Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Phase of Play of Organized High Press

10 vs 11 Functional Pressing Roles (25 mins)

Progression. Same principles of Phase I but now Both groups together; 10v11. Half field pitch. Each team in Attacking shape, circulating the ball with good speed, 3-touch/seconds max. To start, working specifically on the out of possession shape & press with the Blues 10 field players. Moving from their 3-2-4-1 shape into a 4-1-4-1 set Defending shape, to be then able to jump & press in a 4-3-3. Pressing high 3v3 on opponents backline. Upon coaches command (whistle) Blue team leave their ball and position themselves tactically to our Out-of-Possession principles. Red Team again hold their ball & shape (freeze). Visually and pitch geography, setup so we are pressing high in the opposition half. Line squeezed by our backs to be pushed-up with correct body position on the half-turn so they can take their first-step either forward to step in or to drop step, if they need to deal with a ball in-behind them. Squeezed narrow in our width to deny any central vertical BUP from the opposition and compact front-to-back, 30yds max in our vertical defending shape. Position of Wingers is to always be in the line of the ball, if/when their direct opposing WCB is in possession, to be able block any central vertical possession.

Get distance back-to-front right and principles. 10yds vertical space between lines and width of the 18yd box. Run, travel & close as the ball travels. RUN THROUGH THE BALL IN THE PRESS! Don't close and shadow. Press to steal, win & go to Goal!

Rd1 - 5 reps for Blue and then reverse roles, so Red mirror the actions. Each stoppage as follows to replicate the high-Press. Stop ball when it is with: CB, LCB, RCB, #5 and #6. Replicate how we attack without the ball, on the deeper players in opposition shape. 

Rd2 - 3 further actions but on whistle/command now, designated possession team plays 'live'. Pressing team has 8 seconds in which they need to regain possession and/or disrupt the opponents BUP, steal win and goal to Goal! In visual, Red Team attempt to play through the press and score in either of the 3 small goals placed 10yds in Blue (Pressing team) defensive half of the field.

Both teams do the same sets & reps

Coaching points:

Recognize game moments:

No pressure on the ball, no threat to backline; hold shape

Pressure on the ball, no threat to backline; Squeeze the pitch from the backline.

No pressure on the ball, threat to backline; backline drop 

"In Possession, you can't all be in attack!"