Pressure Four Zone Keep Ball

Objective

• -Keep possession while moving the ball between zones
• -Create numerical advantages in each zone
• -Coach when to keep and when to progress

Setup

1. 1A square split into four equal zones in a 30 x 26 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3Balls with the coach, two sets of bibs.

How to play

1. 1The team in possession must complete three passes before changing zone.
2. 2A zone change scores one point.
3. 3Defenders press with limited numbers per zone.
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

• -Everybody in the ball zone
• -Forcing the zone change too early
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press