2v2 Recovery Run

1. Mark a pitch 15 metres wide and 20 long with a 4 metre zone at each end and a mini goal on each end line. Put a cone 3 metres outside each side line, level with halfway, and a pile of balls beside the attackers' zone.
2. The two defenders stand on their own end line, the two attackers in their zone at the other end. A defender passes to the attackers, and from that moment the defenders can press.
3. The attackers may not shoot from inside their own zone. If the defenders win the ball, they can score in the goal at the attackers' end.
4. Whenever an attack ends, with a goal or the ball out, each defender runs round a cone and back onto the pitch. Meanwhile the attackers grab a new ball from the pile and attack again straight away.
5. Attack for 90 seconds, then swap roles, two turns each. With 8 or more players, run two or three pitches side by side.

The attackers' problem changes every few seconds. Straight after a restart the defenders are still on their way round the cones, so it is two against nobody, or two against one: shoot early, from the first good chance, before the second defender is back. Once both are back it is a real 2v2, and the chance has to be made: a pass to drag a defender across, a dribble to open the angle, then the finish. So the attackers count before they choose: how many defenders are back, and from which side are they coming? The returning defenders choose too. The first one back goes to protect the goal, not to chase the ball, and the second presses only once there is cover behind.