Three-Corridor Possession
6v6 keep-ball in three corridors with players of both teams in every corridor. Moving the ball from one wide corridor to the other, or changing corridor three times, scores a point.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 12–16
- Duration
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 40 × 36 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Positional game
- Objectives
- Tactical: Ball possession, Switching play, Decision making
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
The area is split lengthways into two wide corridors and a central one, and both teams must keep players in all three. The team in possession cannot crowd around the ball: it has to keep the pitch wide, attract the opponents to one side and get the ball to the far corridor. The defending team learns to shift across without leaving a corridor empty.
Objective
Keep the ball with a wide structure and move it from one side to the other through the central corridor or with a direct switch.
Organisation
- 40 × 36 m area split lengthways into three 12 m corridors: two wide and one central.
- Two teams of six (up to eight with bigger groups). With an odd number, add one neutral in the central corridor.
- Balls around the area for quick restarts.
How it works
- Each team must have at least one player in each corridor at all times, and no more than three in the same corridor (four when playing 8v8).
- Point for the team in possession when the ball travels from one wide corridor to the other without the opponents touching it, either through the central corridor or with a direct pass.
- Point too for three corridor changes in a row (for example central → wide → central → wide). A change only counts when a teammate controls the ball inside the new corridor.
- A direct switch from wide corridor to wide corridor, over the central one, scores two points.
- After a point the team keeps the ball and starts counting again. If the defending team wins the ball, it becomes the team in possession and counts from that moment.
- 4 × 4 minutes with 90 seconds of rest.
Coaching points
- Keep one player wide and deep in the far corridor: the switch only exists if someone is waiting there.
- Play two or three short passes on one side to draw the defenders before switching.
- Central corridor: offer yourself between the defenders with an open body to link both sides.
- Switch with a firm pass along the ground; the receiver opens up before the ball arrives and plays forward or inside.
- Defending team: shift together towards the ball, but leave one player in the far corridor to close the switch.
Progressions
- Two-touch limit for everyone.
- Only the wide-to-wide route scores: the three-change rule disappears.
- At least two players of each team in each wide corridor.
Regressions
- Two corridor changes in a row are enough for a point.
- One neutral in the central corridor who plays with the team in possession.
- Make the area bigger (45 × 40 m).
Variations
- Easier version for younger players: three-corridor possession with neutrals.
- Add a mini-goal at each end of the central corridor: after scoring a point, the team may attack either mini-goal.
Key principles
- Width in possession.
- Attract on one side, finish the move on the other.
- Shift together without leaving the far side empty.
Share this task
Useful? Send it to your coaching staff or save the diagram.