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First Touch

Two Ball Touch Station: Shadow Pressure

Work at speed with two servers

First Touch
Speed & Agility
Receiving
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Two Ball Touch Station: Shadow Pressure is a 10-minute first touch drill for 3-12 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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First Touch
Speed & Agility
Receiving
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
Opposed
Under Pressure
Game Realistic

Duration

10 min

Players

3-12

Pitch size

10 x 6 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Two Ball Touch Station: Shadow Pressure123C10 x 6 yards

Two Ball Touch Station: Shadow Pressure — Marked area · 10 x 6 yards

Step 1 of 4Servers alternate feeding the worker who returns first time or in two touches.

  1. 1. Servers alternate feeding the worker who returns first time or in two touches.
  2. 2. Thirty seconds work then rotate.
  3. 3. Servers vary the height of the feed.
  4. 4. A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Ball
  • C = coach / server
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Work at speed with two servers
  • -React to alternating service
  • -Keep quality when rushed

Setup

  1. 1Two servers stand six yards apart facing the worker.
  2. 2Worker in the middle, cones marking their working line.
  3. 3Each server holds a ball.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Servers alternate feeding the worker who returns first time or in two touches.
  2. 2Thirty seconds work then rotate.
  3. 3Servers vary the height of the feed.
  4. 4A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.

Coaching points

  • -Reset the feet between every serve
  • -Eyes to the next server immediately
  • -Keep the returns firm and accurate
  • -Take the touch away from pressure
  • -Protect the ball with the far foot and body

Common mistakes

  • -Ball watching one server
  • -Off balance on the return
  • -Sloppy returns when tired

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