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Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Build Up Against High Press (Start Time: 2025-05-21 15:20:00)

Profile Summary

Juan Alberto Luna
Name: Juan Alberto Luna
City: Prospect Heights
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Session Overview: Build-Out vs Pressing – Position-Specific SSG

Theme:
Breaking pressure in the build-up phase and transitioning into defensive shape.

Objective:
Improve defenders' and midfielders’ ability to build out under pressure and recognize pressing cues, while training attackers to press as a coordinated unit and transition quickly.

Setup:

  • 2 teams (Red & Blue) each with:

    • 1 GK

    • Back four

    • 2 CAMs

    • 1 yellow neutral midfielder per side

  • Central pressing zone with 5 attackers from each team (LW, RW, ST, LAM, RAM)

  • Mannequin gate at midfield to simulate line-breaking passes

  • Coach in central area with the ability to serve balls to initiate transitions

Flow:

  • Each team builds from the back under pressure from the opposing front five.

  • Goal: Play through the mannequin gate to switch play to the opposite back line.

  • Once ball breaks lines:

    • Pressing team steps out to press the opposite side.

    • Their own team’s front five recovers back into the middle zone.

  • Coach can trigger transitions by passing into the central pressers.

Coaching Focus:

  • Build-Up: Body shape, awareness, timing of passes, and use of neutral player

  • Pressing: Compactness, communication, pressing triggers, and recovery runs

  • Transitions: Speed and clarity in switching between roles (build-up to press, press to recover)

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Position Specific Transfer Game

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Position Specific Transfer Game
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Position Specific Transfer Game (20 mins)

Position-Specific Build-Up Game: Press-Resistant Play

Setup

  • In-Possession Team: Blue

  • Neutral Players: 2 Yellow central midfielders

  • Pressing Teams: Red and Gray (alternate on coach’s signal)

Player Roles

  • Blue Center Backs: Stay in their own half

  • Yellow CMs (Neutrals): Free to move across both halves

  • Blue Full-Backs: Positioned wide outside the grid, pressable

  • Red/Gray Pressers: Defend the entire area

Function & Rules

  • Blue builds from the back by connecting center backs, midfielders, and full-backs.

  • Red and Gray alternate pressing when called by the coach to maintain intensity.

  • Center backs and full-backs must stay in their halves or lanes.

  • Central midfielders can move freely to support build-up.

  • If the pressing team wins the ball, they must pass it out to a resting defender outside the grid.

  • Coach immediately restarts with a new ball to the Blue team.

Key Coaching Points (KCP)

Technical Focus

Body Position

  • Receive on the half-turn to break lines.

  • Stay on the blind side or shoulder of the opponent to bypass pressure.

Passing Detail

  • Pass firmly to the back foot to support forward play.

  • Use disguised passes when pressure forces front-foot reception.

Staying on the Ball

  • Deep players should hold the ball briefly to draw in pressure before releasing.

Awareness

  • Players must constantly scan for pressure and teammate positioning.

In Possession – Tactical Concepts

Play to Opposites

  • Use full-back width to open central lanes.

  • Play into pressure to free up wide options.

Defensive Transition

  • Close down quickly after losing possession.

  • Force the play into one area and win the ball back before it can be switched.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Build Up Against High Press

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Build Up Against High Press
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Build Up Against High Press (30 mins)

Position-Specific Small-Sided Game: Build-Out & Pressing Reactions

Setup

  • Two Build-Up Teams: Red and Blue

    • Each team has:

      • 1 Goalkeeper

      • 4 Defenders (Back Four)

      • 2 Attacking Midfielders (CAMs)

      • 1 Yellow Neutral CM

  • Pressing Zone (central box):

    • 5 Reds: LW, RW, ST, LAM, RAM

    • 5 Blues: Same roles

  • Coach: Positioned centrally, can restart play or pass directly into pressing players

Function

  • Each team builds out against opposition pressing from the middle zone.

  • Goalkeeper, defenders, and CAMs aim to break pressure and pass through a mannequin gate into the opposing back four.

  • The pressing group attempts to prevent this by cutting passing lanes, pressing aggressively, and scoring when possible.

  • Once the ball is successfully played through the mannequin gate:

    • The pressing team leaves the central area and presses the opposite side.

    • The build-up team’s pressing players recover back into the central box.

Rules

  • Field split in half, each side mirrors the other.

  • Yellow neutral supports possession on each side.

  • Only the pressing group can move between zones during transitions.

  • Coach can pass into the pressing zone directly to test reaction and compactness of the back line.

  • New ball served in after each transition or turnover.

Key Coaching Points (KCP)

Build-Up Team

  • Body Position: Open up to the field to receive under pressure.

  • Passing Detail: Break lines with passes through midfield or disguise to play around pressure.

  • Use of Neutral: Combine quickly with the yellow CM to bypass central pressure.

  • Switching Play: Timing and shape are key to breaking through mannequin gate under pressure.

Pressing Team

  • Compactness: Close down angles as a unit, force play wide or backward.

  • Triggers: Press aggressively when CB takes a heavy touch or GK plays into tight space.

  • Transition Reaction: Press immediately when ball is switched; prevent buildup by swarming the receiving side.

  • Recovery Runs: Re-enter the central zone quickly after a failed press or when play transitions.

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