2v1 and 1v1 Possession Game
Two keep the ball from one defender, count their passes, then send it across to a teammate making runs — and one of them follows to start again.
Possession earns the right to penetrate — counting passes and then finding the far teammate teaches switching the point of attack and the communication that makes it work.
Starting at Core — your team is set to mixed.
10 min tonight · Groups of 5 (2v1 + 1v1)
- Ages 9+
- Groups of 5 (2v1 + 1v1)
- 10 min as the drill is written
- Cones, pinnies, balls
Grab Cones, two colors of pinnies, and a ball.
Build Build a 10-by-20-yard rectangle and split it in half with a line of cones.
Place Two yellows and one red in one half; one yellow and one red in the other. Ball starts with the two yellows.
- 1
Organize the players
Make groups of five in two colors — two yellows and a red in one half, one of each in the other.
“Two yellows and a red on this side. One of each over there. Yellows start with the ball.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk one round — the pair keeps possession to the pass count, the far yellow makes runs to get open, the pass goes across, and one yellow follows over to make a new 2v1 there. Pick the count — anywhere from three to five passes, depending on the group.
“Yellows — count your passes, then find your teammate across the line. Reds — win it, or block that pass.”
- 3
Play
Let it run both directions — reach the count, play it back into the original half. Make the yellows call who goes over on every successful pass.
“Look up every pass — know where your teammate is before you need him!”
Look for Receivers opening up — the ball played to the correct foot so they take it facing the field.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Every two minutes, rotate the players so everyone gets to play offense and defense.
“Rotate! New reds in — everyone defends today.”
If the yellows can't reach their pass count, make it 3v1 in the starting half — extra numbers until it flows.
Go deeper · 3 notes
Why it works
The pass count makes possession purposeful — the pair isn't just keeping the ball, they are earning the moment to penetrate — and the divided grid means someone always has to talk, run, and receive open for the switch to land.
What they learn
Possession with a purpose — communication, switching the point of attack, and receiving open to the field.
What's next
3v1 Early Support — bigger numbers, and now a steal sends the whole game next door.
Where does this come from?
SoccerXpert — their published drill library.
A published drill library. Useful and widely used, but not a governing body — so it fills gaps rather than leading.