Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pressing from the front in 1-3-5-2 vs 1-3-5-2

6v6+6 Possession play

Time: 20 mins Players: 18 Method: 6v6+6 Rondo(10 mins without goals and 1omins with 2 goals and GK'S)

 3 players can press team in possession, remaining 3 have to stay in the middle zone and slide and screen to prevent forward pass.

Team in possession have to complete at least 4 passes before they switch the ball to the other end zone.

If the switch is successful 3 players from middle zone go to press and players that were pressing take their  positions in the middle zone.

If defending team wins the ball they have to secure possession with the team from the other end zone and team that lost the ball becomes defending then.

Progression:

Add 2GK'S and goals on each end zone.

If defending team wins the ball they can score on goal, if the ball goes dead, play starts in the other end zone from GK.

Coaching Points:

• Provide cover and balance: Players should recognise which defender presses and which defenders provide balance and cover behind the pressing player by communicating between each other.
• Compact defending: To remain compact, players need to demonstrate appropriate angles and distances. To achieve this they must take up cues off the pressing defender and take up a position to offer support and prevent the penetrative pass.
• Triangle defending shape if the attacking team has the ball in the middle.
• Diagonal defending shape if the ball is played wide. 
• Force the play down to one side of the pitch, cut off passing options.
• Players in the middle zone to go high (at the edge of their zone) slide and screen to prevent forward pass
• Distance and communication between the players 
• Quick reaction to press the ball
• Quick recovery runs to the middle zone by the players that were pressing.

9v9 Phase of play

Area: Full size pitch with cut off area as seen on the image. 

Players: 18 

Method: 9v9 Phase of play - pressing from the front

Reds formation: 1-3-5

Blues formation: 5-2

Shaded area: Area where we want to win the ball!

Coaching points:

Blue CF(9) to block pass back to GK and force Red CB(5) to play wide to Red FB(3)

Blue RWB(7) to press high on Red FB(3) and has to force him to play inside (Blue WB 7 needs to be aware of the space he has left behind and do not allow Red FB 3 to play in there)

1to1 marking in MIDFIELD with Blue CF (10) screening and occupying area around the 'D' t: blocking pass  to Red 4 & 8 or to punish the opposition if they loose the ball or make sloppy pass. 

Blue LWB (11) tuck inside to give cover and balance to our back line if press is unsuccessful. 

When defending try to have as many players as possible on ball side.

IF PRESSING IS SUCCESSFUL, CAN WE SCORE QUICK WHENOPPOSITION IS UNBALANCED.

IF PRESSING IS UNSUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE TO DELAY THE ATTACK AND ALLOW OUR CM'S AND WB.S TO MAKE RECOVERY RUNS TO GET BEHIND THE BALL.