How to Coach Possession to Kids - (FULL SESSION)

Coach Mentor Programme: Do you need help with coaching? Do you want to learn from coaches with thousands of hours of experience? The Catalan Coach Mentoring Programme has been designed to help grassroots coaches improve their game. Get in touch today - Email [e-mail]
In this video we take you through a Full POV session on how to build possession and when to break forward and score.

[@ryanrogers4665]

this has to be some of the best youth coaching i’ve ever seen

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks Ryan! Really appreciate the kind feedback!

[@stephenespinal3094]

minute 10:20 to 13:00 is some of the most useful coaching a youth player can get. Amen Brotha!

[@wiri7109]

Literally one of the best videos I’ve ever seen.

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks so much!

[@tsafc3848]

As a U10 coach this video showing an actual session with kids was a great format and nice to see how it actually applied in real life. There's loads of content out there with great ideas but demoed with adults so it's harder to see how it translates to grassroots. If you've got plans for more videos of your sessions like this it would be hugely welcome. Cheers 👍

[@CatalanSoccer]

Absolutely, we’re filming more over the summer! ❤️ thanks for the feedback!

[@juventusventuno9213]

As an older player who only took up the game 5 yrs ago, this is the coach session I never had but should have had early on. XD Lots of soccer basic elements communicated in a clear, engaging manner, for little tikes and old fogeys alike XD

[@ch41ky822]

This is by far the best session iv seen with kids, I will be taking this into my sessions

[@leeb9971]

Fantastic session on how to effectively use possession.

[@ynwa9621]

Fantastic session

[@Ewerboweski]

Great video, just being able to hear the tone shifts and your positioning along with thier body language, helped me see how in other videos you speak in a way they understand or connect with and keeps them focused and engaged.

[@pmac6062]

Brilliant video that thanks very much

[@livefree1111]

Love this explainer video. Awesome job.

[@razorg4421]

The most impressive thing for me is the control you have with the group. Im reqlly struggling with my team messing around, talking when im talking, same people putting equipment away every time etc

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks a lot. They are a great group, a big part of it is kids learning to train not just learning to play. I often explain to the kids that we will stop the session alot today to chat about things, they need to raise their hand to answer questions. But they have to be listening as I might put them on the spot and ask them a question. It takes a while but they’ve got there in the end!

[@CatalanSoccer]

We have a coach mentor programme to help coaches with issues like this, let me know if you’d be interested in more information about it!

[@stuartbowman4582]

I really like your comment about "learning to train". I'm going to use that!

[@stuartbowman4582]

I sometimes struggled with our team but we did a simple survey of our team and the feedback was clear. Most of them wanted a lot more respect and clearer rules. So we created our own code with rewards and consequences. It's worked pretty well.

[@jamiehough8615]

i have just started coaching an u7 for this coming season. I used your stretch & squeeze set up last week and to my surprise the kids actually got the hang of it. even at the age of 6 by the end of the session they were getting into them positions. Their ability is mid to high individually - but getting them to stop running with the ball is really really difficult. I think this video is what i need to sort of implement but i feel they are probably still to young for it. They 100% need to improve on their passing accuracy etc for this to work at its best. You videos are brilliant - i was hesitant about using a board but i now feel its the way forward.

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks Jamie! Stick with it, touch on it every few weeks to remind them but don’t bore them with it where it’s every single session as they will tire of hearing it and switch off to the messages! Using a board is the same, maybe not every session but some like this one are perfect for letting players see a Birds Eye view of the pitch when they are trying to solve problems. It can help a lot of kids who are visual learners to click with topics. Often kids will learn by seeing more than learning by doing things.

[@filipdepover1082]

There's is some great stuff in this session, but please use it at the right level of players and at the right age. I read that you want your players to stop running with the ball. Bit there's no reason to ask this. U7 and U8 need to dribble, have as much contacts with the ball and get comfortable at the ball. At this age the players are really focused on themselves. Good passing, build up, etc is the next step in their development. Success with your coaching.

[@ralphdmello2409]

​​@@filipdepover1082 now i am a bit confused by your advice. Please can u help with my senerio. I am from India. My sons soccer team is in total chaos. They have been loosing all the matches in a row. They do not have any passing drills. So during matches its total chaos with the player who likes to dribble will want all the ball at his foot. However i find this videos drills good enough to get them to start passing. But ur comment stats a different experience. Hence can u pls shed som light.

[@ynwa9621]

Please can you put the previous weeks “support play” video that he prefaces at the beginning??

[@robenykealo468]

Very nice 💯💯

[@user-iy3ur7yj4i]

Love the session just interested to know the years previous was the main focus technical ability 1v1 etc for these players ? I think for coaches watching it’s 100% important to teach possession but don’t make it the only thing you do players have to be allowed to express and be creative and if you over do the possession and passing you suck that out of players so it’s important to get the balance right between technical ability and possession But at these younger ages technical ability should be prioritised and the Possession stuff sprinkled in every now and then then Don’t make it so you have 7 robots on the pitch that only do what the coach has taught them encourage to try crazy skills and go at players Love the session but very well executed

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thank you! Yes they do a 14 week block, only 3 of those weeks are possession or tactical based and the remainder are technical, mentality and physical training sessions!

[@user-iy3ur7yj4i]

@@CatalanSoccer Supper stuff I don’t think there’s a doubt you guys are doing great stuff comment was maybe towards some other coaches who watch this and go all in on the possession stuff and neglect the the other stuff you just mentioned Thanks very much for the response

[@Paris-un5xm]

Hi , great video!!! Do you know where I could get the same whiteboard set?

[@taylore2470]

Great session. Also, I like the magnets and whiteboard. Where can you find those?

[@CatalanSoccer]

Amazon!

[@georgetzortzis6042]

Great session thanks for posting. How old is this group? At what age should the team start learning about possession?

[@CatalanSoccer]

Hi George! This group is 9 and 10 year olds. The basics of possession can be taught as young as 7, but players will need a comfortable level of technical ability on the ball before possession will work. Coaching passing and receiving skills as well as 1v1 possession first is a must!

[@amaadhussain3115]

@@CatalanSoccer do you have a video for the passing and receiving skills we should work on before we go into a session like this so kids now about screening etc back foot receiving so on

[@CherifDjouadi]

very good job Coach Bravo im working this year with u11 categorie (2013/2014) and i'm having difficulty to make them playing with Possession of the ball because they are used to playing individually in the last year, anyway i will trying to use this session with them and i have qeustion please: do you think its okey when the coach find 25 children in the team to work with them in one session alone? how much children you work with?

[@CatalanSoccer]

I have 14 ad a maximum to make sure every kid gets some 1-1 time from me during the session

[@jobadebayo9194]

I had to search for this video again because of this "white tactical magnetic board"....I wud like to knw how to get it...cos I searched it on Amazon,but didn't see anything close to it.... thanks 🙏

[@ralphdmello2409]

Amazing session. Just one question. Will this work for u7 kids?

[@CatalanSoccer]

On a very basic level, on small pitches and small teams! But it’s not a huge priority at that age group!

[@giftyayew-asare9142]

nice

[@or3oplayz795]

Pro

[@gerardomacias8130]

I need to learn to break by myself and dribble through into space :/

[@stuartbowman4582]

You're talking a lot when the kids are playing here. Works ok for video watchers, but for players? Maybe take a step back, let them play and give input when you stop the game?

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks Stuart. This is my personal style when coaching a new topic, higher amounts of commentary and instructions and over a 3/4 week period I reduce information to increase decision making from the players. By week 4, I’m almost silent during the play. But that’s a coaches personal choice, there’s no ‘right’ way of coaching, but guided learning in the *early* stages of the topic is the most effective way I have found. As you say, some of the vocals are for watching coaches as well as the players. Thanks for watching and the feedback, I really appreciate you taking the time!

[@stuartbowman4582]

@@CatalanSoccer That makes sense, might be worth pointing that out? Or doing a specific video on this? It's one of the things I see a lot: the wall of noise coach. Your stuff is great, though, especially like the ones on supporting kids with their emotions and the more unusual ones such as involving subs.

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks Stuart! Yeah that’s a good point, some coaches might think it’s the only way to coach every session. Thanks for the feedback mate!

[@SuperFootballDrills]

I was thinking the same and it's a bit like my coaching. If I record myself I think I'd sound very similar! I think it's information overload and running commentator instead of scaffolding it and letting them figure it out more. This is what I need to work on. Also not too sure about the Build or Break I prefer Start and Finish the attack.

[@omardavids8912]

As an educator, more play, less lectures! Kids hate sitting in class and listening to educators. Guided discovery. The game will teach them how to solve the problems.

[@CatalanSoccer]

This video is clips from a 90 minute class. The kids had a heck of a lot of ball time, time to discover and tactical discussions amongst the kids themselves. As an educator, you have to make sure they understand methods, reasoning and mindset towards possession. The game won’t teach them to suddenly start sharing the ball, understanding triggers and timings and helping them realise WHY something isn’t working. Those things can take a ton of time to understand on their own, but a coaches role is to accelerate that understanding and speed up the learning process. If a kid is struggling with their times tables, you don’t just leave them to discover how to do it on their own, you teach them principles, methods and corrections so that they can understand the errors and begin to self correct.

[@jpg7616]

So Omar - what do you do as a coach? Just set up a game and give no instructions?? You’re hoping a 7-10 year old kid will just figure out strategy on their own? If the game can teach everything, then what are coaches for? You should probably read up on the science of deliberate practice with expert feedback.

[@RickieBickie]

So you’re saying teaching kids how to play the game properly and understand why they should be making certain decisions to advance the attack is a bad thing and he should just let them do whatever they think is best? What a completely brain dead comment, kids are smarter than you think and the kids taking extra training such as this want to learn how to be better players. Feel for the kids you teach who are left to just ‘play’ with no direction. Sure they will learn a lot from you

[@mantvydaseiza9146]

I think its to early to talk about build-up so deeply. Because the main part of this age 7-10 years old is to play 1v1 make a dribble fint. and I see you do mistakes you telling them when to brake, they need to decide when to attack aggresive not by coach. Better affter situation to stop. And ask what you guys thinking there was possibility to brake in this situation or not ? They need to think by themself they need to play as much as possible 1v1 , 2v1 have good dribling fint, pass is not the most important think in this age.

[@CatalanSoccer]

Thanks for the feedback

[@RickieBickie]

The earlier you can get kids to understand how to play football as a team the better. Players who just learn to play 1v1 all the time get found out very quickly as they get older. Best of both worlds, the smarter kids who know instantly when to take on a defender or to build are by far better players.

[@StinkyWizzleTits]

Such an incredible resource you've got here Ben. The video's are invaluable for new coaches like me. Im studying up every day and writing my coaching schedule in prep for a season start in January, here in Australia. Cant thank you enough. Cheers. I would also like to see a video on support play that you mentioned at the start of this video 😉😄😄