Game version
Soft-hands pairs: a partner passes and you stop the ball dead inside a box of cones. The pair collects 20 soft stops.
Receiving Under Pressure
Receive while a defender closes in at walking pace and protect the ball as you turn.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
One partner passes; another walks in from behind you as a defender.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best out of 10.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 15 min
- Players
- You and 2 partners
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Stick, ball, cones, 2 partners
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Receiving
The steps
How it works
- One partner passes; another walks in from behind you as a defender.
- Receive with your body between the defender and the ball.
- Turn away from the pressure and pass to a cone gate.
- Count clean turns out of 15.
Coaching point
Body between them and the ball.
Safety: Wear your mouthguard and shin guards. Wear protective eyewear (ASTM F2713) where your league requires it. Play the ball, never the stick or the body, and go at walking pace first.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (slow pass), Core (medium), More (turn to a second cone after the stop). Beat your own best out of 10.
Story
You are catching a snowflake on a spoon without breaking it.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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