Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): (Pro Dev) Pressing & Regains of Possession

Pressing & Regains of Possession

Pressing & Regains of possession

Practice organisation

-Full width of pitch 50yards in length with 2 target areas 5yards square, midway in practice area 10yds infield as illustrated

-22 players (incl 2GKs) organised 10v10, with 2 Target players (GK suggested), inside target areas & supply of balls on edge of practice area.

-Practice starts with: ball fed in by coach to either team, who look at build play & get ball into T.

-If this is achieved; T feeds back into possession team.

-D’s objective as opponents.

Details

-D’s be prepared to recover ground if press is broken by opponents.

-Supporting D’s adjust positions to compress space in potential secondary passing areas.

-Eliminating passing options with tight marking & alert cover.

-Encouraging opponents to make risky & predictable passes that can be intercepted.

-Simple progression for this practice is:

-- Increase number of target areas (Practice becomes 9v9) to extend awareness, assessment of risk & understanding of pressing in vital areas.

Key coaching points

-Closest player to ball pressurises quickly, gauging angle & speed of approach.

-Understanding how & why to force/channel play away from danger areas.

-D’s not over-committing going into pressing situation & being beaten by man on ball.

-Pressing as a unit, in small numbers.

-Eliminating secondary passing options.