Tackling

Poke Tackle Pressing

Nick the ball with a poke tackle

Tackling

Pressing

Defending

Poke Tackle Pressing is a 12-minute tackling drill for 4-16 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. 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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Tackling

Pressing

Defending

Skill Practice

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Minimal Equipment

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Duration

12 min

Players

4-16

Pitch size

15 x 15 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Poke Tackle Pressing — 2 gates — score by travelling through · 15 x 15 yards

Step 1 of 4Dribbler tries to reach either gate, defender uses the poke tackle to knock the ball away.

1. Dribbler tries to reach either gate, defender uses the poke tackle to knock the ball away.
2. Point for the defender if the ball leaves the square.
3. Rotate every thirty seconds.
4. Rotation: Rotate every thirty seconds.

Cones mark the area
Cone gates to dribble / pass through
Ball
Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Nick the ball with a poke tackle
-Press without diving in
-Recover after the tackle attempt

Setup

1A fifteen yard square with two exit gates.
2One dribbler and one defender inside.
3Spare balls outside the square.

Coaching instructions

1Dribbler tries to reach either gate, defender uses the poke tackle to knock the ball away.
2Point for the defender if the ball leaves the square.
3Rotate every thirty seconds.

Coaching points

-Time the poke as the attacker touches the ball
-Stay balanced and ready to recover
-Use the front foot without overcommitting

Common mistakes

-Lunging and getting beaten
-Standing off and never engaging
-Fouling in the tackle

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Age groups

Under 9

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
+Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
+Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
-Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
-Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
-Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
-Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
-Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
-Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
-Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
-Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch