High tempo possession isn’t a mystery—it’s a set of repeatable behaviors. This article gives a concise, progressive training plan you can run with youth or amateur teams to teach Tiki Taka principles: quick passing, movement into space, supporting angles, and low-risk transition decisions.
Session overview (60 minutes)
- Warm-up (10 min): passing to feet under pressure
- Main blocks (40 min): three progressive drills building on each other
- Conditioned scrimmage (10 min): game-like constraints to reinforce choices
Drill 1 — Two-touch rondo with directional target (10–12 min)
Setup a 6v2 rondo in a 10×10 area with a small 2×4 target rectangle on one side. The objective: two-touch maximum; after two successful passes into the target, the rondo rotates players. Coaching points: create passing lanes by moving off the ball, communicate the next pass, and use body shape to receive into space. Progression: reduce touches to one or add a passive defender in the target to force quicker decision-making.
Drill 2 — Third-man run practice (12–14 min)
Set up a 6v4 keep-away across a 25×20 zone with neutral players who can only score by connecting a pass to a runner making a third-man run. Focus: timing of the run, blind-side movement, and the passer’s recognition of the third-man option. Repetition builds the instinct to scan and play ahead rather than forcing the ball through crowded lanes.
Drill 3 — Full-width progression with exit points (15 min)
Divide the pitch into three horizontal channels. Teams must complete X passes in the central channel before they can switch to an outside channel and attempt an exit pass to a striker in the final third. This drill teaches retention under pressure and encourages switching play instead of predictable direct passes. Vary X to increase or decrease difficulty.
Conditioned scrimmage and success metrics (10 min)
Play 8v8 on a reduced field with the rule: a team must make at least eight consecutive passes to score a point, and turnovers trigger an immediate counter-press drill for 10 seconds. Track simple metrics: average sequence length, successful switches of play, and turnovers in the defensive third. Use these to judge whether the team is internalizing the principles.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- Over-dribbling: Coach immediate reassignment—player must pass within two touches if no forward option exists.
- Poor body shape: Force players to receive with an open body by making receiving drills part of warm-ups.
- Lack of support angles: Use a 3-player overlap exercise to show the geometry of effective support.
- No scanning: Add a rule that players must look over their shoulder before receiving; penalize repeated failures with a short conditioning task.
Visual examples accelerate learning. Use the image below during debriefs to point out positioning and movement patterns, and watch the referenced clip to show how elite teams string these elements together.
If you want a single starting resource with practice templates and drills adapted for different age groups, check the community hub called Tiki Taka where coaches share session plans and drill variations. Use the drills above as your core and adapt intensity, pitch size, and player numbers based on attention and technical level.
Takeaway: master one drill at a time, measure simple metrics (sequence length, turnovers), and insist on supportive movement. With consistent repetition and clear feedback, possession play becomes a team habit rather than an occasional tactic.