Back Pass Under Pressure

Teach the keeper to receive a back pass on the correct foot, read the pressing forward's angle, and pick the right outlet under real pressure.

Keeper in goal. A center back 15 yards out with the balls. Two outlet players: one short on the edge of the box, one wide near the sideline. One forward starts 10 yards from the center back as the presser. Two cone gates mark the outlets.

1. The center back plays a back pass to the keeper; the moment it is struck, the forward presses the keeper.
2. The keeper takes a first touch away from the press and plays through one of the outlet gates: short, wide, or a long clearance past the halfway cone.
3. Score 3 points for a completed short pass, 2 for wide, 1 for a clearance that lands beyond the halfway cone. Zero if the forward touches it.
4. Rotate the presser every 4 reps so the keeper faces different pressing angles.
5. Ten reps per keeper, then swap keepers or compare scores.

• Open the body before the ball arrives so you can see the presser and both outlets.
• First touch across the body, away from the pressure.
• If the forward's run blocks the short outlet, the wide one is open.
• Clear early rather than late; a bad clearance beats a lost ball.

• The keeper receives square-on and has to turn to see the outlets; drill the open body shape before adding pressure.
• Every rep ends in a clearance because the keeper panics; slow the press until the short pass is being found, then speed it back up.
• The center back plays a soft back pass that invites the press; the pass should arrive firm and to the far foot.

• Add a second presser who cuts off one outlet.
• Bounce the back pass in so the keeper must control an awkward ball.
• Play a live 3v2 after the outlet pass.

• Presser walks instead of sprinting.
• Remove scoring and let the keeper call the outlet aloud before receiving.
• Play the back pass to the keeper's stronger foot every time.

• Keeper may not pick the ball up; back-pass rule applies.
• Two touches maximum for the keeper.