Pressure Long Range Zone

Objective

• -Strike cleanly from outside the area
• -Judge when the long shot is on
• -Improve technique on the driven ball

Setup

1. 1A shooting zone marked 22-28 yards from goal in a 33 x 28 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3Plenty of balls at the edge of the zone, keeper in goal.

How to play

1. 1Player receives on the edge of the zone and takes one touch out of the feet.
2. 2The strike must be hit before leaving the zone.
3. 3Rebounds are live for a follow-up finish.
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

• -Shooting from impossible angles
• -Ball bouncing before the strike
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press