Possession… dribble or pass by Dave Clarke

When players feel pressure in matches, it can often affect their ability to make decisions. You will undoubtedly have players who dribble brilliantly in training, yet "panic pass" in matches. Other players will hesitate when on the ball and a great opportunity to pass to a team mate is often lost.
Knowing when to surge into space with a dribble or when to switch play with a good pass comes from lots of practice – and you can’t expect players to learn this on their own.
Therefore, it’s a great idea to set up situations where they have the choice, because making that call can be vital to their development.
This session shows players where options present themselves, then develops into a small-sided game, in which the right decision will give their team the advantage.

How to set it up

• Create a playing area measuring 30×25 yards.
  
• For this session you’ll need bibs, cones and balls.
  
• There are two teams of four players.
  
• Set up three small goals – spaced equally apart – along the longest sides.
  
• Each team must defend its goals while trying to score in the other three.
  

Getting started

• Players score by dribbling or passing the ball through the poles.
  
• Players must react quickly to situations around them, looking for areas on the pitch where there is space to exploit. They should look to mix dribbling with passes to team mates, but every decision is made with the aim of retaining team possession.
  
• Play for 15 minutes.
  

Developing the session:

• Develop the session by making the area 50×30 yards with two five-yard end zones.
  
• The players must get the ball into the end zone by passing to a player who has run to meet the pass, or by dribbling into the end zone themselves.
  
• Players are not allowed to stand in the end zone waiting for a pass – they must always be on the move.
  
• You can award an extra "goal" if the attacking team makes five consecutive passes before scoring.
  
• If players find the session easy, reduce the size of the scoring zone at each end by a yard. For younger players, increase the size.
  

Why this works:
This practice rehearses players in the logic that clever dribbling can move the ball into areas where there is space to be exploited. A final pass to a team mate should make the creation of goalscoring chances that much easier.
Players are also encouraged to score with a pass which represents a quicker route to goal than a dribble. The decisions depend on the player’s ability to read the space and that will come as they practise this session.