Phase 3: Begin The Attack
Pressing, refers to the tactic of putting pressure on the opponent who has possession of the ball in order to disrupt their ability to play effectively. The main objective of pressing is to regain possession of the ball quickly or force the opponent to make mistakes.
When defending, the pressing players aim to deny time and space to the opponent with the ball, limiting their options and increasing the chances of an interception or mistake. This involves applying pressure by closing down the opponent quickly, engaging in challenges, and blocking passing lanes. The pressing tactic can be executed in different ways depending on the team’s game plan. Some common pressing strategies include:
1. High Press: This involves pushing the defensive line higher up the field and putting pressure on the opponent near their own goal. The goal is to prevent them from playing out from the back and force them into making mistakes or long balls.
2. Midfield Press: The pressing is focused on the midfield area, with players aiming to disrupt the opponent’s passing game and intercept the ball in the central areas of the field.
3. Low Block Press: In this strategy, the defending team drops back and forms a compact defensive shape, narrowing the available space for the opponent. The team aims to press and intercept in their own half, limiting the attacking team’s options in the final third.
Pressing requires good anticipation, coordination, and timing from the defending team, as it can be physically demanding and mentally challenging. It is crucial for players to communicate effectively, maintain discipline, and make collective decisions when executing a pressing strategy.
Key Principles
– Angle of approach
– Body shape
– Set traps
– Overload with out the ball
– Distances/Compactness
– Starting position
– Communication
– Triggers
– Regain in 3-6 seconds
– Primary & Secondary pressure
– Organising behind the ball/ Lock in / Lock on
– Screening/ Rotation
– Press/ Cover/ Balance
– Recovery into shape
Warm Up (10 Minutes)
Physiological Warm Up
Information Coming Soon…
Technical Practice (20 Minutes)
Double Diamond Passing
This session is excellent for building up confidence and quality on receiving on the back foot and playing forward. The balls starts by being played in the same direction on the outside of the session, each player needs to pull away from the mannequins prior to receiving, once the ball has been passed on they follow and set up once again.
Possession Based Practice 1 (20 Minutes)
Three Team Press
This excellent session works several areas across the playing philosophy including; Phase 1 begin the Attack & Phase 3 Begin the Press. The red team and green team will need to keep possession of the ball away from the yellow team. Each team has unlimited touches prior to passing across the area, forcing the supporting team to set up quicker on transition. Once the defending team wins possession of the ball they then transfer it quickly and swap with the team that just lost creating a transition environment.
Only 2 players are allowed to press at any time, providing primary pressure and secondary pressure units. Middle are will concentrate on blocking the passing lines once the first pressure line has advanced. If the ball get’s passed through then the same occurs once again though roles now change over (closets player presses).
Possession Based Practice 2 (20 Minutes)
Advanced Three Team Press
This session is perfect for the final advancement of the technical 3 Team press. It helps incorporate realistic movements for players playing in the 11 aside game.
The session starts by the goalkeeper playing the ball to one of the in possession teams signalling the defenders to be press. In this practice the Blue team will start keeping possession and looking to play through the central area (along the ground) to the opposite Red team. The Yellow team can send 3 players into the attacking zone to win the ball back, whilst the other 3 players provide secondary pressure and intercept and back up the pressing team.
When the ball has been regained, the pressing team must score for the teams to rotate.
Game Related Practice (20 Minutes)
3, 2, 1 Possession Game
This session develops the teams ability to build up and support play effectively. The ball will always start from the Goalkeepers; in the defensive third the team will need to complete 3 passes before moving forward, once in the middle third 2 passes before going into the final third, once there the team have to create 1 pass prior to finishing. If the ball is won in a different zone the team will only look to go forward rather than going backwards.
This Small Sided possession game helps develop all areas of your teams principles and over time will help support a possession based focus. Challenge the players to focus on the different angles to create to play forward on the last pass. Body shape and angles will be key to playing forward quickly and effectively.
Further Reading
