Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): 7 v 7 Directional Rondo To Establish Pressure And Deal With Pressure

Screen 1 (20 mins)

SET UP:

40 X 30 area (if we want to heighten the tempo 40 x 25)

Balls on the side with the coach

2 sets of pinnies 

7 players playing directionally and the other 7 players playing directionally the other way

 

ACTIVITY:

Player in black (Team A) start at their GK 

Look to play the ball from one end to the other while under pressure moving the ball back and forth looking to open up space either centrally or out wide

The idea is to keep the ball moving and not on one player's feet too long

The passing between the simulation of the CB's is to invite the pressure from the pressing striker and free up the advanced pass into the HMF or to one of the 2 wingbacks that are higher up in the area

Once the ball is near the opposite endline, they look to pass the ball to the opposing GK and then they pressure the ball

Start with 3 - touch

Finish with open touch

COACHING POINTS:
Constantly opening passing lanes and finding pockets of space to play into 

Players off the ball should rotate positions to draw in the defenders and create space elsewhere

Ball movement to open up the defensive pressure

Timing of the runs, particularly from defensive midfielders

Short & quick passes

Shifting of key players toward the middle (particularly if possession is lost to blue), but also simultaneously maintaining shape and width when possible to create opportunities for switches of play

Don’t play into pressure, work to switch play and change direction through use of the goalkeeper or pivot if closed down instead

Positional rotation, changes of speed and changes of direction to catch the opposition team off-balance