Pressure Target Player Possession

Objective

• -Keep the ball with a forward purpose
• -Play into a target player under pressure
• -Support the target quickly after the pass

Setup

1. 1A pitch with a target player in an end zone at each end in a 32 x 24 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3Balls with the target players, two sets of bibs.

How to play

1. 1Teams keep the ball and score by finding their target player.
2. 2The target sets the ball back and the team must keep it.
3. 3Targets rotate with outfield players every three minutes.
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

• -Hitting the target with no support
• -Only passing sideways and backwards
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press