Beating a high press

The purpose of this session is to help us in our preparation for a match day when we’re due to face a high-pressing team who are very effective at putting pressure on the ball. The players benefit greatly from this session because it allows us to play more directly to our front players when the opponents are pressing us high in our own half.

It’s quite important that our defensive players don’t take too many touches and they have an outlet up front that they can play the ball to, allowing our midfielders to get close to the front players when the ball is played forwards.

This session would be delivered in the week leading up to playing against a high-pressing team. We would usually run it two days before a match.

What do I get the players to do?

Beating a high press

We set up a playing area of 35x30 yards, split into two 15-yard end zones and a 5-yard centre zone. We’re using 20 outfield players, divided into two teams of seven (the reds and the blues) and a team of six (the yellows). One team of seven starts in each end zone and the yellow team of six starts in the centre zone.

The blues start with the ball and they must pass to keep possession from the yellows, three of whom enter the end zone to apply pressure, while the remaining three yellows must keep their shape in the centre zone and try to block passing routes to the end zone behind them. The blues must make at least five passes (and no more than 10) before they can pass the ball to the reds in the opposite end zone, as shown [1a].

1a

When the ball is passed to the other end zone, the three pressing yellows must retreat back into the centre zone and their three waiting team mates follow the ball into the other end zone and take their turn to press, as shown [1b]. Play now continues in the same manner in the new end zone.

1b

Each successful pass from one end zone to the other scores a point for the passing team. If the pressing team wins possession, they must clear it out of the area for a point. We play three four-minute games and each team takes one turn to defend, with the team of six selecting one player to join them from the new defending team. The possession team are limited to three-touch and must not play the ball above head height.

What are the key things to look for?

We want to see the possession team making the playing area as big as possible to keep hold of the ball. Off-the-ball movement and effective communication are key to the success of this session.

We also want to see players using short, sharp passing and they should look to penetrate both the high press and the second line of defence in the centre zone by going through them or down the outside of them.

We want to see the defending players get a touch on the ball or force the possession team into making a mistake, with the front three pressers closing down quickly and forcing play down one side and denying the possession team the space to move the ball. We also want to see the pressing players responding to good communication from behind.

The second line of defence in the centre zone should move as a unit in relation to the movement of the ball, in order to shut off passing routes.

What do I get the players to do next?

Possession games

We set up a playing area of 65x40 yards including a five-yard end zone at each end and we position a small goal in each corner. We’re using 20 outfield players split into two teams of seven (the reds and the blues) and a team of six neutrals (the yellows). Two yellows are positioned on each side of the playing area and one is positioned in each end zone.

The reds and the blues play a 7v7 game in the main area, using the help of the yellows who are one-touch and who play for the team in possession. We play six games of three-minutes, with each team playing each other twice (the team of six picks  a player to join them from the new neutral team when it’s their turn to play 7v7).

In games 1 and 2, the team in possession must keep the ball and they score points by passing to an end zone player and receiving the ball back – then they must transition and play the ball to the end zone player at the opposite end to secure the point, as shown [2a]. Play then continues in the same manner.

2a

In games 3 and 4, the possession team scores a point by passing the ball to one end zone player and then transitioning to score in either of the two small goals at the opposite end, as shown [2b]. Play restarts with a ball played into the area by the coach and then continues in the same manner.

2b

In games 5 and 6, the team in possession scores a point by passing the ball to one end zone player and then transitioning quickly to pass to the other end zone player, who must play the ball back for the team to score in either of the two small goals at that end of the pitch, as shown [2c]. Play restarts with a ball passed into the area by the coach and then the game continues in the same manner.

2c

What are the key things to look out for?

When in possession, we want to see players making the pitch as big as possible and keeping possession through off-the-ball movement, good supporting runs and effective communication. We also want to see sharp combination play and quick transitions, with players grabbing the opportunity to score goals whenever the opportunity arises.

When out of possession, we want to see players trying to gain possession as quickly as possible. We also want to see teams keeping their defensive shape and denying their opponents the space needed to keep the ball. They should quickly counter-attack on winning possession.

How would I put this into a game situation?

11v11 game

We set up a playing area of 86x60 yards, split into two 37-yard end zones and a 12 -yard centre zone. We position a goal at each end.

We’re using 20 outfield players and two goalkeepers, split into two teams of 11. We play a normal 11v11 game but whenever a team is defending they must always leave three forwards in the centre zone, along with two defenders from the attacking team, as shown [3].

3

When the defending team wins the ball, they should quickly counter-attack. By leaving the three forwards in the centre zone, the defending team has an outlet to play to and it forces the opposition team using the high press to drop quickly or they will be outnumbered 3v2 when the counter-attacking team breaks. If the three forwards move quickly they will have a 3v2 overload on their route to goal. This makes both teams force play to win the ball, meaning that the team that lost the ball must counter-press quickly or lose out at the back.

We play two games of this with each one lasting ten minutes.