Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Principal based counter pressing Rondo

Screen 2 (10 mins)

Principal based rondo (counter pressing) played on a 25m x 35m 6 v 6 + 3

• The out-of-possession team attempts to win the ball. If they win the ball, they then attempt to maintain possession (3 passes) and the in-possession team leave their positions on the outside to counter-press – this is shown by reds in Diagram 2.
  
• The defending team transitions to fill the spaces left by the in-possession team on the outside.
  

You can place the players on two touches to increase the speed of the ball and intensity of the practice.

SETTING TRAPS
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The out-of-possession team should attempt to set traps for their opponents to play into.
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These traps should be set in areas of the pitch where the defending team has extra players.
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When defending the ball centrally, the out-of-possession team should aim to stay narrow and compact. This should direct the ball into wide areas, where the ball can be pressed aggressively.

AGGRESSIVE PRESSING
•Once the team has decided to initiate a press, the whole team must move as a collective.

During pressing moments, players should be working at maximum intensity to exert as much pressure as possible on to the ball-carrier and their teammates.

The mentality to press aggressively is integral to teams regaining possession.

AWARENESS

Underpinning all of the out-of-possession players’ actions is a high level of anticipation.

Players should attempt to read triggers and cues as to where the opponent will pass next, constantly trying to remain one step ahead of the player in possession to win the ball back through tackles or interceptions.

FAST REACTION TO COUNTER-PRESS

If the in-possession team loses possession, they should be encouraged to counter-press immediately.

This can be through swarming the ball and smothering the space around the ball.

Players can also quickly mark the nearest player for
a more man-orientated counter-press.