Pressure Aerial Control Zone

Objective

• -Control balls arriving out of the air
• -Choose the right surface for the height of the ball
• -Play out cleanly after the control

Setup

1. 1A control zone with a serving line ten yards away in a 16 x 12 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3A supply of balls at the serving line.

How to play

1. 1Server throws or lofts the ball into the control zone.
2. 2The receiver controls with thigh, chest or laces and sets the ball down.
3. 3The receiver then plays a firm pass back to the next server.
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

• -Reaching for the ball instead of moving feet
• -Stiff surface bouncing the ball away
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press