Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): high press- finishing

Specific Session (40 mins)

Key Factors

• Pressing fast
• Being narrow and compact to prevent being played through
• Forcing back
• Communincation
• Protecting space in behind

Opposition Principles

Organisation

• Total time of 20mins
• Area size of 20-25m Wide by 30-40m Long (dependant on age of players)
• 12 players (can be 10 with one at each end, or worst case 8 with no wide players)
• 3 sets of bib, 3v3 within Blue zone
• Common players on outside play with team in possession
• Aim is to move the ball from Zone A to Zone C through Zone B with the minimum number of passes
• Once ball reaches the end zone then recylce back via wide players to the starting zone (allows recovery)
• Between breaks, get a player in each end zone to gather the balls ready to re-start
• 4 rounds in total; 3-4mins per round

Conditions

1. Max two touch for players outside blue square

2. Max of three touches for players inside (unless we are working on them beating a player)

3. No thrown ins

4. If possession is lost, then restart at the end where the ball came from in that phase

Scoring

5 points: if ball is moved from A to C through B in 2 passes 

3 points: 3 passes or more

2 points: if passes requires players on outside

Progressions 

1. Add forward player into defenders zone to put more pressure on CBs when in possession

Block A: Positioning On and Off The Ball

When CB has the ball, the CMs should not be moving towards them as this will close down space. They should look to play as high up as possible (especially the ACM). The two DCMs should be wide. The wide players outside should not be beyond the halfway line - in this session we operate them as FBs

CMs can take passes into feet where they are and therefore need to shield & protect the ball well. They can also push high and then look for passes into the space they have now created (push marker back and move to receive thus creating space)

Block B: Body Shape to Receive, First Touch, First Time Pass

Players need to be on their toes with open body to receive. Are they using body shape to play a quick pass or do they want to receive and take opposition on.

Block C: Passing Angles

Multiple angles

a. Square on = pass back to CBs

b. Sideways outside = pass to FB

c. Sideways inside = looking for option of combination play or seeking pass through

d. 

Block D: Movement of all players and 3rd Man Movement 

a. Can we play to a CM who plays to another CM who then makes that pass forward

Switch Point Rondo (20 mins)

Switch Point Rondo

-3 Teams - One Defending/2 Attacking Groups

-5 Passes switch through the wide neutral/play across/2 touches.

-Round 2 - ability to switch back across through to the other side for 2pts.

-Round 3 - Outside can now be pressured/opening up split through middle for 3pts.

-Head Up/Hips Open/Detail With the pass, lead team mate - play correct foot. Basics.

6x3 Minute Games.