11v11 lesson · Receive inside the team shape · Intermediate
Around the Pressure
The best route can change with one defender’s move. Look through first, then around.
What the coach says
- You want to move forward, but that defender can take away one passing lane.
- They’ve stepped into the middle. Look outside them.
- Which pass gets beyond this defender?
- Play around the defender. Your teammate receives facing the next part of the pitch.
- The defender blocks the central pass. The diagonal route to the left stays clear.
- Bring it back. Let’s see what changes when the defender chooses differently.
- This time the defender moves toward the wide player. Look at what they’ve left.
- Where is the clear forward route this time?
- The middle has opened. Pass through before the defender can get back.
- The best route can change with one defender’s move. Look through first, then around.
Quiz questions
Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.
Question 1
Which pass gets beyond this defender?
Coach’s explanation: The defender blocks the central pass. The diagonal route to the left stays clear.
Question 2
Where is the clear forward route this time?
Coach’s explanation: Moving out to the left has taken the defender away from the central lane.
Question 3
True or false? With the defender standing in the middle, the pass straight ahead is the clear route.
Coach’s explanation: It's false. The defender sits in the central lane, so we play around them to the left.
Question 4
Put the play around the pressure in order, from first to last.
Coach’s explanation: Look first, find the open lane, pass around, and your teammate can face forward.
Question 5
The defender still blocks the middle, but your right back has pushed up. Which pass gets beyond the defender?
Coach’s explanation: The right-side lane is outside the defender, so the ball goes around the pressure.