Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending From The Front: Pressing High & Wide

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James Horner

Profile Summary

Name:	James Horner
City:	Heckmondwike
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

A series of practices to help players recognise and execute a high and wide press to maximise ball turnovers in the attacking third.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Individual Pressing Technique

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Bent knees when getting down / Side on body positioning when getting down / Small steps when jockeying and showing down
	Tactical Manipulating the ball carriers movements when showing down
	Physical Speed & acceleration to get out / De-accelerate when slowing down / A,B,Cs when jockeying and showing down / Utilising upper body strength, using outstretched arms to challenge and contested the ball carrier
	Psychological Decision making on which way to show down, consider weak foot for both ball carrier and defending player
	Social Fun created through competition / Socially engaging in team based formats

Individual Pressing Technique (15 mins)

Session Explanation

Split the group into two teams. Objective of the game is to beat the opposing player in races with modified outcomes. The coach will shout right, left or centre to start the race and the first to the cone wins and score their team a point. To start players will simply race to the assigned cones, this will be known as GET OUT.

Area Size

15m Vertically from start and end cones, 10m from side to side cones.

Progressions

Prog 1- To progress the players now must race out and stop dead on the cone to score points, this will be known as SLOW DOWN.
Prog 2- Once mastered players must now incorporate GET DOWN, therefore upon reaching the cone they must adopt a side on and low body positioning faster than their opponent to score points.
Prog 3- Split the two groups into a further two, giving you 4 groups, place two at the starting cones and two at the centre cones opposite. Players there will begin with the ball and start the progression by passing into the player opposite, players must then follow the pass and incorporate the three commands from earlier. This stage is called SHOW DOWN, players must show the ball carrier either right or left using the correct pressing technique.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Anticipating The Press

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Bent knees when getting down / Side on body positioning when getting down / Small steps when jockeying and showing down
	Tactical Manipulating the ball carriers movements when showing down / Begin to recognise showing the player wide
	Physical Speed & acceleration to get out / De-accelerate when slowing down / A,B,Cs when jockeying and showing down
	Psychological Switched on & focused, knowing when and where to arrive after specific actions / Anticipating the attackers movements (Aided via a good defensive show down) / Decision making, when to break out and press, on what triggers?
	Social Fun created through competition / Engaging challenging practice

Anticipating The Press (15 mins)

Session Explanation

A diamond shape with players behind each cone. Using a series of progressions to incorporate the identification of pressing triggers. To begin players will pass and follow, the ball can be played in any direction. Players must look to follow the pass with intensity replicating getting out.

Area Size
10m x 10m

Progressions

Prog 1- Practice moves to no forward passes, players must pass sideways but follow in the opposite direction, this is to aid the transition in to the next phase.
Prog 2- Now players must continue with the above model, however the player adjacent the new receiver must go and press the ball. Encourage being alert and moving as the ball moves, not once its reached its target. Arrive on the receivers first touch.
Prog 3- Use the above model, but now once the pass is played, players must show down with the ball carrier, forcing them either left or right, ensuring the pass is forced wide. The player adjacent to the intended target (aided by a good show down press) must be moving as the ball is passed ensuring they are arriving on the players first touch.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Manipulating Play Wide

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Bent knees when getting down / Side on body positioning when getting down / Small steps when jockeying and showing down
	Tactical Recognising pressing trigger, CB opening their hips to play wide / Arrive on the full backs first touch / Frequent scanning to aid pressing approach and cut passing lanes forward / Shaping our press with structure, closest player to the ball presses, defensive unit slides to cover
	Physical Speed & acceleration to get out / De-accelerate when slowing down / A,B,Cs when jockeying and showing down / Stamina to maintain high pressing intensity / Utilising upper body strength, using outstretched arms to challenge and contested the ball carrier
	Psychological Switched on & focused, recognising and anticipating the centre back trigger / Decision making, when to break out and press? / Reaction to turnovers, how quickly can we recover possession?
	Social Communication when organising the press, who goes and when? / Engaging challenging practice drawing on high levels of teamwork

Manipulating Play Wide (30 mins)

Session Explanation

Dependent on numbers and formation, basic setup can be 4v4(+4), the aim of the session is to shape our press to manipulate the ball into wide areas and trigger a pressing trap. In possession reds will attempt to play through the high press and will score points for completing passes into the adjacent endzone. If the whites can win possession in a wide area they'll score 2 points before attempting to keep possession for as long as possible in the middle sector (Each successful pass equals 1 point). In reaction to this turn over reds must attempt to press intensely and recuperate possession.

Area Size

Dependent on numbers. If 4v4(+4) 30mx40m

Progressions

Prog 1- Three second time limit when in possession, increasing ball speed and challenging the pressers intensity.

Prog 2- Pressers must be touch tight to the ball carrier within three seconds or lose points.

Prog 3- Strikers can't tackle in central areas, only show and manipulate.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Pressing High & Wide

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Bent knees when getting down / Side on body positioning when getting down / Small steps when jockeying and showing down / Attempt to pinch possession, maintaining intensity of the game, stopping the ball from leaving play
	Tactical Recognising pressing trigger, CB opening their hips to play wide / Arrive on the full backs first touch / Frequent scanning to aid pressing approach and cut passing lanes forward / Shaping our press with structure, closest player to the ball presses, defensive unit slides to cover
	Physical Speed & acceleration to get out / De-accelerate when slowing down / A,B,Cs when jockeying and showing down / Stamina to maintain high pressing intensity / Utilising upper body strength, using outstretched arms to challenge and contested the ball carrier
	Psychological Switched on & focused, recognising and anticipating the centre back trigger and knowing when and where to arrive after specific actions / Decision making, when to break out and press?
	Social Communication when organising the press, who goes and when? / Engaging challenging practice drawing on high levels of teamwork

Pressing High & Wide (30 mins)

Session Explanation

Att v Def format with play starting from the goalkeeper. The reds must attempt to play out from the back and either dribble or pass into the three endzones. The wide end zone will score double points as we look to encourage play in those areas to achieve our session outcomes. Once the ball has been played into either CB one red and white will occupy the central area acting as a CDM and CAM, the strikers must attempt to manipulate play into wide areas where we will look to press.

If the strikers can manipulate the ball into a wide area an additional white player can enter the game allowing for a 2v1 press in wide areas. If however the play remains central and the CDM gathers possession an additional red can enter the game creating a central overload. If the whites can recover the ball in a wide area and score, they'll score 2 points as oppose to one if the ball was won in a central area.

Area Size

Half pitch 60mx45m

Progressions

Prog 1- If the session isn't achieving the required outcomes, introduced rules where points can only be scored from wide areas.
Prog 2- Give pressers a three second time limit to get touch tight with ball carriers, enforcing intense pressing.
Prog 3- Central players can't tackle or progress in central areas, only show and manipulate into wide areas.

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