A classic training drill seen before games from your local high school clash right up to the UEFA Champions League final, this duplicates close pressure and the need for one touch distribution. Player form a loose circle about ten/fifteen yards in diameter with between 10-12 players forming the circle. Two players now go into the center of the circle. The ball is given to one of the players lining the circle.
At the coaches whistle the drill begins. The objective of the exercise is for the players that form the circle to keep the ball moving continuously between them, in order to evade the two players in the center who are working to close down the man with possession of the ball and steal it. The players forming the circle can pick a pass to any player they choose from the team mate next to them to the one on the opposite side of the circle, but they must do so quickly - again they are only allowed two touches of the ball, one to control and one to pass.
If your players are finding this too easy, up the difficulty by restricting them to just one touch -players must anticipate the pass and move it on to another player in one motion.
Once one of the players in the circle manages to gain control of the ball/knock it outside the circle, that player is "released" from chasing and harrying duties - he now switches with the player on the edge of the circle who played the last pass.
This is a great exercise as a pre game warm up, it gets players alert, moving, and most importantly reinforces the idea that teamwork and rapid passing is the best way out of danger.
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