Gloves Up
All drills

Back-Pass Escape

Ball control, Passing. About 9 minutes.

Keepers tonight
KKeeper working SServer or team-mate AAttacker KWaiting
Touch away from the press
  1. Glance up: where is the presser coming from?
  2. First touch away from them, out of your feet.
  3. Plant and face the free side.
  4. Pass before they arrive.
How it is set up

Setup. Keeper in goal. A defender 25 metres out with the balls, a presser beside them. Two team-mates wide, one each side, level with the edge of the box.

How it runs. Defender passes back and the presser chases the pass from one side. Keeper takes the first touch away from the presser and passes to the wide player on the free side. Ball goes back to the defender and the presser comes from the other side. Six reps, then rotate.

Coaching points

  1. Look before the ball arrives. One glance tells you which side the presser is coming from.
  2. First touch goes away from pressure and out of your feet, far enough to pass in one more step.
  3. Come off your line to meet the pass. Never wait for it on the goal line.
  4. If the touch is poor, play it safe: out for a throw beats a tackle in your six-yard box.

Make it harder. The presser chooses the side late. Then the presser goes at full pace. Then a second presser blocks one of the wide players.

With 4 keepers. Keeper, presser and a wide player on each side. The coach plays the defender.