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Technical

Ball Control Under Pressure

Keep possession when opponents are closing you down fast.

Ball control in space is easy. Ball control when a defender is breathing down your neck is what separates good players from average ones. This guide covers body positioning, awareness, shielding, and quick decision-making when under pressure. You'll learn how to use your body to protect the ball, how to scan before receiving, and how to turn defenders instead of running into them.

Key Points

1Scan before the ball arrives - know where pressure is coming from
2Use your body as a barrier between ball and defender
3Your first touch should move the ball away from pressure
4Stay on your toes - flat feet means you can't react quickly
5Lower your centre of gravity when shielding the ball
6Practice receiving on the half-turn to see both ways

Training Drills

✓Rondo (keep-away) in tight spaces with multiple defenders
✓Receive and turn drill with passive defender increasing pressure
✓One-touch passing under pressure in a small grid
✓Shielding practice - hold the ball for 5 seconds under pressure
✓1v1 in a tight area where you must keep possession for 10 seconds
✓Shadow work - practice receiving and turning without a ball, then add ball

Learn From the Pros

N'Golo Kanté - incredibly difficult to dispossessEden Hazard - low centre of gravity, brilliant shieldingLionel Messi - uses body shape to protect ball at speedAndrés Iniesta - received under pressure and escaped with turnsFrenkie de Jong - calm under pressure, always finds space

Ask FootballGPT

“How do I stop defenders knocking me off the ball?”

“When should I shield the ball and when should I pass it?”

“How can I be more aware of defenders around me?”

“Why do I always lose the ball when pressed?”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when to turn and when to pass under pressure?

It comes down to your scan before receiving. If you've checked your shoulder and seen space behind you, turn. If you see two defenders closing, set it back to a teammate. The decision is made before the ball arrives, not after.

How do I shield the ball without fouling?

Use your body, not your arms. Stay side-on to the defender with your body between them and the ball. Your arm can be out for balance, but don't push or extend it into the defender. Keep your centre of gravity low and stay strong on your standing foot.

I panic when defenders get close - how do I stay calm?

Practice makes pressure familiar. Start with passive pressure in training and gradually increase it. The more you experience it in training, the less stressful it becomes in matches. Also, breathe. Players hold their breath when stressed, which makes everything harder.

Should I always try to turn, or is passing backwards okay?

Passing backwards is absolutely fine - it's called keeping possession. Not every touch needs to be progressive. Sometimes the best decision is to recycle the ball and let your team build again. Forcing a turn into pressure loses the ball.

Expert Advisors

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