Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Pressing in the final 3rd (1-3-5-2)

Positional Context

352 v 433

Players begin slightly dropped off, to encourage attacking team to play out

When ball is played, 9 or 10, depending on which side, begin the press and prevent the ball from being played wide, opposite striker prevents switch of play out to our weak side

7 and 11 look to anticpate ball being played inside and begin an aggressive press

8 prevents the ball being chipped out over the press

3 and 2 can look to be aggressive and stop the ball being played over 9 or 10s head to the full back

4,5,6 slide across to pressing side and left or right full back may be able to afford to press the winger should the ball make it there, leaving other two centre backs to mark attacking striker.

POP (30 mins)

Primary - 9,10

Secondary - 7,11,2,3

Bring out principles from previous game - new addition of wing backs now

Trigger - Pass to centre back

9/10 Drop off to encourage short play - wait to see which side they play, if they play to your side, cut off pass out wide, to force the play into central areas, this is where we are strong

if ball isnt in on your side, you need to stop ball switching to our weak side, as this could leave us vulnerable

7,11 - anticipate ball being played into midfield, and apply pressure to their pivot , they have man overload in this practice, so your press has to stop the ball getting there

2,3 apply pressure to full back incase ball goes over the head of our striker

when blue wins ball back, give time frame to score (worth double if you score in 8 seconds) to encourage quick forward play to exploit space after winning ball back