Pressure Figure Eight Mastery

Objectives

• -Develop close control through continuous direction change
• -Link ball manipulation to a change of pace
• -Repeat quality touches with both feet

Setup

1. 1Two poles eight yards apart with a figure-eight route marked around them in a 14 x 8 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3A ball each and a rest cone at the start of the route.

Coaching instructions

1. 1Players dribble the figure-eight using inside and outside of the foot only.
2. 2Each lap finishes with an explosive three-yard burst out of the last turn.
3. 3Swap the leading foot every lap.
4. 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
5. 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.

Common mistakes

• -Slowing to a walk around the poles
• -Only using the strong foot
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press