Pressure passing

Excellent catching and passing skills are required when passing under pressure and close to defenders. Suitable for beginners and advanced players, this session will develop your players’ abilities to catch and pass with little space and time.

Warm up time: 5
Session time: 5-8
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 8-10
Warm down time: 5

What to think about

While we might want to play as close as we can to the gain line (in front of where the ball started), the objective is to move the ball along the backline if necessary. If a player attempts to play too close to the defence than they can really manage they won’t be able to complete the move. Attackers should understand what they are capable of and not exceed their abilities in matches. Use this session to help players understand the crucial distance needed between themselves and the defence.

set-up

1. Take the ball early to the side.
2. Do not bring the ball into the body.
3. Pass in one motion across the body.
4. Focus on the ball and then the receiver, nothing else.

What you get your players to do

Put a 9 on a line (the “pressure line”). Mark out two boxes with cones to represent where the ball needs to be caught (see middle picture). Position three players behind the boxes as shown. The 9 passes the ball to the first receiver, who receives the pass in the first box. He then passes to the second receiver in the second box, who passes on to the third receiver. Make sure the players practise passing left and right.