Receiving

Continuous Back-to-Goal Receiving

Hold the ball up with a defender behind

Receiving
Attacking
First Touch

Hold the ball up with a defender behind. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Receiving
Attacking
First Touch
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Repetition

Age

Under 9 to Adults

Duration

18 min

Players

4-14

Area / pitch size

32 x 24 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones, Full Goals

Coaching focus

Hold the ball up with a defender behind

Objective

  • -Hold the ball up with a defender behind
  • -Decide between setting, spinning or turning
  • -Link the striker to runners from midfield

Setup

  1. 1A central receiving zone in front of a goal in a 32 x 24 yards area.
  2. 2Load a ball at each starting station so the next rep can begin immediately.
  3. 3Balls at the midfield start cone, bibs for defenders.

How to play

  1. 1Midfielder passes into the striker who has a defender behind them.
  2. 2Striker either sets the ball back or spins in behind.
  3. 3The move finishes with a strike on goal.
  4. 4As soon as one sequence ends, the next server plays in without waiting.
  5. 5Run 4-minute blocks and count total completed sequences as a squad score.

Coaching points

  • -Feel the defender before the ball arrives
  • -Strong base, arm out to hold the space
  • -Set with a firm, accurate ball
  • -Reset fast — the value is in the volume of good reps

Progressions

  • +Add a second ball into the rotation
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Pause 15 seconds between reps to reset positions
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Split into two competing halves and compare block totals
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Standing still waiting for the pass
  • -Taking a touch straight into the defender
  • -Long queues while balls are collected

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Hold the ball up with a defender behind

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