You should develop your players’ passing under pressure as much as possible. It is easy to run up and down passing without hindrance, but this does not reflect the real game. The session builds towards a game which works on the key elements that make passing more difficult: pressure within a reduced space.
You should develop your players’ passing under pressure as much as possible. It is easy to run up and down passing without hindrance, but this does not reflect the real game. The session builds towards a game which works on the key elements that make passing more difficult: pressure within a reduced space.
Warm up time: 7-10
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7-10
What to think about
My squad are all good passers in training. However, when it comes to games we seem to give a lot of poor passes. Is there something we can do to improve our passing in games?
There is a lot more to passing than simply catching and throwing a ball. There’s a whole decision making process that needs to happen as well. The passer needs to weigh up where the defence are, where his support is and what sort of pass is needed.
This decision making process can only be developed by putting players under pressure or in game-like situations.
You may find a rapid decline in skill execution at first. However, the more your players get used to working with pressure, the more their execution will improve. The game in this session will improve their anticipation.
set-up
Pass in front of the receiver.
Draw the defender before passing, to put the receiver into space.
Support players: find space and make yourself available for the pass.
What you get your players to do
Line up three players with a defender opposite the middle one. The initial ball carrier passes to the middle player, who has to draw the defender and time his pass to the outside player in space. Control the speed of the defender to vary the pressure on the middle player, depending on his ability.
Vary the pressure on the middle player by changing the speed of the defender.
Development
Add in a second defender opposite the initial ball carrier. The two defenders set off together to put pressure on the two inside attackers. The middle player has to hold his depth to ensure he has time to receive and give a pass to the outside attacker.
Related Files
Core-122-middle-man-pressure.pdfPDF, 452 KB
The inside passers have to ensure they fix their defender to put the last man in space.
Game situation
Split your players into three teams of four, each with a ball. The players have to pass the ball while keeping it away from the other teams.
Teams get a point every time they intercept, block or knock down another team’s pass.
Start by making the ball carrier freeze when he has the ball, so the support players have to find space. Then allow the ball carrier to move around, but only keep possession for three seconds. Finally, allow the players to target the ball carriers and rip the ball off them if they can.
Players can intercept, block or knock down passes, but initially they can’t touch the ball carriers.
What to call out
“Hold your depth and run onto the pass at pace”
“Look at the receiver before passing”
“Move into space and communicate with the ball carrier”
Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is the assistant coach with University of Bristol Women's team and is a coach mentor for Broad Plain RFC mini and juniors section.
He was Head Coach of Swansea Schools U15 and has previously held coaching roles with the Young Ospreys Academy and as Assistant Coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup. He was director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. P...
Register now to get a free eBook worth £10
Get this brilliant ebook worth £10 for FREE when you register now
The fly half (10) has a controlling position to launch his team away from the opposition and into open spaces. He needs to be comfortable ...
Newsletter Sign Up
Join over 75k coaches that are saving time searching for fresh coaching ideas with our free email newsletter: ✔ New drills ✔ New games ✔ New warm-ups. Delivered direct to your email inbox
"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"
Paul Butler, Florida, USA
"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."
Rick Shields, Springboro, USA
"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."
Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada
"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."
Subscribe Today
Since 2006, we’ve helped tens of thousands of coaches just like you build strong teams and deliver effective and inspiring training sessions, week-in, week-out.
Discover the simple way to become a more effective, more successful soccer coach. ALL the support you need to become a great Youth Soccer coach: ✓ Proven, practical coaching advice
✓ Hundreds of ready-to-use drills and full-session practice plans
In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.
Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.
We've been at the cutting edge of rugby coaching since we launched in 2005, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.