Possession drills for U11-U12

Keep it quick in the tight space. Sharp first touch, use the neutrals fast, and switch quickly before the close press wins it.

Keep the ball against equal numbers in a tight space: one or two-touch, sharp first touch, and instant support to string passes together.

Keep possession to find and use a free target player, then switch. Circulate to move the defenders, play into the open target on one side, and switch quickly to the target on the other.

Draw and switch quickly. In the tight grid, combine sharply to commit the defenders, then switch fast to free the winger before the space closes.

Isolate the winger, then finish. Draw the defence, switch to the free man, and let him attack the space and finish across the keeper.

Progress the ball cleanly from the back to the final third. Build with a pass into feet, receive on the half turn to progress, and penetrate the last line with a well-timed forward pass.

Play a high-intensity 4v4 in a tight space: quick decisions, sharp combinations, clean first touch, and an instant counter-press on the turnover.

Play a high-intensity 3v3 in a tight space: quick decisions, clean first touch under pressure, and an instant reaction on the turnover.

Move the ball from one flank to the other faster than the defence can slide across. Build a strong side to draw them over, use the pivot as the anchor, and switch with an accurate driven diagonal to the free player in space.

Draw them one way, switch, and attack the other. Build one side, switch to the far winger, drive on and cross for the striker to finish.

Play through the press to the striker. Sharp progression to beat the screening defender, the ten spinning away, and the through ball before he recovers.

Beat the two-man press. Move the ball quickly to shift the pressers, and release the free full-back before the cover arrives.

Switch and attack before he recovers. Draw the defence, switch quickly to the far winger, and attack the space before the defender shifts across to cover.

Progress the ball through the thirds and finish. Into the pivot, forward into the ten between the lines, through to the striker, and finish.

Thread the tight gap. See the small window early, disguise the pass, and weight it precisely through the line into the receiver's feet.

Play out past the press. Draw the presser onto one centre-back, then switch to the free man and progress up the line.

Keep possession and score through the free gate. Scan for the open gate, switch the play away from pressure, and drive through the gate the defenders have left open.

Keep possession with a two-neutral overload. Support the ball at good angles, use the neutrals to beat the press, and switch the play to the free side to keep the ball.