Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session Topic Breaking Lines - Matt Jepson and Abdul Vazihu

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Problem One:

The first problem we will look to solve is what we would do if the opposition press high. I will coach the Reds, and Abdul will coach the Blues.

The Reds will set up as above, and look to utilise their man advantage, who is essentially the goalkeeper initially. Of course, if we can manipulate the ball successfully, the extra man will change and/or we will have more options. As we are breaking lines, the players will be encouraged to think forward, look forward, and play forward.

The ball will start with one of the centre backs taking the goal kick and initially at least, playing to the GK. This will immediately pose a problem for the high press. To try and get out, we will then encourage the centre backs to get to the width of the 18 (making the distances bigger for Blues to try and cover), and we will also get the fullbacks to drop deeper. The Blues will be instructed to defend within the width of the 18, and ensure that they block passing lanes into the goals.  

The central midfield players will be encouraged to work in tandem, and not operate on the same lines.

If Blues remain tight, we may look to be brave and play to the safe side of central midfield players and 'bounce' the ball out towide fullbacks, alternative centre back, or their midfield partner. This will depend on where the opposition are. The opposition will not get too tight in wide areas, or that will allow an easy pass into the wide goal.

Ball speed will be key, and we will look to create overloads by drawing pressure, and breaking it by breaking the lines. Other technical considerations will include how players receive the ball, and an awareness of who is around them, and where the mini goals are through scanning before receiving.

It is important to consider the transition, and the centre midfielders will need to ensure that if one goes high, one provides balance by protecting the middle in the event we lose the ball. Wide players will need to get narrow to try and send the ball wide. Quick pressure (if possible) may mean we can mitigate any danger, especially if we had an overload on, but we made a poor pass etc.

What if the opposition do really well at man for man?  We will look to utilise the spare player (which may be the goalkeeper) to break the high press and ultimately break lines with that. It may be that we look to play to central midfielders under pressure, but play to their back foot away from the immediate pressure. Should the opposition get really high, we can then potentially go over them, and break the line that way