Build-up against direct pressure

Grid game

We set up in an area 24x24yds split into four squares of 12x12yds, plus a 3yd end zone around the perimeter, with 17 players. Eight bounce players are around the outside (yellow), one neutral in the middle (red), with four greens and four blues competing within the square. The coach feeds in the ball.

The greens and the blues are restricted to within their grid, pressing only their opponent within that space, while the red player can move around but is encouraged to stay as central as possible [1a].

[1a]

1. Coach serves ball in

2. Blues look to retain possession

3. Greens press within their grids

4. Red stays central

5. Yellow players on outside serve as additional neutral players

We then progress this, with outside players now restricted to two touches. Players in the square can have one pass to the outside before it has to come into the middle, while the red player in the centre can connect only with the players in the grid, and cannot pass out. The focus here is on the relationship between the passer and the receiver, with the receiver looking to move as soon as the passer is ready [1b].

[1b]

1. Coach serves ball in

2. Blues and greens can have one pass to the outside before it has to come into the middle

3. Red player in the centre can connect only with the players in the grid, and cannot pass out

4. Yellow players restricted to two touches

We can then progress it further, with players having three touches on the outside, but they cannot play outside to outside; the ball has to come into the middle. When the yellows put their foot on the ball, this triggers more pressure from the defending team inside the area (green in this example). The red player in the centre is now on one touch and can still only connect with players in the middle [1c].

We run this for up to four reps of up to two minutes, layering in the content as we go.

[1c]

1. Coach serves ball in

2. Red player in the centre is now on one touch

3. Yellows are restricted to having three touches on the outside, but cannot play to other yellows

4. Yellow player with foot on the ball triggers pressure from defending team

11v11

We set up on a full pitch. We move on to 11v11, including goalkeepers. In this example the blues are set up as 3-5-2, the reds as 4-3-3. Play restarts every time from the goalkeeper. The blues start by looking to create wide diamonds [2a], with the ball-side striker moving into space, with the players on the opposite side looking for the possibility of switching the play [2b]. If the reds win the ball, they have 15 seconds to transition and score, with the blues then looking to counter-press aggressively [2c].

[2a]

1. Play begins with goalkeeper

2. Blues set up on a full pitch in 3-5-2, reds in 4-3-3

3. Blues looking to create wide diamonds

We can then progress this by marking player to player, and seeking to capitalise on the overload. With play starting from the blue goalkeeper, the red nine has a decision to make when pressing, and whichever choice they make will leave the blues with a spare player. This activity can become a little chaotic, so I encourage the players to stay intense and aggressive while the ball is in play, but the minute it stops, they should rest.

We run this for up to 40mins, ensuring players are putting the range of potential solutions into practice.

[2b]

1. Blue strikers move into space and look to score

2. Reds continue to press

[2c]

1. If reds intercept, they have 15 seconds to transition and score

2. Blues counter-press aggressively

“This activity can become a little chaotic, so I encourage the players to stay intense and aggressive while the ball is in play, but the minute it stops, they should rest”