positional play U18 soccer drills
positional play U18 drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the positional play aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drills7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
Used by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in February 2019, this possession game is ideal for working on the positioning and movement of your players.
On a half-field, set up 4 gates as shown in the diagram and form 2 teams of 7 players, as well as 3 neutral players. Also, make sure to place balls all around the field to avoid wasting time in case of a ball out and maintain high intensity.
The game starts with a pass from the coach to the blue team. The blues must maintain possession with the help of the 3 neutral players while the 7 yellow players try to win it back. The goal for the blue team is to make a pass through one of the gates. However, they cannot pass through the same gate twice in a row.
When the yellows win the ball, it's their turn to perform a possession game to try to find a teammate through a gate.
Variation 1: you can require your players to make the pass through the gate with one touch. This will increase the intensity of the exercise and make the task slightly more difficult for your players.
Variation 2: you can also ask your players to dribble through the gates, specifying that only team players can score a point. The neutral players are only there for support.
Variation 2: passing through the gates
Discover our positional play U18 drills
M. Bielsa: Build-up play on the strong side with a switch of play to draw a defender and release
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
Ball circulation sequence working on build-up play under pressure on the strong side, followed by a quick switch of play to the weak side to finish in a mini-goal, inspired by a session proposed by Marcelo Bielsa....
Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U19
3v3 game with goalkeepers and two wide supports to create link-ups on the wide areas and find a situation for a give-and-go or a cross before shooting....
Possession game in 4 zones with mandatory switch of play
20 min
15-21 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U20
Positional play in 4 zones where the team in possession must maintain a 3v3 (+3 neutral players) and then switch of play to another zone after 8 to 10 passes....
6v6 with central no-go zone – switches of play and attacks using width
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U17
6v6 game with goalkeepers where teams must attack with width and skip the restricted zone to play a through ball....
6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - U18
Positional play where 6 players maintain possession against 3 pressing, with objectives of passing and quick transitions to mini-goals....
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The U18 category includes players aged 17-18 years.
8v8: connection of the fullbacks with the attacking line across 5 zones
15 min
14-18 joueurs
Tactical
U14 - U15
Build-up play and connection between wide players and forwards in an 8v8 structured into five zones....
Offensive combination work between the lines of Pep Guardiola
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - Seniors
This drill, used during a training session at Manchester City, is ideal for working on a specific offensive combination with playing between the lines through a passing circuit....
Diamond play with passing combinations
18 min
8-24 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
Simple drill to set up but allows working on the diamond shape from different angles and through various combinations. This is actually a drill used by the German national team during a training session....
Pep Guardiola's triple one-two pass with give-and-go and directional control
10 min
10-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - U18
Used by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, this drill, which can be included in warm-ups, focuses on three and four-player combinations with an emphasis on speed of execution....
Luis Enrique: possession play in 10v10 across 6 zones
20 min
16-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
Used by Luis Enrique with the Spanish national team, this possession game takes place in 6 zones and will allow your players to work on passing combinations and creating spaces for playing between the lines....
Shooting with diamond play from the German national team
20 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U19 - U20
Drill used during a training session of the German national team, it will allow you to work on several different combinations in front of the goal, with a focus on diamond play....
Possession play and defensive-attacking transition with players providing support
20 min
20-22 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U18
Small-sided game with a focus on possession work and an attacking transition, which forms the core of this exercise. Note that several variations are possible....
Playing between the lines and quick transitions by Luis Enrique in 6v6
20 min
11-15 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U18
Excellent exercise proposed by Luis Enrique during his time at AS Roma, with this 6v6 small-sided game on 3 mini goals, which allows for addressing different themes such as the use of width or playing between the lines....
Passes between the lines with 2 final third zones in 5v5
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
Used by R. Benitez during a training session in Naples, this drill will help you work on two essential aspects: finding the gap for the team in possession of the ball, and effectively blocking passing lanes for the defending team....
Luis Enrique: dynamic situation in 3 zones with support for the ball carrier
20 min
16-20 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U19
Used by Luis Enrique during a training session at FC Barcelona in 2015, this drill, which places your players in a situation across 3 zones, will allow you to work on finding the free player and playing between the lines....
Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
18 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - Seniors
Used by Unai Emery during a training session at Arsenal in 2018, this drill aims to work on positional play through a 5v5 possession game with 2 neutral players....
Rondo and Switch of Play in 4 Zones by Rafael Benitez
20 min
18-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U19
Used by Rafael Benitez at Napoli, this drill will force your players to stay constantly engaged in the game and continuously offer solutions, thanks to the rule of a maximum of 4 passes....
3-Team Possession Game (6v6 + 3 neutral players)
20 min
15-19 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U17
This exercise involves a 6v6 match with 3 attacking jokers on a reduced field. It's ideal for working on movement and decision-making under opponent pressure....
Possession play and high press in 2 zones
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - U19
Used by Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, this exercise is ideal for working on the high press on the field and quick transitions. Emphasize the importance of executing the press collectively....
7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
15 min
17-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - U16
Used by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in February 2019, this possession game is ideal for working on the positioning and movement of your players....
Possession game in 4v4 followed by a 2v1 counterattack
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - Seniors
This drill is ideal for working on counterattacks in match situations. You can implement different variations to add rhythm to a session and offer a quality drill to your players (exercise used by Manchester City in April 2019)....
6v6 possession game with 2 neutral players and shooting on small goals
20 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U16
This possession drill focuses on three aspects: space management, passing quality, and speed of execution. With numerous variations, it is ideal for adding tempo to your session....
Positional play and movement in 9v7 on 3 goals
20 min
19-22 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
Used in 2014 by Pep Guardiola during Bayern Munich's summer preparation, this exercise is ideal for training your players in the famous "positional play," as well as the importance of movement....
Creating a numerical advantage in a possession game across 3 zones
25 min
15-21 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Used by Guardiola at FC Barcelona (B team) in 2008, this possession exercise with a numerical advantage is perfect for training your players to utilize the advantage of numbers during an attacking phase....
Defensive cover and tracking back in a three-man defense
14 min
9-18 joueurs
Technical
U20 - U19
Excellent technical drill for defenders to work on speed of movement, agility, and coordination. Conducted by Bayern Munich during a training session in 2013....
Recovery and Switch of Play in an 8v8 on 2 Zones
30 min
16-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Still based on Positional Play, this exercise allows you to work with your players on quick recovery (gegenpressing) as well as switching play under pressure. A perfect mix!...
"Juego de Posición" in possession 9v9 + 2 support players
20 min
20-22 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U17
The "Juego de Posicion" popularized by Pep Guardiola is an important element of this game, ideal for a large number of players. Positioning will be crucial throughout the drill....
Possession with 3 teams and quick transition play
15 min
15-18 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U17
An ideal exercise to work on ball possession and quick transitions while adopting the mindset of "Positional Play" and can be performed just as well in pre-season as during the year. Emphasize the intensity of the transitions!...
"Juego de Posición" in possession 3v3 + 2 at high intensity
12 min
8-24 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U17
A typical game of "Positional Play" popularized by Pep Guardiola, which will allow your players to work on the attacking-defensive transition while consistently maintaining a high level of intensity....
Effectively utilizing the spaces between the lines
18 min
8-16 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - Seniors
This drill is perfect for learning how to exploit spaces between the opposing lines. It was designed to find the free player between the lines and in the space available created by the gap between the defense and the midfield....
"Positional play" in 4v4 + 3 neutral players
20 min
11-12 joueurs
Tactical
Seniors - U19
Inspired by Pep Guardiola's famous "Juego de Posición," this drill is perfect for working on your players' positioning and their relationship with space....
Speed of play and quickness in 6v6 with support
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Technical
U18 - U20
Through a 6v6 with support players, this drill works on both the quickness of your players and ball control in high-speed play....
Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
8 min
16-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U16 - U18
Ideal exercise to improve your players' group positioning....
Build-up play: finding space between the lines
20 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U18
Starting with a 7v7 on half a field, your players practice finding open space between the opponents and behind them to offer solutions during the build-up play. The focus is also on seeking to stretch the opposing team to open up spaces....
Building the Attack: Movement and Finding Open Space
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U16
Starting from a 7v7 on a half-field, your players practice finding open space between opponents and behind them to offer solutions during the build-up play....
Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U19
With this exercise, your forwards work on positioning between the lines to provide options in build-up play and attack construction. They also practice shooting....
Switch of play and defensive positioning game
20 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U20
Exercise focusing on training your players on switches of play and positional play in defense. It also allows the coach to emphasize either attack or defense according to their requirements....
Possession game with 3 teams and river
20 min
12-15 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U17
Ideal possession exercise to work on passing speed and game awareness on a defined area. Remind your players of the importance of communication during this possession drill....
Other sub-theme U18 soccer drills
U18 Agility soccer drills
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
- Speed Work and 1v1 Duels
- Agility and information gathering by color and by team
U18 Attacking transition soccer drills
- Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches
- Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
- Attacking transition and game awareness
U18 Build-up play soccer drills
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
- Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
- Mr. Bielsa: Creating and Exploiting Space Along the Touchline
U18 Circuit soccer drills
- Rafael Benitez Passing Circuit with give and go, opening, and direct play
- Mr. Bielsa: working on lateral-winger automatisms with a passing circuit
- Endurance capacity circuit with ball and motor skills work
U18 Cognitive soccer drills
- The 4 Colors of Unai Emery: Quickness and Reaction Time
- Pep Guardiola's off-the-ball agility with speed and coordination work
- Possession play and defensive-attacking transition with players providing support
U18 Counterattack soccer drills
- Exploiting spaces in counterattack in the opponent's half
- Defensive transition on 4 zones by Jurgen Klopp (9vs5)
- Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
U18 Counter-pressing soccer drills
- 3v3 Opposition with Goalkeepers and Neutral Support Players
- Warm-up with a small-sided game focused on counter-pressing
- Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball
U18 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- Pep Guardiola's Transition Work in a 5v5 Across 3 Zones
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Zonal marking: defensive positioning and team block
U18 Defensive transition soccer drills
- Switch of play and shooting with a series of 1v1 duels
- Attacking-defensive transition of Mikel Arteta in a 4v2
- 7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
U18 Dribbling soccer drills
- Warm-up with Bayern Munich Relay
- Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
- Fast ball dribbling athletic drill
U18 Duels soccer drills
- 11v11 opposition with 2v1 scenarios on the wide areas
- Speed Work and 1v1 Duels
- Defensive play training for the fullback
U18 Endurance soccer drills
- Fast ball dribbling athletic drill
- Speed training: long and repeated sprints over 3 distances
- Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
U18 Explosive strength soccer drills
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
- J. Klopp: agility and reaction time training with the ball
- Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters
U18 Fun Game soccer drills
- Luis Enrique: Switch of play in a dynamic 3v3 with a neutral player
- Rondo 8v3 and Passing Accuracy Under Pressure
- Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3
U18 Gaps soccer drills
- 3-Team Possession Game (6v6 + 3 neutral players)
- Positioning and movement to find space between the lines
- Offensive combination work between the lines of Pep Guardiola
U18 Motor skills soccer drills
- Endurance capacity circuit with ball and motor skills work
- Pass, dribble, cross, and near-post off-the-ball run
U18 Offensive combinations soccer drills
- Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
- Building the Attack: Movement and Finding Open Space
- Offensive "Y" Combination with Support Play and Shooting
U18 Overload soccer drills
- Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1
- Pressing then possession play in 3 zones by D. Simeone
- Possession play and progressive switches of play
U18 Passes soccer drills
- One-two pass and forward run in a passing square
- 3v1 Exchange, Layoff and Shooting on Full-Size Goal (Variation)
- Finishing exercise with diamond passing game
U18 Possession soccer drills
- Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5
- Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches
- Creating a numerical advantage in a possession game across 3 zones
U18 Pressing soccer drills
- Finding the free player in a 3v1 situation by Marcelo Bielsa
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
- Marcelo Bielsa: Build-up play under pressure and switch of play in 8v6
U18 Rondos soccer drills
- Rondo and Switch of Play in 4 Zones by Rafael Benitez
- Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
- Fast Play: Speed of Passing and Play
U18 Scanning soccer drills
- Rondo and Switch of Play in 4 Zones by Rafael Benitez
- Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
- Combinations with a one-touch play circuit and supporting player
U18 Shooting soccer drills
- Jurgen Klopp's possession play with use of the weak side
- Jurgen Klopp's offensive combination with a double cross in front of the goal
- Forwards: Agility and precision of shots without control
U18 Support soccer drills
- Xavi: using width in a 6v6 with 4 support players
- 5v5 attacking game with 4 support players in tight spaces
- Warm-up: working on play with support