Improve Structure in Possession!

[@carterphoto]

I especially love the idea of shrinking the space. Our kids are great in space when they have time to go through their progressions and make decisions. When we face a high pressure team that is good at shrinking the space, they really struggle. Really excited to see them struggle through even tonight at training. 😄

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Let me know how it goes.

[@tmtreat]

Hi Coach Rory. My daughter's U9 rec coach has been out due to illness so I've had to step in for the last several practices. I just wanted to say that your videos have been far and away the best resource out there for me. I've been able to keep things fun and productive in what otherwise would have been a stressful situation given my limited coaching experience. Thanks so much!!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Awesome thanks!!

[@kotijangankennel]

Thanks. Very good drill 👌

[@kkacperowski]

This is a great idea. Im coaching U9 team and this is a good way to really help them learn position and how to shift their position depending on where the ball is. Cant wait to try. Thank you!!!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Let me know how it goes!

[@kyerionp]

My goodness, these videos are so timely. It's been a bumpy road trying to teach my U11 girls team the "why" and "how" of possession. They can keep their form, but start breaking down and reverting to old habits when they lose confidence in games. Also, I enjoyed the 3Four3 podcast episode. 😁

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thank you!

[@mjenks85]

I’m coaching u11 girls aswell!!! These girls are great a defensive and shooting but when it comes to organization, finding openings to move forward, and passes forward they struggle! I’m trying but they all just want to do their own thing.

[@mjenks85]

Looks like I’m going to need to focus on allot of rondos

[@CoachRorySoccer]

@@mjenks85 I really just do mostly 4v1 and positional rondos as described in the video. I do then very session though.

[@iambaldfury]

My U10 7v7 team loved this positional rondo! A much better alternative to basic team scrimmages. Awesome content.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Awesome!

[@Scousetiger]

Great video, Rory. Team organisation and keeping possession is something I'm currently working on in training with my team. Will definitely try the two exercises. Thanks 👍

[@stephenheaney2266]

Good evening, thank you coach. This video can really help with the questions I had asked in email. Have a great night and I look forward to more knowledge and videos on your channel.

[@stacyjane321]

Great video! I remember doing this when I assisted with a u12. My U10 is going to try this Friday! Thanks!

[@jamesbaysting6031]

Love your work.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks!

[@osmanaguilar5645]

Thank you as always Roy

[@BobBallsache-ub5kg]

Thanks again for yet another great video Coach. Gonna work this into our U9 practice this week.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Let me know how it goes

[@ruckerz]

Every Saturday morning I watch two things, and your channel is one of them (the other being premier league games). Thank you! Now that you’re moving more into u11 content , I would love to hear how you teach how to properly and safely perform headers, and slide tackling. Or your opinions on both at this age.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thank you! Good idea for a video. I use special header balls which are light weight.

[@jamiegambell]

Will be giving this a go this Tuesday'a trianing. Coaching U14, so 11 a side, and having a really tough time holding shapes in the game.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Let me know how it goes.

[@raulvasquez2806]

Good luck and remember that it will take a few weeks or a season but totally worth it.

[@jamiegambell]

@@CoachRorySoccer the training session went well, they held shapes really well, moved back into position quickly, and grasped ideas. The scrimmage (11v11) after was a little more casual and they got caught ball watching a few times, but the game tomorrow will be very telling!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

@@jamiegambellgood luck!

[@jamiegambell]

@@CoachRorySoccer a hard fought 1-1, but what I was really proud of was that the team held their shape well and pushed the opposition into their half for huge chunks of the game. We didn’t have subs, so they tired out toward the end (it’s a hot day here) but held on to keep the game tied.

[@estif01]

Great video! Thank you!

[@nyisls]

Thank you very much!

[@angelobenito-aguilar503]

Gracias, Coach!

[@Copleyfundresearch]

great video coach Rory

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks!

[@josemejia2200]

can you do 11v11 set pieces, love your videos coach!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Great suggestion!

[@jeric281]

​@@CoachRorySoccerlooking forward on that ❤

[@not-that-mike-uslan]

This is great! Would you adjust at all for a U8 team that is just starting to learn positions? We play 7v7

[@CoachRorySoccer]

No not really. Just know they’re going to take a long time to get the concepts.

[@ABonABhistory]

Coach, I appreciate your videos and have implemented these drills in my boys and girls teams. We are currently looking for equipment to video games. Is there something you use or recommend? Thanks.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

I use Veo. There are other on the market like trace. All good but expensive.

[@CyberXShinobi]

Coach, how much better would the soccer development in USA be if USSF combined 3Four3 & Tovo frameworks vs PPP? Also, what are your thoughts on the impacts of "smurfing" aka playing down in the current soccer eco system? I've been seeing tournaments and spring/fall leagues where teams are playing down 2-3 divisions below where they should be.

[@CoachRorySoccer]

The current ecosystem is broken on so many levels but it all boils down to the system being set up to fail. Certainly I agree with methodology like 3four3 and TOVO but even if USSF changed to that development style there is no guarantee the cream would rise to the top because the system isn’t set up for that.

[@lobachevskyyy]

I like this. Been doing something similar recently. My question is do you have any ideas about how to get them to connect this skill with more game like situations where they might actually want to go forward? One idea i have is have 3 defenders guarding the half line and the team keeps possession in their half until they have any easy opportunity to get past the middle? Maybe after a certain number of passes have been made and they have an opening, they can move through?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

I commonly progress this to a 9v5 bull out positional game. In my experience it’s much harder to teach them to go back than it is to go forward.

[@lobachevskyyy]

@@CoachRorySoccer thanks! My thinking was that if I could show them what their trigger is for moving forward vs going back through a next step game after this one, then they'd be more likely to make the right choice in a game. I have some thick headed 9 and 10 year olds lol.

[@lobachevskyyy]

Okay, this is the game that comes next, I think: you setup 3 gates with poles at the half line. One gate per side and one in middle. They play the game you describe until they get set number of points from passing and then they 'win' when they successfully get through an unguarded gate. You have two defenders blocking the 3 gates, so one is always unguarded, but they need to pass to the unguarded gate quickly enough to get through before it becomes guarded. For easier version, you might have one guarding all 3 gates. Also, you still have a few kids on defending half trying to win ball like in your game.

[@CoachCAK]

How would you set-up the positional Rondo for a 7v7 team? Would you put the GK, 2,3,9 outside and the 4,5,6 inside? Or would you only have the 6 inside the box with the other players on the perimeter? I am really focused on the 4&5 not getting too close together, and supporting the Midfield and Strikers without pushing too far forward. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. The 3Four3 podcast episode was awesome!

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Thanks! Id only have the 6 in the middle. Assuming you’re playing a 231.

[@CoachCAK]

THank you @@CoachRorySoccer! Yes we do use the 2-3-1 formation with our team (though Coach Beane does a great job of selling the 3-2-1!)

[@briancbarrow]

What drills do you do to teach losing your man and receiving across the body?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Check out my video on teaching off the ball movement for basicos. Also these points can be taught with in pattern choreography, rondos, and positional games.

[@craigsconner]

Basicos have worked wonders for my U11/12 team. I have 16 players right now and the basico that Coach Rory put out there really made a difference when it came to game time.

[@Bud-xy5ee]

on the positional rondos where you mention 4 3 1 I'm having difficulty understanding or seeing what you mean by that

[@CoachRorySoccer]

That’s the formation I like to use in 9v9. I have a few videos on it as well

[@theticoboy]

If the first 45 minutes are battle boxes, rondos and team organizational drills, what do you typically spend the rest of your practice doing?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

Pattern choreography and Positional games, usually end with finishing. Mix in corners and throws. Work on pressing/defending here and there.

[@theticoboy]

@@CoachRorySoccer how long are your practices total and roughly how much time do you spend on each of these?

[@CoachRorySoccer]

@@theticoboy current teams practice 2-3x per week.

[@craigsconner]

Great question. I have 16 players on my U11/12 teams 9 v 9. We only get one hour to practice - twice a week. We always do battle boxes and then rondos for the first 30 minutes and then move to positional games. I wish we had more time.

[@nickdejong6693]

What's the age group of the kids playing at 4min 9s? I coach a rec team so comparison isn't apples to apples, but it is nice to know what certainly some of my kids could be capable of

[@CoachRorySoccer]

2014s.