maintaining Possession in the Midfield is an advanced lead-in to 11 v 11 for U15 up to adult teams (12 players, 35 × 30 yards) that works on passing, movement and defending.
This practice takes place in an octagon shaped playing area and develops midfielders combination play and ability to maintain possession.
Opens in Touchtight Club · 14-day free trial · Card required
2:00 - Age group
- U15 up to adult
- Players
- 12 players
- Area
- 35 × 30 yards (1/3 Pitch)
- Time
- 25–35 minutes
- Goalkeeper
- No
- Coaches
- 1
- Practice type
- Advanced lead-in to 11 v 11
- Coach level
- Advanced (B Licence)
How it's set up
This practice takes place in an octagon shaped playing area and is focused on developing midfielders combination play and ability to maintain possession. We setup with 12 players split into three teams, one starting on the outsides of the area, one inside the area as attackers and the final team inside as the defenders. The 4 central attackers can make use of the outside players to keep possession. The objective of this practice is for the team in possession to make 10 passes before being able to finish in any of the mini goals. After a goal is scored, the defenders switch out with the outside floaters. If the defenders win possession, the two central teams switch roles.
Key coaching points
- Maximise use of outside players when under pressure. Create angles early to move defenders / create gaps.
- Don’t block passing lanes to outside players. Awareness of position in playing area to finish.
- Passing accuracy to maintain possession. Defenders work as a unit to compact space and make interceptions.
Also in the full practice
- 1 progression to make it harder as your players improveIn Club
- 3 player questions to check understanding during the practiceIn Club
- The coach-led video (2:00) how to set it up and deliver itIn Club
- Add it to your team's Dugout drop it into a session plan with your warm-up and gameIn Club
Open 36-P13 in Club → 14-day free trial
Run it with your team.
Watch 36-P13 in full, then add it to your next session. It's one of over 1,000 practices in the Touchtight Club library.
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