Avoid pressing to build the game

Goal:

Playing out from the back

Soccer Tactics

Equipment

6 cones
4 vests
1 goal
Balls

Preparation

Playing Area: half field
Players: 9 + 1 goalkeeper
Duration: 14 minutes
Series: 2 of 6 minutes each with 2 minutes of passive recovery in between

Summary

Situational exercise to train the defense to build the game by evading the opponent's pressing

Secondary Objectives

Creating space, Width, Depth, Possession, Transition, Pressing, Passing, Losing your marker, Creating width and depth, Mobility, Don’t give away possession, Patient build up, Playing out against pressing, Once the ball is lost - Attack the ball, Pressing, Transitions

Organization

For the drill, use a regulatory half of the field with the goal placed on the end line. Place six cones on the half-court line, forming three 2-meter-wide mini-goals (as in the picture). Divide the players into two teams, five red defenders and four white strikers. The defenders arrange themselves simulating a 4-man defensive line with a central midfielder (D5) in the middle zone. The strikers position themselves with two central strikers and two offensive wings. Ball to the red team (defenders). The goalkeeper defends the goal and plays with the defenders.

Description

Objective of the red team (defenders) is to maintain possession of the ball and then finish in one of the three half-court mini-goals
White team's (strikers) objective is to recover the ball and then quickly finish in the goal defended by the goalkeeper
Whenever the ball goes out or the action is successfully ended, the drill starts again with ball to the red team that starts again with the build-up from the back

Offensive pressing movements

D1 in possession of the ball

A1 pressing the ball carrier
A2 in anticipation of the halfback
A4 presses the fullback closest to the ball
A3 moves toward the center, occupying possible passing lines

Defensive ball possession movements for game build-up

D1 in possession of the ball

D2 steps back, moving away from the opponent's pressing in order to receive the ball
D3 widens clearing the passing line in width
D4 widens clearing the passing line in width for potential switch of play
D5 makes an unmarking movement in the available space, in the opposite direction of the ball carrier, within his area of responsibility (yellow zone in the picture)
The goalkeeper advances in support proposing a passing solution in offloading, actively participating in the play

Exit from the pressing - example 1

D2 in possession of the ball

D2 passes the ball to D5 while D1 moves back, clearing the passing line
D5 passes the ball to D1 while D3 moves forward working in width and with useful staggered positioning to attack depth
D1 passes the ball on D3's movement
D3 controls the ball and finishes the action

Exit from the pressing - example 2

D2 in possession of the ball

D2 passes the ball to D5 as D4 moves forward, clearing the passing line
D5 passes the ball on D4's movement
D4 controls the ball and finishes the action

Exit from the pressing - example 3

D2 in possession of the ball

D2 passes the ball to D5 while D4 and D3 open up moving forward finding width and depth, clearing the passing line
D5 offloads the ball to the goalkeeper
The goalkeeper chooses, depending on the opponent's disposition, whether to throw long to D3 or D4

Rules

Free touches for players

Variations

Limit the number of touches to the red team (e.g., maximum three touches)
Insert a fifth white player in the offensive phase to be placed behind the two central strikers, who acts as an offensive midfielder

Coaching Points

Repeat the drill several times within the season
Players in the offensive phase must perform the pressing in an organized and methodical way, trying to close the opponent's passing lines
In the build-up phase, the central midfielder plays a key role; in fact, he will be the one to dictate the timing of exiting the opponent's pressing
Once familiar with the schemes, the drill can be transformed into a thematic match, decreasing the interruptions and making the execution more realistic and similar to the game
Also take care of the defenders' transition phase: lost the ball, they must react immediately by organizing and adapting to defend the goal and prevent the attackers from finishing

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