Touch away from pressure
Transcript
See where the pressure is, then touch it the other way. Here's how. You need a server eight metres away, a defender three metres behind, a ball and a ten metre square. Watch. Check your shoulder as the pass comes, then touch it the other way. First, know where they are before it arrives. Then, touch it away from the pressure, outside or inside of the foot. Not this, a touch towards them. Our target is four rounds of five, resting a minute between. Never tackle from behind. After any knock to the head, if in doubt, sit them out. Then take the free test at footballreach.com.
What it trains
Use your first touch to get away from a defender: check which side the pressure is coming from before the ball arrives, then touch it the other way, into space. FIFA coaches the first touch away from pressure and into space.
Set up
- A server, 8 m away
- A defender, 3 m behind
- A ball (size 5)
- 4 cones, 10 m square
How it works
- Warm up first. Mark a 10 x 10 m square with 4 cones. Use a size 5 ball.
- The server stands 8 m in front of you with the ball. The defender starts 3 m behind you, on one side, and changes side between goes.
- As the server passes, check over your shoulder. The defender closes you down from their side.
- Take your first touch away from the defender, into space, and dribble out of the square. The defender may chase, on their feet, never tackling from behind.
- Do 4 rounds of 5 goes with 1 minute of rest between rounds, and rotate roles after every 5 goes.
Coaching points
- Know where they are. While the pass is travelling, check over your shoulder to see which side the defender is closing from, then look back to the ball in time to receive it. The FA says most of the work in receiving goes in before the touch.
- Touch away from pressure. Take your first touch away from the defender's side and into space: the outside of the foot further from them, or the inside of the other foot. Keep it within a step or two, then dribble out of the square.
Not this
Touching the ball towards the defender, or stopping it dead under your feet. You walk into the pressure and they win it.
Dose
- 4 rounds of 5 goes
- 1 min rest, swap roles
Our target: 4 rounds of 5 goes with 1 minute of rest between, rotating roles every 5 goes (the Football Reach target, not an FA rule).
Harder / Easier
Harder
The defender may start on either side, picks a side late and tries to win the ball (on their feet, never from behind). Or the server passes firmer.
Easier
The defender is passive and always starts on the same side, until the check and the touch away feel natural.
Safety
- If in doubt, sit them out: anyone with a suspected concussion stops straight away, does no training for at least 24 hours and plays no matches for at least 21 days (UK concussion guidelines).
- No tackling from behind. Defenders stay on their feet: no slide tackles, and passes stay on the ground.
- Warm up first. Flat grass with space all round, never a road or driveway.
- Under 16: if your knees or heels hurt when you run, stop and tell an adult; a GP or physio can help.
Sources
- England Football Learning - how to coach receiving skills (opens in a new tab)
- FIFA Training Centre - finishing from 1v1 to 3v3 (first touch away from pressure) (opens in a new tab)
- FIFA Training Centre - technical: using a first touch to evade pressure (opens in a new tab)
- FIFA Training Centre - directing the ball with the first touch (opens in a new tab)
- England Football - UK concussion guidelines for grassroots sport (opens in a new tab)
Not sure which skill to work on first? The free Football Reach test gives you a Player Development Score and shows which of the four corners of your game to work on next, in about two minutes.
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