Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Pressing as a Team to Win ball near goal

Def Awareness Rondo Warmup

Setup: Small square on inside (preferrably flat cones). Setup larger grid on outside to contain pairs of players between each cone. (Star setup for 10; Setup above for 12). Two teams of pinnied players; alternating starting position

Game Progressions: - dynamic stretching between each progression

Progression 1 - Basic: Pass only to your teammates; 2 touch (progress to 1). Must hit every player before restarting sequence.

Progression 2 - Same as 1. After every pass, defensive shuffle five shuffles out, then sprint back to line. (optional alt: sprint to line and back, back peddle and sprint; switch with a player)

Progression 3 - (diagrammed) Blue team every 3rd pass follows their pass into center square to receive a pass back. They pass it off to a 3rd player and retreat back to their spot. Count starts again on 3rd players first pass. 1 touch only in center square. Red team does same but every 4th pass to stagger runs.

Progression 4 - DEF AWARE. cues - Same game as progression 3, but if the player next to you (cone grid) leaves for middle, you must attempt to beat them to middle and prevent connected pass.

Scoring: Progression 1 and 2 - first team to 25 passes. Progression 3 - Points for every reception in middle and 1 touch pass out of middle; 3rd pass team tries to get 8 passes before 4 pass team gets 6 passes. Progression 4 - Point for successful pass from middle and successful defense from middle (def = bad pass caused; interception); first team to 7

Coaching: Rolling, Accuracy, Pace, Open (Hips) on all passes. Get to support postion on sprint to middle; no jogging. Be aware of your surroundings and ready to mark quickly on defense. Focus on right body position and mental awareness to avoid mistakes.

High Press Game

Setup: Length adjustable. Half field setup above. Full width. Clearly mark 3 zones. 6v6 with keepers. Offense plays in 3-2-1 shape. Defense plays in a 1-3-2 shape or 3-2-1 (to assimilate 4-3-3). OPTIONAL: add a center zone to middle, bonus pt for attackers that work the ball into middle before scoring.

Game: Blue starts with ball from keeper and attempts to score on opposite goal. Red tries to press as a team without allowing blue through each zone. Red is trying to win the ball in the highest pressing zone possible. If they win ball, play it back to blue keeper (Advance to shot on goal option). Always start from keeper. Blue can be offsides in zone 1.

Advance to continuous play with defense and offense shifting into shape mentioned above quickly.

Scoring/Duration: If Red wins the ball in zone 3 = 3 pts. If they win in zone 2 = 2pts. Zone 1 = 1pt. If blue scores, their goal is worth all the points of the zones they worked through (i.e. 2 zones = 5 pts, all zones = 6pts). If using counter attack, then defense gets an extra 2 pts for a goal. Play to 15 and switch attack/defense.

Coaching:

- Force them to play longer balls or make mistake. No short passes.

- Force them into a trap in corner or sideline when available.

- Don't press so hard that we leave gaps

- Move as a defensive unit. Forward together and side to side.

- Back players be ready to pounce on long balls. Look for cues (body of player for hard pass, etc)

- Offense keep opposite mid wide when possible to quickly switch and get to goal