Pressure Sole Roll Grid

Objective

• -Build sole and inside-foot control in a busy space
• -Grow confidence manipulating the ball with both feet
• -Turn ball mastery reps into usable game actions

Setup

1. 1A grid of cones two yards apart in a 16 x 16 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3One ball per player, spare balls on the coach's cone.

How to play

1. 1Players work through sole rolls, drag-backs and toe taps between the cones.
2. 2On the coach's call they perform the move and accelerate into free space.
3. 3Repeat with the weaker foot leading every second round.
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.

Progressions

• +Defender starts level rather than behind
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Defender presses at jogging pace only
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Two defenders alternate so pressure is constant
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Heavy touches that push the ball away
• -Eyes locked on the ball
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press