Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): First touch under pressure

Animation 1

Description: 3 progressions here. For the first two progressions, ignore the blue and yellow cones... they wouldnt be there. This setup is a bit messy by me because were getting a lot in. This is a progression to work on first touch under pressure.

 1. Blue plays red and red takes a first touch to the opposite side of the pole and passes back. Very simple. Work both sides. This should just be 2 touches.

2. Black joins in and red lays it off to black for a quick give and go around the pole.

3. The pole is gone. The blue and yellow gates are in play now. Server passes to attacker, attacker bounce passes back, server passes again and puts pressure on the attacker. The attacker has to go through one of the gates, once he does he then has a pressure free pass into the pugg.

# of players: 2-5

Coaching points: The first drill is super easy. You should be demanding a high standard for it. Players should be setting themselves up for success by where they stand. If they are standing by the pole, they cant possibly have a good touch to the other side. This is a simple drill but focus must be high.

Drill 2 should be crisp one touch passes. Keep the standard high.

Drill 3 is where they will be found out if they werent focused in drill one. Can you have a good directional first touch?

Progressions: Watching professional soccer, I see a lot of short passes in the middle of the field then followed by a long switch. If the players have the ability to ping a ball, on drill 2 you could do the short passes and then have the player make a 30+ yard angled pass as if they were switching the field.