Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Deny time and space to build up - Winger High Press Trap

PP (10 mins)

Organisation:

7v7 in three 20m x 25m space. Team starts with pivot player with the objective of the possession team to pass the ball by hand (netball) from one end of the pitch to pass to the pivot player at the opposite end for a point. The BPO team needs to try and win the ball by pressing the opposition. It is a turnover if the ball hits the ground. Players are to decide if they are going to high press or sit of in a mid block and defend.

- Adjust the size of the area

- Offsides introduced

Player Tasks:

- Pressure the ball carrier immediately

- Close down the space between you and the attacker as quickly as possible

- Defenders to confront attack with their knees bent to establish a low centre of gravity to adapt to changes of speed and direction quickly

- Players should be side o once they have closed down the space between them and the attacker, with the front foot facing the ball and using the back foot to pivot on and change direction.

- Show them either a side-line or back into another defender and attempt to win the ball

- When you are providing cover, stand deeper than the player apply pressure to cover the passing channels forward AND to cover a 1-2 combo.

- When providing cover, stand narrower enough that you can step across and intercept a through ball but wide enough that you are covering as much space as possible

- When being the balance player you can see the whole picture so communicate to everyone what is happening whilst standing on an angle to provide balance.

Winger Press (25 mins)

Organisation:

8v6 in a half with the pitch divided into 5 corridors and a 15m deep end zone. Play starts with the white team GK with the team attempting to play out from the back to either release the 2/5 to dribble through one of the wide gates for a point OR the 2/5 receive the ball in the end zone from a team mate after running through one of the gates first before shooting at goal. Once the scoring sequence for white is over the coach serves a ball in for the recovery to play on the counter. If the black team wins the ball by pressing they score as normal. The recovery team gets 3 points for a goal if they score within 8 seconds of winning the ball.

- Different pressing traps (striker press, winger press, double striker press)

- Add time limit for possession team to score a point

- Each player on the possession team has a maximum of three seconds to control and release the ball

- Player who passes the ball to the 2/5 on the possession team into the end zone can enter end zone to create 2v1 vs GK.

Team Tasks:

Prevent forward passes and win the ball as high up the pitch as possible to create scoring chances.

Player Tasks:

- Protect the centre of the pitch by cutting passing lanes to ST from direct pass when the ball is central

- Responsible for the two deepest CM's

- Be positioned close enough to your player to intercept forward pass/win the ball in 50/50 or force their first touch backwards

- Maintain BPO shape until pressing trigger identified (ball in widest corridor, slow pass, backward pass, receiving ball facing backwards) and react immediately

- Protect the centre of the pitch by operating in the wide central corridor when the ball is central, closing passing lanes forward to central midfielders

- Responsible for closing the FB down 

- Press from out to in, when the ball is travelling from the GK to the CB on your side whilst cutting out the passing lane to the FB.

- Attempt to either intercept forward pass/win the ball in 50/50 or force their first touch backwards

- Tuck in and be positioned in the wide central corridor to cut out long ball from far side CB to far side CM whilst also be able to press far side fullback if long ball attempted

- Maintain BPO shape until pressing trigger identified (ball in widest corridor, slow pass, backward pass, receiving ball facing backwards) and react immediately

- Protect the centre of the pitch by operating in the 3 central corridors when the ball is central, closing passing lanes forward to central midfielders

- ST nearest to CB receiving the ball holds position and allows the CB the opportunity to receive the ball presses from outside in

- Far side ST cuts passing lane to far side CB and close enough to press GK

- ST who holds position looks to intercept the pass into midfield from CB, press CB if they drive into midfield

- Maintain BPO shape until pressing trigger identified (ball in widest corridor, slow pass, backward pass, receiving ball facing backwards) and react immediately

Coaching Cues:

- When the ball is in the widest corridor, our entire team should occupy the 3 corridors nearest the ball

- If BP team are able to play back into a central corridor and break press, stay high in BPO positions and wait for next trigger to press again

- When the press is initiated by a player, EVERYONE must react and press collectively at 100% intensity

- When the ball is central, protect central areas and maintain BPO shape