Rugby League | Possession Drills

Players are trying to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible. Players inside the area can use the two players on the outside of the grid to help them keep the ball.

Play keep ball. Teams need to keep possession for as long as possible or up to a set number of passes (first to 10 passes etc.) Try and take the predictability out of the game by disguising where the ball is going and using sudden changes of pace and direction.

3 v 1 - players with one ball between them. The players in possession have to pass the ball to each other while one player (white 1) attempts to catch the player in possession of the ball. On doing so, the player caught becomes the catcher.

2 teams combine to play 4 versus 2 All players must remain in the box The attackers who lose the ball becomes the defenders No first time passes Push only no slap or hit passes

2 v 2 in the box, keeping the ball in a directional rondo with 1 player at either end of the box. 2 Players work inside the box to keep it with the 2 out the box. If the defenders intercept or tackle they swap to the ball players to work with the 2 outside.  2 on the outside of the box can go left to right to move to receive the ball and can play through the box to each other. They cannot be tackled.

3 teams of 2, with 2 of the teams working together to keep the ball from the defending team in the marked area. If the defenders intercept or tackle they swap to become attackers with the team that lost the ball. Team that lost the ball are now defenders. 

3 teams of 4 with 2 working together to keep the ball away from the other. 1 team is on the outside and 1 in the middle, making it an 8 v 4 possession game.  The defensive team is aiming to win the ball, if they do they work with the team on the outside. Progression: If the defence win the ball, they carry the ball out of the box to kill the ball. Teams that lost possession do 10 press-ups.

Three teams of 2. Two teams combine to play against the 3rd team (in the animation this is the white and gold team playing against the blue team). If the 3rd team successfully gets the ball, the team that lost the ball is in the middle and the other two teams combine to continue.

In the grid play a 5 vs 5 or 4 vs 4 possession hockey game. There a two jokers stood at either end of the area. These two players may receive the ball from either team and are stood in the scoring zone. The aim is to play possession hockey and use the two Jokers. Everytime the team in possession passes the ball to a joker and receives a pass back they score a point. The first team to score 5 consecutive points is the winner.

Player runs with the ball towards the first cone (pretend defender) The player reverse turns and passe the ball to the support player. the support player runs the ball to the next cone and repeats the reverse turn and pass. When they come to the end they come back down the other 23 m area.

4 Players with one ball can only be outside the square of cones. A player is chosen to play inside the area. The players on the outside have to pass the ball through the square. The player in the middle tries to intercept the ball.

Set up with two teams, each team having their own area in which they keep possession by passing the ball around. The other team can send one player across to try and win the ball for their side. If they manage to win possession the roles reverse and the other team passes the ball inside their own area. The winning team is the first team to put 10 passes together without losing the ball.

8 Players with 1 ball. 4 players on the outside are always on the side of the 2 players in possession of the ball. The 2 other players are trying to gain possession. The players on the outside have to stay there and are only allowed to wall pass the ball each time. First team to make 10 passes wins.

4 Players have to pass the ball around the outside of a square of cones in any direction. After a few minutes remove the cones. The players have to now continue passing around, keeping the same distance to each other as if the cones were still there. IMPORTANT: If one player misses the ball all players have to run to where the ball has gone and continue passing, remaining the same distance apart as before.

Always start with the same pass then play live. Try and score a goal.

4 players have to keep possession against 2 defenders with the restriction that the players in possession can only move on the line they are on. Swap players in the middle when they have taken the ball 5x.

Players on the ball can pass it to any static player, but they are not allowed to receive the ball from the player they just passed to. Introduce 2 defenders to make it harder for the players on the ball. The defenders can only tackle the white players.

Players have to name their pass before they give the ball. To encourage vision, introduce 2 balls.

Teams of 3 - 4 players. Each team numbers themselves 1-2-3-4 and has one ball. The ball should be passed around the team in numerical order whilst moving around the set area. After each pass, the player should run around one of the cones on the boundary.

Teams of 3 - 4 players. Each team numbers themselves 1-2-3-4 and has one ball. The ball should be passed around the team in numerical order while moving around the set area.