Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Harry - Pressing Session

High-Press Warm-Up (15 mins)

Instructions

-Start on the whistle by sprinting to the mannequin in the middle, jockey there until the coach blows the whistle a moment later. Then, sprint towards the mannequin on the right and jockey again. Once the whistle goes again, sprint through the gate to the right and return to the back of the line.

-Start by going to the mannequin on the right, then to the one on the left. Go for 2 minutes at a time.

-Next, move into sprinting past the first mannequin, jockey the second mannequin, sprint to the gate on the rate, then cut back and sprint through the opposite gate. Switch sides after 2 minutes again.

-Can introduce a competition round.

Coaching Points

-When jockeying, you need to get low, get on your toes and get your hand out in front of you.

-Next player goes once the first player starts sprinting towards the second jockey.

3-Man Passing Lines (15 mins)

Instructions

-Set up 2 rows of cones 12 yards apart with a ball on each cone.

-Split the players into groups of 3.

-One player stands on each cone with their ball, while the third partner stands in between the two cones.

-The player in the middle runs to receive a pass from one of their partners, passes it back and runs to receive the next pass from their other partner.

-They do this for 45 seconds, then switch which partner is in the middle.

-one touch bounce pass

(Ball in hands on the outside)

-inside foot volley

-laces volley

-thigh volley

-chest volley

-headers

(ONLY one ball on the ground in the middle)

-short pass, run tight around your man and receive a through ball.

Coaching Points

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3 Team Possession (20 mins)

Instructions

-Set up a possession grid, 45x45 yards.

-Split the players up into the 3 teams of 6 (in this example).

-Pick one team to start in the middle, which is red in this diagram. If the white team gives the ball away to the red team, then the white team takes their place in the middle.

-If one team kicks it out of bounds, they go in the middle.

-The aim is for the 2 teams to work together at keeping possession from the team that'll be high-pressing them for the ball.

-The aim of the team in the middle is to make a quick shift in mentality when you lose possession and immediately high-press together as a group.

-The ball starts where it went out typically, but it can start from the coaches feet.

-Start the drill off with all 3 teams passing the ball to anyone in the grid for a minute, then only passing to a player on a different team for another minute.

-After that, begin to play the 3 team possession game with only 2 touches allowed.

-After 5 minutes, give the players unlimited touches.

-After another 5 minutes, keep score of how many times each team has 8 passes completed on them. First team to give up 10 points loses and has to pick up the equipment.

Coaching Points

-Look for sharp shifts in direction when you lose possession. The aim is to see the defending team work as a group to press the 2 teams with the ball as quickly as they can.

-The player on the ball should always have options both ways they look. Make sue they're opening their body up to keep the ball moving around the grid.