Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 4-3-3 set up

Build up

Build up / attacking principles

• Possession-based and creative, looking to dominate our opponents and the game. We find spare players in attacking overloads and move the ball cleanly through the thirds.
• Intelligent movement off, on and around the ball, making effective use of space and offering a range of good passing options. This includes players dropping in and out of position to draw man-for-man defenders with them and opening up gaps.
• Quick and slow: understand when to speed play up and when to slow it down and be patient in possession. We draw teams in all over the park then use quick passes to open spaces in behind.
• Exploit wide areas with over / underlapping full backs, creating 2 vs 1s in wide areas. Defenders use ‘steering wheel’ movement to shuffle across when full backs advance.
• Use of width: we occupy all five channels as we build through the thirds, stretching opposition defences.
• Ready for transition: we are compact vertically to allow defenders to join attacks and be able to counter press quickly when attacks break down.

Scenario summary

• Play is building down left side to LB
• Back three shuffle across ('steering wheel') to protect left side against counters
• Team moves as one. Opposite side winger getting into scoring position / back post run
• Effective 3-2-5 or 3-1-6 in attack

Zonal press

Pressing principles

• Aggressive and as high as possible: engage opponents high up the pitch to regain as close to the opponent’s goal as possible. We may drop off when the opponent is building, enticing opponents to play out from the back. We move as a unit, prioritising vertical compactness and reducing gaps between the lines while making sure we protect the space in behind.
• Pressure and cover: apply pressure to opponents and our teammates are well-positioned to intercept.
• Protect the middle: compact horizontally and vertically. Teams go around not through. Wingers need to be prepared to narrow off when the play is on the opposite side.
• Set traps and look for triggers: look to make play predictable (e.g., showing into wide areas) and for certain conditions to press aggressively (e.g., poor passes, hesitation, opponents turning their back, on opponent’s weaker foot)
• Patience and discipline: be comfortable surrendering possession at times, staying compact and looking to engage at the right time.
• Prepared to recover and adapt. When opposition play through unit lines, we recover back and tackle. Adapt to the game around you (e.g., drop when teams go long, man mark certain players as needed, change approach if teams beat the press to a mid- or low-block).

• Pressing as a 4-4-2 
• Dropped off 25-30 yards to entice team to build from the back
• GK plays to CB (#4)
• CF (#9) looks to show CB wide
• All unit lines shuffle across to intercept

Main points

When out of possession (in addition to main principles)

• Move as a unit
• Scanning and awareness
  
• Communication and key words
• Discipline and patience
• Ball side, goal side to intercept

On regain

• Speed of counter / break lines quickly
• Create overloads 
• Third man combinations
• Quality on the ball (through balls, back foot, ball speed, body shape)

Long balls-2

Dealing with the long ball principles

• Stop the source: where possible, stop the source of long balls. This could mean putting pressure on outfield players to prevent them.
• Judge the flight and adjust starting position: identify where the long ball is dropping during matches and retreat to a position where you are protecting the space in behind.
• Defenders positioned to step on to win first balls: defenders should position so that they can step on (i.e., not backpedal) to win first balls.
• All unit lines compact horizontally and vertically to win second balls: make the park as small as possible, positioned to win second balls.

Scenario description

• Team identifies that long balls from GK are going over their head, making them vulnerable to balls in behind.
• All unit lines drop, remaining compact horizontally and vertically, to a position where defenders can step onto and clear long ball.
• LB goes to head ball while three other defenders drop back in case the ball goes over his head.
• Midfield and forward unit lines compact and close by to win second balls.

Counter pressing-1

Defensive transition / counter-pressing principles

• Regain quickly: look to regain inside 5-10 seconds
• Players around press aggressively: those near or around the ball should press to regain the ball
• Lock out switches: as part of the transition, seek to prevent play being switched
• Recover into defensive shape: while those around press aggressively, remaining players look to get into defensive shape
• Communication, scanning and awareness is critical for effective, coordinated pressing and helps block passes between the lines

• Blue #3 wins possession from red #8 who immediately tries to win the ball back
• Red #7 and #6 aim to support the press who, along with red #9 aim to prevent play being switched 
• Remaining red players recover quickly into defensive shape