Holding the Ball Under Pressure | Dealing with Defensive Pressure

Overview

• Works for players from U10 up to adults
• Play with 8 players
• Field size: 20m x 20m
• Set up a target zone of roughly 4m x 4m in the middle
• Put 2 players in the middle zone and 6 around the outside

Objectives

• Build a feel for holding the ball while taking defensive pressure
• Learn to stay calm and make good decisions under pressure
• Shield the ball with your body and still play accurate passes
• Get players into the habit of scanning before they receive
• Develop the kind of strong play that holds up in a match

Setup

One player in the middle target zone is the ball carrier. While taking light pressure from the outside, they work to play accurate passes into the four corner zones.

１）The middle player receives the ball

２）The outside players apply light pressure

３）The carrier shields the ball with their body and scans around

４）They play a quick, accurate pass into the called corner zone

５）After a successful rep, players swap positions and go again