Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Pressing & Counter-Pressing

Technical Practice

Passing pattern with pressing.

Organization:

• 2-3 rectangular areas are set up.

• As shown above, the practice is set up on a rectangular area, with seven players spread across four corner poles and a centre mannequin – there must be two players on the centre mannequin.

Instructions:

• The ball starts with Player 1, who plays a square ball into Player 2. After Player 1 makes the square pass, he runs into the centre to take up a position left by Player 3 at the centre mannequin.
• As this pass is being played, one of the two Player 3s at the centre mannequin will sprint as quickly as possible to press the receiving Player 2. They should press but not try to steal the ball.
• Player 2 should take a good first touch past the mannequin and play a straight pass into Player 4 before following their pass to where Player 4 was.
• Player 4 should take a good first touch past their mannequin and pass into Player 5. As they do this, the other Player 3,should sprint to press Player 5.

• If the receiving player takes a small touch before taking the ball past the mannequin, the pressing player is encouraged to carry on the sprint a i.e. "secondary press" to apply more pressure.

• Player 5 takes a good first touch and passes straight into the next Player 1, for the practice to continue from where it first started.
• After a set period of time, the coach resets the passing pattern to go in the opposite direction. 

Coaching Points - Out of Possession:

• Pressing mentality - Start on the front foot with the mindset / mentality to press and hunt the ball.
• Aggressive pressure - Apply aggressive pressure when pressing the ball-carriers i.e. attack the player on the ball with full sprint.
• Secondary pressure - If the receiving player takes a small touch before taking the ball past the pole, the pressing player should apply a secondary press to apply more pressure on the receiving player.
• Run through - The pressing player "must not decelerate" or slow down when approaching the player on the ball, the pressing player must look to run through them and ensure that a secondary pressure is applied when needed.
• Arch your run -  Arch your run to and get into side-on body shape to make the play predictable. They next play must be so predictable as the receiving player is forced to play to one side.

Coaching Points - In Possession:
• Receiving skills - Receive the ball with your back foot to allow you to take your first touch away from pressure (the pressing player).
• Weight and accuracy of passes - Focus on the correct weight and accuracy of their pass, the quality of the passes are as important as the quality of the press. A poor pass will allow the pressing player to get close to the ball.
• Ball speed - Ensure that the ball is moved around the practice at match tempo. This will help to create realistic passing, receiving and pressing moments.

Skill Practice

Transition Game.

Organization:

Set up playing area as shown.

Instructions:

This is a 3v3 (plus goalkeepers) game played in a small area as shown. Two teams are active, while the other two teams resting.
• The practice begins with the coach playing into an attacking team – in Diagram 1, this is Team A.
• As the ball is played in, the defending team (Team B), should sprint from their starting positions in front of
their own goal to press in a 3v3 situation.
• The attacking team should attempt to score in their designated goal. The defending team’s aim is to win
possession and score in the opposite goal.
• Once the phase has finished, the teams will rotate and change roles. The attacking team will become the defending team, the defending team will rest and the resting Team C will become the attacking team. Team D will move up and get ready to become the next attacking team.
• The practice will continue for a set period of time or phases, decided by the coach.

Coaching Points - Out of Possession:

• Pressing mentality - Start on the front foot with the mindset / mentality to press and hunt the ball quickly. Look to press the ball at every opportunity, with both intent and a purpose.

• Press to score - Again players must have it at the back of their minds that they are pressing with the aim of regaining possession and looking to score on goal quickly.  
• Recognizing when to press or hold - When you arrive in a 1v1 defensive situations, can you recognise opportunities to win the ball, hold or delay? Do you recognize our pressing triggers?.
• Constant / continuous communication - Communication from teammates, including the goalkeeper, is vital during pressing and counter-pressing situations and also when defending in small and tight spaces.
Players must give relevant information to the players around them, to ensure they are carrying out the
principles asked of them by the coach.
• Defending principles of "Pressure, Cover and Balance" - As the first defender presses the ball, the other two defenders must provide cover and balance to ensure spaces and passing lines are blocked. Covering defenders can give the pressing defender information as to where the ball must be shown.
• Counter-pressing - Mentality to counter-pressure and hunt for the ball every
time possession is lost, and defend on the front foot at all times.

Coaching Points - In Possession:
• 1v1 Attacking - Take on's in 1v1s, look to play forward, make forward runs towards goal, be direct.
• Combination play - When playing against an aggressive press, move the ball quickly using one and two
touch combinations to enhance the chances of beating the press.
• Creative play - Reversed and disguised passing can be used to make play unpredictable and cause disruption to the defending team.

• Creative runs - Again be creative to make attacking runs i.e. overlaps, underlaps, diagonal runs, dummy runs etc to receive the ball in-behind defensive lines, to drag defenders away and create space for player on the ball or to get into open space to receive and attack opposition goals.

Progression:

• As the first ball comes to an end, either with a goal or the ball going out of play, the coach passes a second ball anywhere in the area. This will create both attacking and defensive transitions, as both teams react to where the second ball is and try to win it and score.
• Once the second ball has finished, the three teams will rotate and change roles as before.