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Free activity · 100 Possession Activities

Vacate and Fill

By Gabe Ramos · U.S. Soccer Coach Educator · Updated November 2026

A 10x10 rondo where the whole square rotates. When a player passes, the player opposite moves to take their side, and everyone follows. It teaches players to leave a space so a teammate can use it.

Setup

A 10x10 rondo, 4v1, with a rule about movement.

How it works

• When a player passes, the player on the opposite side must move to take up their side, and everyone rotates.
• Six passes is a point.
• Defender swaps on a win.

Scoring

Points in ninety seconds.

Make it easier or harder

• Progression 1: Rotation must be the other way.
• Progression 2: Two defenders, five attackers.

Coach’s notes

• If It Stalls: Rotation stalling? Walk it without a defender for one minute.

Why it works

Most young players think movement means going toward the ball. This teaches the opposite: sometimes the best thing you can do is leave a space so someone else can use it.

It will look messy at first. Walk it, then build the speed back up. It is worth the patience.

Where it sits

This is activity 62 of 100 in 100 Possession Activities (Theme 7 · Movement to Receive). The book is ten themes of ten rungs each, from a 3v1 square to a full 9v9 transition game, and every activity has its setup, rules, scoring, two progressions, three coaching points and an animated video like the one above.

All movement off the ball drills ›