Practice 3: Aggressive pressing

WHY USE IT

This activity simulates what can happen if a high press is unsuccessful. Players are committed in advanced positions and the defensive line may be outnumbered and need to drop and delay the attack to allow time for the midfielders to make recovery sprints.

 

Set-up

Place three mannequins 6m from the halfway line; one central and one on each flank. Place three markers 12m from the halfway line in front of the mannequins. 

Have a supply of balls at each mannequin and use an assistant coach to monitor offsides.

 

HOW TO play

The Reds’ right full-back starts with the ball at the wide mannequin. The Yellow attacking midfielder starts at the marker 6m in front of the mannequin.

 

The Red defender passes to the Yellow midfielder and immediately sprints to get goal-side. This creates a temporary 4v3 attacking situation for the Yellows and encourages them to play quickly to exploit the overload and finish the attack.

 

Aim for each action to last no longer than 6-10 seconds and stop once the forward momentum of the attack is halted.

 

The objective is to train the recognition and reaction to an underload situation in defence and the importance of recovery sprints.

 

The coach can act as a target for the Reds once they regain possession. This trains the transition for both teams.

 

progressions

Change the point of attack to the centre and opposite flank.

 

COACHING POINTS

Defending team (Reds)

• Defend compact and collectively

• Drop when there is no pressure on the ball, step up when there is pressure on the ball

• Protect centre and show to the sidelines

• Mark players close to the ball and mark space further from the ball

• Track and recover to fill space behind ball

• Transition from zonal to player-marking in defensive third

• Transition to attack: Play first pass forward to coach or play back to goalkeeper.

Attacking team (Yellows)

• Play forward as precise as possible and as fast as necessary

• Create as much space as possible to receive

• Take as few touches as possible

• Use space behind opponent before they drop

• Be aggressive and ruthless around the goal