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Practice games

Pass and Press

Pass it on, then sprint across to close down the next pass. Passing under pressure, and pressing the moment the ball's gone.

Practice 15 min 6 to 16 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2018

Pass, Receive, Heads Up Win It, Keep It, Score Work hard

At a glance

  • Activity: Diamond of four cones 11 m apart, two at each, with a 3 m square in the middle. Pass round; on the next pass, the last passer sprints through to press.
  • Progress 1: The presser goes on their own pass, so they arrive sooner.
  • Progress 2: The presser can win it, and the receiver becomes the presser.

Points

  • Check your shoulder before it comes.
  • First touch away from the presser.
  • Presser: go the moment the pass is played.

If it's not working: The presser runs behind the receiver, not at them, until the passing flows.

Pass and Press: set-upABCD1231 pass to B, 2 B passes toC, 3 then A sprints to C
  • players
  • Acone A, starts
  • Bcone B
  • Ccone C
  • Dcone D
  • run
  • pass
  • 1in this order

Four cones in a diamond with a tight square in the middle, two players at each cone. A passes to B. When B passes on to C, A sprints through the square to press C, who has to control it and pass on to D before A gets there.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks

Set up

  • Four cones (A, B, C, D) in a diamond, about 11 m apart, with a tight 3 m by 3 m square of discs in the middle.
  • Two players at each cone. One ball, starting at A.

A diamond of four cones about 11 m apart, with a 3 m square in the middle. 8 a diamond, a triangle for 6.

How to play

  • A passes to B and waits.
  • When B passes on to C, A sprints through the middle square to press C.
  • C has to control it and pass on to D before A gets there. A joins C's cone.
  • When D passes on to the player at A's cone, C sprints through to press them, and so on round the diamond.
  • Every couple of minutes, start the ball at the next cone round and change direction, so the pairs at B and D get their turn to press.

Keeping everyone moving

Two at each cone, so there's always someone ready to receive. With more than eight, set up a second diamond. With six, use a triangle with the same rules.

Make it easier

  • The presser runs behind the receiver, not at them, until the passing flows.
  • Any number of touches.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. The presser goes on their own pass, not the next one, so they arrive sooner.
  2. The presser can win it. If they do, they pass it on and the receiver becomes the presser.
  3. Two touches max.
  4. A second ball, starting at the opposite cone, so there are two presses on at once.

Three things to say

  • Check your shoulder before it comes.
  • First touch away from the presser.
  • Presser: go the moment the pass is played. Don't wait to see it arrive.

Words that work: "Great shoulder check!", "Lovely first touch away from the pressure!", "Brilliant sprint the second it was gone!"

Colts habit

Work hard. The presser sprints the moment the pass is gone. Nobody stands and watches their pass.

Both feet

Receive on one foot, pass with the other. Changing direction every couple of minutes brings in the other foot.

Heads up

See who's pressing before the ball arrives, so you know which way to take your touch.

Safety: With two balls, two runners can meet in the middle: tell them to pass each other on their left. The presser stays on their feet, no sliding. Clear spare balls away.

Keeping score: Not counted. The aim is to get it on before the presser arrives.