Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): MCAA 568 - Benjamin Jordon -Pressing

Warm up Center Circle

Center Circle Warmup

All players, including goal keepers divide up evenly - half with a ball on the outside of the center circle and half on the inside without a ball starting next to the small square in the center of the circle. 

Duration: 20 Minutes Total

Setup: Center Circle, 20 balls, Square (6yards x 6yards)

Activity: Each exercise is 45 seconds - 1 minute done by each player. Total of 7 - 8 exercises. Every few minutes, coach runs players through dynamic stretches where they are. After the time, players switch out and the players on the outside perform the exercise (players on the outside recover). Ideal target is to build intensity throughout the exercises. After every volley, pass or exrcise, players sprint through the square at the center of the circle and find another free player. Players must change direction when they enter the square

- 1 Touch Passes (Followed by a spring around the passer)

- Inside Volleys

- Laces Volleys

- Chest Inside Volleys

- Chest Bounce Volley

- Chest Thigh Bounce Volley

- Headers

Dynamic Stretches

- Open/Close the gates

- High knees

- Lateral side lunges

Coaching Points:

- Focus

- High intensity

- Quality with passes/volleys

- Communication

- Exploding after performing exercise

6v3 Zone Pressing

2 Team 6 v 3 Grid SSG

Objective is to press with 3 and remove all passing channels

Duration: 15 minutes ( Each team will defend 4 times for 45 seconds for a total of 12 rounds)

Setup: Grid with six zones that are 6yards x 6 yards

Activity: In a 6 v 3 pressing game with the objective of winning the ball and creating a 3v1 rondo in a single box. Players who are not defending are required to only play in their respective box. They can move anywhere inside their own box but cannot move into their teammates box. If the defenders when the box, they must quickly establish possession in a 3v1 rondo. The defending team with the most passes in a 3v1 rondo wins. Every team will defend 4 times for 45 seconds.

Coaching Points:

- Pressing with purpose

- Forcing towards teammate to "Double Team"

- Eliminating passing channels

- Force into bad passes

- High intensity with press

- Compact defense

- Man marking

- Communication in movement

- Weak side defender shifting into middle

Pressing goalkick (Good + Bad Example)

GK + 7v7 Buildout Press + Counterpressing

Objective is to defend against a build out from a goal kick. 

Duration: 15 Minutes (

Setup: Half field with three mini goals se tup at halfway

Activity: From a goal kick, red team sets up to defend and press with 2 players. Objective is to push up and man mark in the middle. Once the ball is played, it is important that gaps and passing channels are eliminated because of man marking with high intensity. Winning the ball high up the field, close to the 18 yard box for a quick transition to score. 

If the team is successful in esecaping the press, their goal is to score in any of the 3 mini goals which represent finding the 7,11, 9. 

If they are unsuccessful in finding the mini goals, play restarts with red from the mini goals which prompts blue to enter counter-pressing to prevent a counter attack. If the ball goes out for a throw in, play restarts with goalie.

Coaching Points:

- Pressing with purpose

- Forcing towards teammate to "Double Team"

- Eliminating passing channels

- Force into bad passes

- High intensity with press

- Compact defense

- Man marking

- Communication in movement

- Weakside defender shifting into middle