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Possession play and switching against a low block

Used by Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Liverpool, this exercise is ideal for working on attacking combinations against a low block to effectively exploit off-the-ball runs behind the defense.

Animation: Possession play and switching against a low block
On a half-field, create a space of about 20x30m on the left side, as well as an adjacent 5x30m area, as indicated in the diagram. Then place 2 mini-goals and 4 mannequins (or constri-foot) with a cone about 35m from the goal on the right side. Then set up a 5vs4 in the large area, place 1 player in the small area, and then a final player on the opposite side at the cone level.

The exercise will proceed as follows: 
  1. The offensive players (here in blue) start with a possession game against the 4 defenders in the large area.
  2. After making at least 3 passes, they play to their teammate in the small area. No defender can press this player.
  3. The player will then make a through ball behind the defense to their teammate on the opposite side.
  4. This player finishes their action on the large goal.
  5. If the defenders regain possession, they must score as quickly as possible on one of the 2 mini-goals.
  6. Change the 2 offensive players every 3 minutes or so.

Progression

After a few rounds, you can propose these different progressions: 
  • A defender can press the player in the small area (only one).
  • Players are limited to 2 touches of the ball.
  • The player in the small area can participate in the possession game (which then creates a 6vs4).
  • Players must make at least 5 passes before playing to the player in the small area.
  • The game is played in the same way, but on the opposite side (remember to set up the cones before the start of the exercise).

U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Seniors

Possession

Discover our possession Seniors drills

Possession game in 4 zones with mandatory switch of play

Possession game in 4 zones with mandatory switch of play

20 min
15-21 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - U18
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....
5v2 possession game with dribbling exit

5v2 possession game with dribbling exit

15 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U15 - U20
Maintain possession in a rondo under pressure, then break out with dribbling after 10 passes to score in a mini-goal....
Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side

Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side

20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U17
Three-zone possession exercise to work on reactions to transitions, the disadvantage on the weak side, and movements preparing for a potential loss of possession and counter-pressing....
Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball

Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball

20 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U20
Working on ball possession under pressure with immediate reaction to losing possession to strengthen defensive transition and coordinated pressing....
Possession game in 2 zones with role change

Possession game in 2 zones with role change

15 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - U17
Possession and switch of play drill in a three-zone format with role rotation between attackers and defenders....
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What constitutes the Senior category in soccer?


The Senior category includes all players over the age of 20. It encompasses players with a wide range of personal and athletic differences. As a senior coach, you must take this into account when preparing your senior training sessions. The Senior category marks a turning point in each player's soccer career. At this level, soccer is played with the utmost seriousness, commitment, and ambition, whether at the District level, regional competitions, or even at professional levels. 

For Senior players, soccer is often a passion that requires great discipline, optimal physical condition, and an advanced tactical understanding of the game. Each training session and match thus becomes crucial and far more important than in previous categories.

Here are the objectives and some tips on the best ways to train a senior team.

The objectives of the Senior category


For the Senior category, the objectives go well beyond the simple enjoyment of the game and the passion for soccer. Physical, tactical, and technical conditions are a major focus in the development of each player, as well as other crucial elements of the sport such as positioning, strategies for set pieces, formation, the type of play executed, management of individualities, locker room relationships, etc.

Coaching a Senior team involves much more responsibility as a coach and requires constant focus and structure to optimize the development of each player as well as sporting results and to reach high-level competitions.

Some tips for coaching a Senior team


Here are some essential tips for successfully coaching a Senior team:
  1. Personalization of training: Take into account the strengths, weaknesses, and individual goals of the players to customize each training session. This can include specific physical conditioning programs, technical workshops, or targeted tactical sessions.
  2. Balancing intensity and variety: Sessions should be both intense and varied to maintain player engagement and simulate upcoming or past match conditions, especially after defeats! 
  3. Focus on tactics: Senior players must understand and execute complex game plans set by the coach. Use video analysis, classroom sessions, and on-field exercises to teach and refine the game strategies you desire.
  4. Management of physical condition and recovery: Prevent injuries and ensure the athletic longevity of players by emphasizing good physical preparation, learning recovery practices after matches and training, muscle care, nutrition… 
  5. Strengthening team cohesion and mental health: Organize team-building activities and provide psychological support to each player to strengthen team spirit and help players manage pressure, especially if you reach high-level competitions.

What training exercises for a Senior team?


To succeed in your senior training session, we advise you to focus on 2 aspects: the phases of play and the pace of your sessions. There are many senior exercises available that highlight these 2 aspects, so it will be up to you to carefully select your specific senior exercises to add more dynamism to your training session.

Here is a series of exercises for a Senior team, inspired by modern soccer training practices:
  1. Advanced technical workshops: Organize sessions focused on perfecting individual technical skills, such as ball control under pressure, long-distance passing accuracy, shooting on goal, or other set pieces...
  2. Interactive tactical training: Set up games and simulations that encourage players to apply specific strategies and tactics, promoting quick thinking and decision-making under pressure.
  3. Targeted physical sessions: Include specific training to improve endurance, speed, agility, and strength of each player, according to the time of year and upcoming sporting events.
  4. Training matches and analysis: Regularly organize training matches to evaluate your Senior team's performance in real game conditions. Use post-match video analysis to discuss improvements and adjust strategies.
  5. Dynamic warm-ups: One-touch play combinations with support, inspired by a Liverpool training session. The objective? Improve communication and quick play.
  6. Possession and transition play: Possession exercise with attacking and defensive transitions, known and used notably by Pep Guardiola. This exercise emphasizes developing the ability to quickly switch phases of play (attack to defense…)
  7. Physical conditioning: Aerobic endurance circuit, adapted for physical preparation at the start of the season.
Possession game in double zone with coordinated press

Possession game in double zone with coordinated press

20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U14 - U15
Possession and organized pressing drill in two adjacent zones to work on transition and counter-pressing after losing the ball....
Possession play and switching against a low block

Possession play and switching against a low block

20 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - Seniors
Used by Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Liverpool, this exercise is ideal for working on attacking combinations against a low block to effectively exploit off-the-ball runs behind the defense....
Luis Enrique: possession play in 10v10 across 6 zones

Luis Enrique: possession play in 10v10 across 6 zones

20 min
16-20 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - Seniors
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....
Jurgen Klopp's possession play with use of the weak side

Jurgen Klopp's possession play with use of the weak side

25 min
14-18 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U19
This exercise, inspired by a training session of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, will allow you to work on the switch of play from the weak side, in order to directly deliver a cross behind the defense....
Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches

Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches

20 min
14-18 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - Seniors
Used by Claudio Ranieri during a training session at Leicester, this dynamic drill is perfect for getting your players to work on the defensive-to-attacking transition in the high area of the field....
Possession play and defensive-attacking transition with players providing support

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....
Possession game and defensive-attacking transition in a 6v6 (+ 2)

Possession game and defensive-attacking transition in a 6v6 (+ 2)

20 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
Exercise to work on spacing during the defensive-offensive transition in the attacking third, with this 6v6 possession game including 2 neutral players providing support....
Pressing then possession play in 3 zones by D. Simeone

Pressing then possession play in 3 zones by D. Simeone

18 min
18-22 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
This exercise on 3 zones by Diego Simeone, used at Atlético Madrid during the 2013/2014 season, is ideal for working on the defensive-to-attacking transition in the defensive third, with a situation of numerical disadvantage....
Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5

Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5

20 min
15-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
Inspired by a session from José Mourinho at Real Madrid, this exercise focuses on working on the attacking-defensive transitions in the high area of the field. The intensity you demand from your players upon losing the ball will be key during this drill....
Possession play and progressive switches of play

Possession play and progressive switches of play

20 min
6-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - U19
This small-sided game with a numerical advantage and progression from zone to zone is ideal for youth teams and will help improve concentration while adding a competitive element....
Possession game in 4v2 with quick transitions and pressing

Possession game in 4v2 with quick transitions and pressing

15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
Very dynamic drill in the form of 2 possession games in 4v2 with focus on pressing in tight spaces. Ideal for gradually increasing intensity!...
Possession play and high press in 2 zones

Possession play and high press in 2 zones

20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U20
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....
Ralf Rangnick's Possession Game to Work on Transitions

Ralf Rangnick's Possession Game to Work on Transitions

15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
A relatively simple possession drill to set up, but with certain constraints that will allow your players to work on transition play and counter-pressing, initiated by Ralf Rangnick....
7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes

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

Possession game in 4v4 followed by a 2v1 counterattack

20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U18
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

6v6 possession game with 2 neutral players and shooting on small goals

20 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U20
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....
Creating a numerical advantage in a possession game across 3 zones

Creating a numerical advantage in a possession game across 3 zones

25 min
15-21 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - 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....
6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone

6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone

20 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - Seniors
Ideal exercise for working like teams such as Liverpool or Manchester City. A short passing game followed by a through ball into a central area, followed by a new phase of possession. The quality of the 2 neutral players is crucial if you want to give rhythm to this exercise....

Other sub-theme Seniors soccer drills

Seniors Agility soccer drills

  1. Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals
  2. Athletic work in groups of 3 with the ball
  3. Pep Guardiola's off-the-ball agility with speed and coordination work
See all

Seniors Attacking transition soccer drills

  1. Xavi: using width in a 6v6 with 4 support players
  2. Transition and switch of play with support and neutral players (variation)
  3. Tactical drill by Diego Simeone with defensive transition to attacking Transition work
See all

Seniors Build-up play soccer drills

  1. Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
  2. Build-up play from the goalkeeper and alternating between short passing game and direct play
  3. Rondo in 3 zones to find the 9 and exploit the numerical advantage
See all

Seniors Circuit soccer drills

  1. Marcelo Bielsa: working on build-up play against a high press
  2. Combinations with a one-touch play circuit and supporting player
  3. Endurance capacity circuit with ball and motor skills work
See all

Seniors Cognitive soccer drills

  1. Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1
  2. Specific Forwards: Shooting Around the Edge of the Box
  3. Information gathering, ball control, and passing in groups of 3
See all

Seniors Counterattack soccer drills

  1. Attacking to defensive transition with a 5v3 in a dual zone
  2. Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5
  3. J. Klopp: Quick attacks with work on defensive-attacking transitions
See all

Seniors Counter-pressing soccer drills

  1. Double 3v2 with pressing from a central square
  2. 3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
  3. 9v9: midfield pressing and maintaining a compact block across 3 zones
See all

Seniors Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills

  1. Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
  2. Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball
  3. Defensive transition of Pep Guardiola in an 8vs7 with 4 supports
See all

Seniors Defensive transition soccer drills

  1. "Positional play" in 4v4 + 3 neutral players
  2. 4v4 game with line touch after each goal
  3. 9v9: midfield pressing and maintaining a compact block across 3 zones
See all

Seniors Dribbling soccer drills

  1. Switch of play and shooting with a series of 1v1 duels
  2. Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
  3. Shooting drill with slalom and passing sequence (non-contact)
See all

Seniors Duels soccer drills

  1. Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals
  2. 1v1s on small goals with a defender chasing
  3. 2v2 Situation and Shooting
See all

Seniors Endurance soccer drills

  1. Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
  2. Fast ball dribbling athletic drill
  3. Speed training: interval sprints on various courses
See all

Seniors Explosive strength soccer drills

  1. Fast-paced 3v1 play with speed and agility work
  2. Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting
  3. Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters
See all

Seniors Fun Game soccer drills

  1. Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3
  2. Luis Enrique: Switch of play in a dynamic 3v3 with a neutral player
  3. Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal
See all

Seniors Gaps soccer drills

  1. 3-Team Transition Game: Intense 2v4 Pressing in Zones
  2. Transition and "support players" of Pep Guardiola (in 3 zones)
  3. Possession game in 2 zones with role change
See all

Seniors Motor skills soccer drills

  1. Pass, dribble, cross, and near-post off-the-ball run
  2. Endurance capacity circuit with ball and motor skills work
See all

Seniors Offensive combinations soccer drills

  1. Offensive combination work between the lines of Pep Guardiola
  2. Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
  3. Attacker Technique: Combination, Cross, and Shooting
See all

Seniors Overload soccer drills

  1. Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
  2. Xavi: using width in a 6v6 with 4 support players
  3. 5v2 possession game with dribbling exit
See all

Seniors Passes soccer drills

  1. Direct play with a double 4v1 and a central zone
  2. Athletic work in groups of 3 with the ball
  3. One-two pass and forward run in a passing square
See all

Seniors Positional play soccer drills

  1. Defensive cover and tracking back in a three-man defense
  2. Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
  3. Possession play and high press in 2 zones
See all

Seniors Pressing soccer drills

  1. Recovery and Switch of Play in an 8v8 on 2 Zones
  2. Build-up and transition in 5v3
  3. José Mourinho's 3v3 with two external zones and passes between the lines
See all

Seniors Rondos soccer drills

  1. Pep Guardiola: Small-sided high-intensity play from 1v1 to 5v5
  2. Small group possession in 4 zones
  3. 5v5 attacking game with 4 support players in tight spaces
See all

Seniors Scanning soccer drills

  1. Finishing Exercise from 4 Different Angles
  2. Combinations with a one-touch play circuit and supporting player
  3. Attacking transition and game awareness
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Seniors Shooting soccer drills

  1. Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1
  2. Circuit with offensive combinations in groups of 4
  3. Finishing exercise with diamond passing game
See all

Seniors Support soccer drills

  1. 3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
  2. 3v3 Opposition with Goalkeepers and Neutral Support Players
  3. 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
See all

Seniors Transition soccer drills

  1. Exploiting spaces in counterattack in the opponent's half
  2. Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacking-Defensive Transition with 1v1 Duels
  3. Possession game and defensive-attacking transition in a 6v6 (+ 2)
See all

Seniors Using width soccer drills

  1. Jurgen Klopp's Attacking-Defensive Transition with a Reduced 6v6 Game
  2. 3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
  3. Pass, dribble, cross, and near-post off-the-ball run
See all