Keep away is a great way to tech possession. At it's simplest form, build a grid to accomodate the number of players. 5 v5 could be played in a 40 yard x 40 yard grid. Team A vs Team B. One team trys to keep the ball while the other tries to steal it and in turn attepts to posess the ball for as long as possible.
Coaching point. 1)move the ball with passes 2) players without th ball must work hardd (run to open spaces and to spaces that make them available for passes) to get open, 3) players with the ball must a) find open players to pass to, b) shield the ball until a teammate is open c) make good passes.
Progression is to put limitations on te players. Limit players to 3 or 2 touch on the ball.

The game of keepaway becomes more complex with more players. 7 v 7 might require goals such as moving the ball from quadrant to quadrant so there is no stagnation. In other words on a grid 60 yds x 60 yds, build 4 quadrants and allow only 4 consecutive passes in each quadrant befor the ball must find another quadrant. More than 4 is a turn over....
more to come, stay tuned.

Brazil proves to be too much, and the Brazilian game shows flair, style, poise and is just outright dangerous.
Although they didn't meet expectations the Women's US national team had a great run.
They arte fun to watch, play great soccer and have some real characters. THey even manage to provide some drama with a switch at keeper trying to outsmart those craft Brazilians.
The womens game is just as entertaining as the men's because of their skill and tactics.
Cheers to the US Womens and good luck to those speedy Brazilians.
Brasilian Futebol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lmUG1mkzy4&mode=related&search=

Skills that would be worth all the hard work to have.

Using a smaller ball such as the Brasilian Futebol can be of great benefit if used consistently in training sessions. It’s a tool for any situation including warm-ups, individual training, technical training and small games or game like situations.
The Brasilian Futebol can be plugged into sessions to add focus on touch and control which is essential to every training session. Control is key to developing possession which allows tactics to be employed. Emphasizing first touch is an essential element to control/possession and should be emphasized in every drill regarding ball control and passing.
Training does not have to be so regimented as to take the fun out of play. Jugging can be of great benefit to skills development as an individual, in pairs or in groups and is a fun way to train given a little attention and some instruction. Set short term goals and be consistent with testing and challenging new levels. Players can juggle at home and will find it an enjoyable part of their training.

The fundamentals of any game are important if players are going to succeed at higher levels. Look at the best players in the world, they all have a solid fundamental base that makes the simple parts of the game seem effortless.
Passing, trapping and dribbling are essential parts of the game of soccer. Repetition is important and getting as many touches on the ball as possible in any given session will help develop these skills as well as confidence if performed in the proper environment.
Technical training needs to be success oriented and goal oriented with proper technique emphasized in every exercise. It also helps if the drills are varied to alleviate boredom and loss of focus. Creating a competitive environment can go a long way towards creating enthusiasm while mastering the fundamentals.
Start with the basics; good passing, accurate with the right pace so the player recieving the ball can recieve it and have a play; good trapping, soft touch with the body positioned behind the ball, keeping the ball close so the next pass is easily made and defenders can't step in and steal it.
It is important to instill dicipline and have expectations of completing the given task to a high competency level when teaching fundamentals. Do not let your players advance to B until A is complete and done correctly.
Once they are completing A,B and C competantly then make sure drills are moving quickly and everybody is involved. Make drills success oriented with several tasks involved, including running/fitness.
The Ajax system of training has some great drills that cover fundamentals.

The No. 1-ranked Americans advanced to Thursday's semifinal in Hangzhou. The final is Sept. 30 in Shanghai, with the U.S. seeking a third title to go with the ones from 1991 and '99.
The Americans will meet the winner of Sunday's Brazil-Australia quarterfinal in Tianjin, with the South Americans heavily favored. In Saturday's other semifinal in Wuhan, Germany defeated North Korea 3-0 and will play Norway or China in the semifinals.
After a scoreless first half, Wambach banged in a header in the 48th minute, directing home a corner kick from Lilly before a crowd listed at 29,000, although far fewer fans seemed to be in 60,000-seat Olympic Center Stadium. It was her fourth goal of the tournament and her 81st for the national team in 100 appearances.

A comprehensive guide for creating and managing small games.
Small games may be the most important instrument for creating enthusiasm and promoting creativity in players. Too often teams are over coached or the repetition of drills and demands of positioning and resposibilities diminishes players love for the game.
This DVD is excellent for letting the game teach the game.

Turning technical training into tactics.
Decision making is important in possesion and speed of play. Skill, specifically the first touch in another important ingredient. First touch can either be used to settle a ball in one owns space away from pressure or to initiate an attack, or it can be a one toch pass from transition or as part of a string of passes that create and are part of the rythmn of play.
Vision becomes a part of speeding up or dictating speed of play. Seeing the field a knowing what you are going to do with the ball before you recieve it is key. Playing a ball to a teamate who has vision of the part of the field that you want to attack or escape to is essential to team play and ball pssesion.
Know when to switch the point of attack and doing it quickly with one long ball or several short 1 touch passes is effective in possesion, attacking and dictating play.
It all comes down to skill and team play/chemistry.
Possesion exercises are great for developing speed of play, learning how to switch fields and working on 1 or two touch play. Another thought is limiting players to 3 seconds with the ball so as not to inhibit creativity of individual skills.
Or in a 40 x 40 grid put put 3v3 in the middle with teamates on the "walls" outside the grid. Make the game 7v7 or 8 v8 with the 3v3 in the middle. Play keep-away or possesion putting restictions on both the outside and the inside players. Essentially when the ball handling becomes adept the game tuns into a 3v7 or 8 as the players in the middle realize and find ways to use the walls to their advantage. It is a brilliant exercise for thinking and executing "give & go's" "third man' and targeting players checking back to the ball or skip passes thet allow plaers to recieve the ball with vision to the field they want to play i.e. a fullback skipping the midfield to target a forward so the midielder can recieve a drop pass and play forward.
The idea is to work toward 1 touch on all accounts. Make it success oriented moving from A to Z in incremental steps. ex 2 touch on the out side and 2 touch on the inside (or 3 seconds with the ball). Then move to 1 touch on the outside and 2 touch inside the grid. Then 1 touch inside with 2 touch outside, giving the inside players time to find space. Then 1 touch all the way around. Spend 5 or 6 sessions getting there. You will see your team develop a thought behind possesion and attack, changing fields and speeding and slowing play as needed.

Controlling the ball and dictating the style and speed of of play in the game of soccer is a large part of the formula of success. While maintaing possesion and owning the better part of the play will not guarantee a win it will bring a fair share of success over the course of a season.
How to get there.
Decision making is important in possesion and speed of play. Having simple formulas or "go to's " to get out of tight spots or to relaese pressure on the ball will solve some situations. Examples are give and go's or wall passes to get out of tight spots. Or having a release for midfielders such as playing a ball to the corner flag if no other option seems available. Defenders should always know they can turn a ball back to their sweeper and/or keeper if pressured.
Developing good first touch on the ball will speed play and make it difficult for teams to play high pressure. If all 10 and even 11 players can contole the ball sounding and in tight spaces, making good quick decisions on where to play the ball it becomes difficult for defenses to pressure the ball. Having the ability as a team to play several "one touch" balls in sequence with out turning the ball over is the most effecitive way to speed up play, change fields and/or points of attack quickly and ultimately leads to dictating play and pressuring the opponets into reactive play always trying to keep up or just settling into defensive postures.
To develope 1 touch play putting restrictions on 5v2 warmups or even 6v3 is very effective. Play a mandatory 2 touch to start and then ask for 1 touch as often as possible or as play allows, then move to mandatory 1 touch to force anticipation and decision making that accomidates 1 touch.
Or in a 40 x 40 grid put put 3v3 in the middle with teamates on the outside making the game 7v7 or 8 v8. Play keep-away or possesion putting restictions on both the outside and the inside players. THe idea is to work toward 1 touch on all accounts. Make it success oriented moving from A to Z in incremental steps. ex 2 touch on the out side and 2 touch on the inside. Then move to 1 touch on the outside and 2 touch inside the grid. Then 1 touch inside with 2 touch outside, giving the inside players time to find space. THen 1 touch all the way around. Spend 5 or 6 sessions getting there. It's magic

Juggling is a great way to develop skills needed in the game of soccer. Developing the ability to strike the ball properly and consistently , enough to keep a soccer ball alive and in the air can help players hone eye/foot coordination - passing and traping, and develop confidence on the ball that is needed to find success.
It's not as simple as just learning how to juggle. Normal training is required for fitness, decision making and to sharpen all the movements, agility and mechanics involved in the game of soccer. But time spent with the ball juggling can be extremely beneficial as a compliment to all the fine skills needed to play at a high level.
Using a smaller ball like the Brasilian Futebol or even a tennis ball can accelerate progress and sharpen eye-foot coordination as well as develop balance, quick feet and touch on the ball. After becoming accomplished as a juggler with a small ball you will find it much easier to control and manipulate a normal ball.

Training with a smaller ball to refine focus, achieve confidence on the ball.
We have found the Brasilian Futebol to be an ideal training tool for any situation including warm-ups, individual training, technical training and small game or game like situations.
The Brasilian Futebol can be plugged into sessions to add focus on touch and control which is essential to every training session. Control is key to develop possession which allows tactics to be employed. First touch is a key element to control/possession and should be emphasized in every drill regarding ball control and passing.
Training does not have to be so regimented as to take the fun out of play. Juggling can add allot of fun to skills development as an individual, in pairs or in groups.

Street Soccer is a video developed and produced by Larry Paul. It offers some great tips, advise and an overall program for practices and games. Essentially the game should be played. This DVD keeps fun and play as the focus. Your team will enjoy practices and be excited about showing up to the next. At the same time the concepts taught in this video are sound fundamental soccer tactics which will make any team better

Jugging can be a great way to develop skills for soccer. The repetition you get from juggling as well as the touch you aquire and the balance, coordination and focus it requires to become a good juggler all translate easily on to the soccer field.
Here is an exercise for higher level jugglers;

Juggling at a consistent height: With each touch, juggle ball to the same height, 2 to 3 feet above your head, making sure to alternate feet with each touch. It is important to use good footwork to position yourself for each touch so that you are consistently touching the ball in your sweet spot. Start with a bounce between touches to increase the success rate. The bounce will save frustration and enable you to get a feel for the exercise leading to a faster progression.
The goal: To eliminate the bounce. To touch the ball so it reaches a consistent height. To juggle in a confined space employing both goals mentioned above or... To juggle while moving in a pre determined pattern. Side to side, zig-zag, figure eight, or over your head to reverse direction. Knock it higher to work on touch, timing, and striking the ball.

First touch; recieving and or trapping a ball while in play. First touch is important in controlling a ball or gathering a loose ball. Developing this skill will buy time on the ball as well as speed up play and help players make better decision on the ball.

A great way to develop a first touch while training by yourself is by juggling.
Using a brasilian futebol will enhance touch and speed progress. One good drill knock the ball high into the air and settle it with a soft touch. We will call this Three touch and a knock: Juggle the ball three times and then kick it 10 to 15 feet in the air, control the ball with one soft touch, trying to keep that touch below your waist, use one to two touches to adjust and compose yourself, then knock it 10 to 15 feet in the air again. Repeat this process. Work on controlling the ball with your first touch after you have "knocked" it into the air, then use the other touches to manipulate the ball so you can "knock" it accurately into the air again. Progress to a three touch rotation (Knock -control- touch - knock, repeat..) and then a two touch knock-control-knock, repeat) This exercise will help to develop "first touch".

Maybe the most important as well as the most overlooked skill in soccer is the first touch.
Settling thhe ball at one's feet or into space away from pressure or in a place where you are ready to play the ball quickly is an essential tactical skill.
Having the confidence that you can settle the ball where needed opens up options to players, speeds the play of game, and can create opportunities as well as avoid mistakes and turn overs.
Training to develop a thoughtful, controled and soft first touch should be a part of every training session. Run drills with this in mind always making sure the trap is exactly where it should be. Design drills around the first touch. The Ajax system offers some great drills as does the Brasilian Futebol training guide.
Develop a soft touch and watch the game open up.