5 Pass Possession Game
Two teams fight to string five passes together, then cash them in with a pass to a neutral player on the end line.
Stringing passes together to hold possession works on awareness, speed of play, support, and movement.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones, balls, and pinnies for two teams.
- Build: Build a grid about 40 by 30 yards.
- Place: Both teams inside the grid. One neutral player stands on each end line.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Awareness, speed of play, quality support — two close, one stretching the field — and runs that create space.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Both teams chase the same goal — five passes in a row, then a pass to a neutral. First to ten wins.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Pick two neutral players and stand one on each end line. Split the rest into two even teams.
Coach says
Two even teams. Neutrals — one on each end line, you're the targets.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the scoring — five passes in a row inside the grid, then a pass to either neutral is a goal. The neutral plays it straight back one-touch and the count restarts; any touch by the other team resets your count.
Coach says
Five in a row, then hit a neutral — that's a goal. They touch it, you start over.
3Play▾
Coach does
Track each team's count and reset it whenever the other team touches the ball. Play to ten goals.
Coach says
Heads up — support early, play quick!
Look for: Support arriving before the pass — two teammates close to the ball and one stretching the field.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
First team to ten wins, and the losers owe pushups or situps. Then reset the count and run it back.
Coach says
That's ten! Losers pay up — then we go again.
If it's not working
If nobody can get near five passes, walk the cones out while they play — a bigger grid buys the time they need.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Easier: Make the grid bigger — more room to find the five passes.
Harder: Two-touch or one-touch — go over your limit and possession is lost.
Next: Lane Spacing and Separation Game — possession with positions, where every player owns a lane.