By Philip Cauchi
Aim: To press with intensity and determination to recover the ball upon losing it.
Team function: Negative transition.
Key concepts:
1. Closest defender to the ball to apply pressure.
2. Take a step forward upon losing the ball (reduce space).
3. Collective pressing.
4. Create overloads around the ball.
5. Cut off passing options.
6. Offensive coverage (close support/cover behind the ball in the phase of possession).
Practice 1: 4v2 to 4v6 rondo.
N.B. Prior to this practice the players should go through ten minutes of movement preparation which includes coordination and dynamic flexibility.
Training load: Four sets of two minutes each with a rest period of one minute between sets (4 x 2’ – 1’ rest).
Total duration: 12 minutes.
Preparation: Mark a main area measuring approximately twenty by twenty yards with another smaller area measuring eight by eight yards in the middle of it. In the smaller area there are four attackers and two defenders while another four players are inside the larger area and with the defending pair waiting for the latter to win possession of the ball.
Description: In this practice the four attackers aim to keep possession against the two defenders inside an area measuring eight by eight yards. This however depends on the level of ability of the players at the disposal of the coach. If the two defenders win the ball they aim to play it to any of the four teammates positioned in the main area. The now defenders (blacks) must immediately apply pressure on the ball to prevent the newly attackers (yellows) from making a pre-set number of consecutive passes to score a point.
Practice 2: 4v4+2 Positional Game.
Training load: Four sets of three minutes each with a rest period of one minute between sets (4 x 3’ – 1’ rest).
Total duration: 15 minutes.
Preparation: Mark a main area measuring approximately twenty five yards in length by 15 yards in width. The team that starts with the ball are to be positioned on the outside of the area, while the defending team and the two neutral players are positioned inside.
Description: The attacking team starts with the ball and they aim to play it to their target players (players 4 and 9). Once the ball reaches a target player, the attacking team together with the neutral players aim to play it to the opposite target player. If the defending team wins possession of the ball, they quickly change positions with the attacking team. This is a transitional moment and obviously team functions also change. The previously attacking team (blacks) must press quickly and collectively to deny the previously defending team (yellows) to get into their attacking structure upon winning the ball and secure possession.
Practice 3: 6v8+GKs + 4.
Training load: Two sets of eight minutes each with a rest period of three minutes between sets (2 x 8’ – 3’ rest).
Total duration: 19 minutes.
Preparation: Mark a main area measuring fifty yards by forty yards with a regular goal on each goal line. The attacking team are positioned as the midfield and forward sectors plus a goalkeeper in goal. The defending team are positioned as the back and midfield lines. The neutrals are positioned as shown in the next image and they are the centre backs and full backs when the attacking team is in possession of the ball.
Description: The attacking team aim to score in the goal defended by the opposing team. They are aided by the neutral players to make it an 11v9 numerical advantage in their favour. If the defenders win possession of the ball, the attackers need to press collectively and intensively to not let the defenders capitalise on their numerical advantage and create scoring opportunities. However, the team should decide if to apply pressing actions or not should the now attacking team (yellows) have a lot of space where to manoeuvre the ball. If the now defending team (blacks) decide not to press, they should regroup within their defensive structure and be compact and narrow, thus not allowing the opponents to progress up the field.
Game: 10v10 including goalkeepers.
Training load: Two sets of ten minutes each with a rest period of three minutes between sets (2 x 10’ – 3’ rest).
Total duration: 23 minutes.
Preparation: Normal game but we focus on the black team and how they either apply immediate pressing actions upon losing the ball or just fall back when the opponents have lots of space and the pressure on the ball is inexistent. We also work with the black team to have preventive coverage and offensive coverage (behind the ball) with short distances between the players to be able to close down the space of the opponents should possession be lost.
Cool down: Cool down jog followed by static stretching exercises.
Duration: 8 minutes.
By Philip Cauchi
