Three-Team Possession: Lose It, Defend
Three teams of four in one square: two keep the ball (8v4) and the team whose player loses it becomes the defending team at once. Fewest turns defending wins.
- Age
- U11–Senior
- Players
- 12–15
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 25 × 25 m
- Type
- Integrated
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Possession game
- Objectives
- Tactical: Ball possession, Defensive transition, Attacking transition, Decision making
- Concepts worked on
- Tactical:Ball retentionSupport playScanningCounter-pressing
- Physical:Reaction speed
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Neutral / support
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
This keep-ball game punishes every loss straight away. When the defenders win the ball, they join the team that did not lose it and keep possession, while the team that lost it must press immediately. Players learn to react in the first seconds after losing the ball and to find support quickly after winning it.
Objective
React in the first seconds after losing the ball and offer support immediately after winning it.
Organisation
- 25 × 25 m square.
- Three teams of four in different bibs.
- Balls around the square; the coach restarts when the ball goes out.
How it works
- Two teams keep the ball together against the third (8v4), maximum three touches.
- When the defenders win the ball, the team whose player lost it becomes the defending team at once.
- The team that won it keeps the ball with the team that did not lose it. No stopping.
- If the ball goes out, the last team to touch it defends and the coach plays a new ball in.
- Each team counts how many times it has to defend. 3 × 4 minutes; fewest turns defending wins.
Coaching points
- After losing the ball, the nearest player presses at once; the others close the passing lines around the ball.
- After winning it, the first pass goes away from the pressure, and everyone opens up to make the pitch big.
- Look around before receiving: you need to know where the three teams are.
- Talk: call out who has to defend so nobody hesitates.
Progressions
- Two-touch limit.
- Smaller square (20 × 20 m).
Regressions
- Free touches.
- Five seconds of passive pressure after every change.
Variations
- The team that wins the ball scores a bonus point if it completes five passes straight away.
Key principles
- Press immediately after losing it.
- Open up after winning it.
- Look before receiving.
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