Plug and press

EMBEDDING PRINCIPLES

We set up in an area of 70x44yds. Both sets of players will have a front four that will press the opponent passively to allow the detail to be drip-fed. Both back fours are in possession switching play. Their direct opponents are on the same axis as they are, so anything that is played to the direct opponent, their “mirror”, they detach from the shape and press it straight line. Once the ball has shifted to the adjacent player they recover back in [1a].

[1a]

1. Red back four in possession, switching play

2. Blues mirror the movement of the red opponents on same axis

Once the in-possession team has circulated four to six passes a whistle will go. This is when you forget the opponent and only focus on your teammates attacking. The aim is to get everyone into their opponents’ half, limiting space, mitigating any threat of a counter-attack later in the session [1b].

A second ball will be fed after the initial counter-attack from both coaches (marked in black) [1c]. This makes sure midfielders and defenders are up on the game and in sync with their forward players. It also creates a more enjoyable session for everyone as they all get “ball time”.

We want to build a mentality of no matter what, when we attack we forget our opponents and we move equidistantly with our team. We move as one unit, in and out of possession.

We run this for 12 minutes.

[1b]

1. Second phase

2. Coach blows whistle after four-six passes

3. Reds and blues are now both attacking, moving into opponent’s half and limiting space

[1c]

1. Movement develops so that reds and blues are all in opponent’s half and attacking with teammates

2. Full backs narrow but in forward areas
   
   

PLUG AND PRESS

We set up in an area at the coach’s discretion, with zones marked out as shown. This example is set up in a space with a vertical up-and-down pitch split with halfway line.

In this game, both teams are all in. If a switch of play from diagonal box going forward is successful, ie possession is retained, then a point is scored [2a]. If an opponent is able to pass the ball on the floor to opposing goalkeeper from the same side of the pitch, then a point is scored [2b].

If an out-of-possession forward presses too early and gets “picked off” and a ball goes inside him into an opposing midfielder, then a point is awarded to the team in possession.

If a goalkeeper plays a ball back toward the same rectangle as the ball came from, two points are awarded to their opponent.

The aim is to force everything wide, plug vertically, press in vertical zones and do not let balls inside the pitch. The mantra should be “nothing comes through us centrally”.

The width creates problems for defensively “lazy” players, which leads to cutting corners, then it becomes diagonal pressure and this isn’t what we want. We want “plug and press” – plug horizontally first the we apply vertical press in that order.

Opposite ball side defenders, midfielders and forwards can all be higher than their adjacent team mates to allow for shorter distances to press vertically.

We run this for 25 minutes.

[2a]

1. Reds switch play from one shaded rectangle to the other

2. Blues press

3. Reds retain possession and gain one point

[2b]

1. Reds pass ball between them

2. Reds pass ball on floor to opposition goalkeeper from same side of pitch

3. Reds win one point

I always reverse-engineer my sessions. What do I want out of it, ie what is my intended end product? How am I going to incrementally make it easy to understand while building up to the real-life game scenario? Bed in the theory while warming up, move into the more realistic competitive stage while adhering to the principles and the theory, finally moving into 11v11 real-life football on a full pitch, with no mannequins, cones, nothing; there are none of these on a Saturday so players must visually acknowledge and understand where they are at all times in relation to the opponent, teammates, the ball and the goals. In this session I would run a full-size game for around 20 minutes at the end to check players’ understanding and learning.

coaching points

What are the key things to look out for?

I am looking for understanding: the timing of the press, from what area are they pressing, the intensity of it, can they press one stage then press again after a back pass, for instance, as long as it’s vertical, same zone press. We aren’t chasing shadows all over the pitch; we press like pistons in a car engine, one up and two either side in “cover position”.

I would praise players proactive positioning to stop passes coming through our central area forcing wide where we will inevitably press and switch to controlling the ball side. I also look for the reactive side to the individuals, so if we have gone to press and individual brilliance breaches our press then I’m looking at recovery runs, what areas they take up and at what speed. Are they still thinking about angles as they get back into shape? Are they set to press again?

What are the typical mistakes players might make and how do I avoid them?

The first four or five times I did this session it was the decision making and the recognition of when you “jump” to press, when to slide horizontally to be narrow but “smell” when there’s a kill action. Also, there is a fatigue side to high-speed intense pressing. There are nuances to pressing so when the body becomes fatigued the mental side fails also.