Pressure Halfway Line Game

Objectives

• -Coach the whole team moving up and down together
• -Keep the shape compact between the lines
• -Reward organised, connected play

Setup

1. 1A pitch with a clearly marked halfway line in a 34 x 24 yards area.
2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
3. 3Balls with the coach, two sets of bibs.

Coaching instructions

1. 1Goals only count when every attacking player has crossed halfway.
2. 2Defending teams must have everyone behind the ball to earn a clean-sheet point.
3. 3Play four-minute games with short breaks.
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.

Common mistakes

• -Strikers not tracking back
• -Defenders staying deep when the team attacks
• -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press