Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U17+ Pressing as a Group - High Pressing

Animation 1

Practice Organisation:

• The practice is set up as a 6v4 in each of two grids, with only one grid working at one time.
• A defending team of eight players (Orange Team) is split into two sets of four, with one set of four responsible for pressing the ball in their designated grid. If the ball is not in their designated grid, the four defenders recover to the neutral zone in between grids.
• The four working defenders at any one time must try to stop the team in possession (Black Team) playing through them and across to the opposite grid. If the defending team wins the ball, they aim to score into the designated goal in their grid.

• Can secondary defenders limit the in-possession team’s passing options and stop split passes?
• Can secondary defenders also be ready to press the pass and put high pressure on the ball? 
• Reinforce the ideas from previous practices on how to manage smaller and larger spaces.
• Now that there are more players on both teams, players must recognise spaces quicker and limit forward options quickly and effectively.
• Providing challenges for the attacking team can affect the outcome of the practice.
• For example, it would be easy for a centre-back or goalkeeper to play a long, lofted pass over the press into a forward, but this defeats the purpose of the practice. A condition whereby the ball must stay on the floor or can only be clipped over one player gives defenders the chance to work on pressing angles and distances.
• The coach should recognise the aims within the practice and how to specifically work for them. The aim is high pressing, so there should always be pressure on the ball, with a willingness to take a chance to try and win the ball high.
• It is important to relate all tactical information back to the specifics of the team throughout the small-team possessions and/or wave games. For example, pressing triggers may be different in a flat 4-4-2 formation than a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield.

• The coach can progress the practice by having each possession team of six play as certain positions within each grid. For example, as a back four and two central midfielders trying to play out against an opposing press.
• Progress also by placing a goalkeeper in each goal, to provide an extra option for the team in possession and another level of realism. Goalkeepers should also be able to save shots if defenders regain the ball.