FROM THE SIDE

LINE
VOLUME 3
PRESSING
 CONTENTS
starting positions of pressing

profile of a pressing team

what is pressing

when to press

why play pressing

how to press

where to press

types of pressing

high pressing/attacking pressing

midfield pressing

low pressing/defensive pressing

gegenpressing

pressing triggers

making play predictable

pressing zones

line of confrontation

line of retreat

risks of pressing

session examples
 STARTING POSITIONS
OF PRESSING
HIGH PRESS

HIGH MIDFIELD LOW GEGENPRESSING

PRESSING PRESSING PRESSING

MIDFIELD PRESS LOW PRESS

 PROFILE OF
PRESSING TEAM
different qualities required by the team will be dictated by the style of press
the coach implements

extremely fit and quick players that can cover great distances at speed

communication

mentality of players and desire to put players under pressure and win the
ball

intelligent players that have a tactical understanding of situations

cooperation of all players

clear tactical understanding by the coach to which style they are going to
implement with the players and making sure the players understand their
individual roles within it.

understanding when, where and how to press.

WHAT IS PRESSING?

It is an attempt to put pressure on

the opposition when they have the
ball with the idea of getting the ball
back or forcing the opposition to
make a mistake.
 WHEN TO PRESS
determined by the coach and the profile of their team

4 types of pressing

1. high press/attacking press

2. midfield press

3. low press/defensive pressing

4. gegenpressing/counter pressing

- press immediately when possession is lost

- only press when the opposition enter certain areas of the field (pressing zones)

- do we press for the whole game?

- do we only press for certain periods of the game?

- do we only react to triggers?

- how long do we press for

when we are in a position to affect the ball either by closing space, time or options
 WHY PLAY
PRESSING?
limit the oppositions time on the ball

deny space and close down/block passing options

to win the ball back

force the opposition into playing misplaced passes or passes that put the team under
pressure.

don’t allow the opposition time to build attacks or options to penetrate

there might be certain players in the oppositions team that don't cope well under
pressure and this can lead to goal scoring opportunities

poor conditions of the field can make controlling a ball very difficult under
pressure

possession orientated teams need the ball to play their style of football therefore they
need to win the ball back as fast as possible

our players are in a position to affect the ball

 HOW TO PRESS?
INDIVIDUAL:

- immediately close down the player with the ball

- close down the distance between you and the receiver as the
ball is traveling

- deny forward passes and delay the attack

- types of runs by the player applying pressure to force the

attacker to a certain direction

- body stance of the defender

- if the ball can’t be won remain patient and stay on your feet

- can the individual affect space, time or passing options

 HOW TO PRESS?
GROUP:

- support the 1st defender that is pressing

- maintain consistent distance and angles

- mark or close down supporting attackers

- stop passes into dangerous areas/space

- create double-team or overload

situations
 HOW TO PRESS?
TEAM:

- dependent on the coach and what press the team

will employ

- remain compact

- maintain team shape and discipline

- knowing where to press and drop as a team

- all players reacting/shifting to individual players

movements when making play predictable
 WHERE TO PRESS
dependant of the type of press the coach implements

in the attacking third, middle third or defensive

third of the field

play has been forced to a certain direction/

area(predictable play)

in set pressing zones

overloads have occurred and the defending team

are in a favourable position to win possession
 TYPES OF
PRESSING

HIGH PRESSING/ATTACKING PRESSING:

A style of pressing where the team presses high

up the field in order to win the ball. Can be
done for a certain time limit 6 - 10 seconds.
TYPES OF
PRESSING

HIGH
PRESS
 TYPES OF
PRESSING
MIDFIELD PRESSING:

A type of pressing that happens in and

around the halfway line/ middle third of
the field. When the defensive team cannot
win the ball immediately and must drop
to reorganise the shape of the team
TYPES OF
PRESSING

MIDFIELD
PRESS
 TYPES OF
PRESSING
LOW PRESS/DEFENSIVE PRESSING:

a style of pressing where the team

will retreat to their own half and
allow the opposition to have
possession in their own half and only
apply pressure once the opposition
start pushing forward
TYPES OF
PRESSING

DEFENSIVE
PRESS
 TYPES OF
PRESSING
GEGENPRESSING:

A style of pressing where the team puts

pressure on the ball the instant
possession is lost with the intent of
launching a quick counterattack when
possession is won
TYPES OF
PRESSING
 HIGH PRESSING/
ATTACKING PRESSING
HOW:

- high defensive line

- aggressively pressing the ball high up the field

WHY:

- if the ball is won the attacking team is very close to the oppositions goal

- stop the opposition from building attack from the back

- denies the opposition time on the ball forcing misplaced passes or wrong decisions

- to win possession of the ball

- force the opposition to play a long ball

WHEN:

- as soon as possession is lost

- when the ball enters certain zones/areas of the field

- when certain pressing triggers/cues happen

WHERE:

- as high up the field as possible (attacking third)

 MIDFIELD
PRESSING
HOW:

- players drop off to around the halfway line and get an organised defensive
shape until certain triggers arise

WHY:

- prevent forward passes

- allow every player to get back behind the ball

- if the team cant win the ball in a certain time frame allows the team to drop and
get organised

WHEN:

- if possession has not been won in 6 - 10 sec

- when the defensive team are organised and possession cant be won immediately

WHERE:

- around the halfway line of both half's

 LOW PRESSING
HOW:

- the team must retreat to their own half and allow the opposition to maintain
possession in their own half

WHY:

- limit the space in front of goal

- increase numbers behind the ball

- makes it difficult for the opposition to get in behind the defenders

- makes the opposition play in certain areas of the field

- sets up the start of a counter attack

WHEN:

- when the opposition start pushing forward into the defending teams half

WHERE:

- the defending teams own half

 GEGENPRESSING
HOW:

- A swarm of high intensity players immediately trying to win

the ball back when possession is lost

WHY:

- Force the opposition into hurried decisions and inaccurate

passes

WHEN:

- Immediately after possession has been lost

WHERE:

- Normally high up the field

 PRESSING
TRIGGERS
immediately when the player receives the ball dependent on the situation

when a player has to turn back facing their own goals

slow passes

poor 1st touch

aerial passes

when we have more players in an area of the field than the opposition does

the opposition are not organised

the number of players that can affect the situation

time related to loss of possession (6 second rule)

where the ball is on the field

if our players are in a position to affect the player on the ball properly or can isolate
him from supporting players
MAKING PLAY
PREDICTABLE
 PRESSING ZONES
FORCING PLAY OUT
 LINE OF
CONFRONTATION

A imaginary line that a coach sets

his team to start pressing when the
opposition cross that line. A
reference point where to start
applying pressure
 LINE OF
CONFRONTATION
FACTORS THAT CAN CHANGE THE LINE OF CONFRONTATION

- The score

- how much time is left in the game

- the formation

- the number of players on the field

- the size and condition of the field

- the technical ability of the opposition and style of play

- the ability of your own team

- the type of press the coach implements

- the space between our last defender and striker

LINE OF RETREAT

a line where the defensive back line

push up to trying to reduce the
distance between the last defender
and first attacker
RISKS OF PRESSING
can leave areas of field open as players move together to press

can make attacking options limited/predictable when possession is won

if one player doesn't do their role all team efforts can be wasted

if players try press on their own with out supporting players the opposition
can easily play out of the press

mentality of the player applying a press

playing against a technically strong side that can play under pressure

can expose space in the team if the whole team are not working together

teams can over commit too many players forward trying to win possession

can leave the team exposed to counter attacks (high press)

can limit the team in attacking options (low press)

 SESSION EXAMPLES
set - up: 40 x 40 square with two halves of 20 x 20
6 player in each half
two defenders must go across and try win the ball
(6 v 2)
5 passes equals one goal if defenders touch the
ball the coach passes a ball into the other half and
the defending team try keep possession against two
defenders that were just in possession
progression : three defenders can go across (6 v 3)
reduce the amount of touches
reduce the space of the squares
coaching points:
intensity of the defenders to win the ball back
trying to force mistakes to happen from high
intensity pressing
looking for triggers when to win the ball
trying to force the team in possession into corners
the two defenders working together
reduce passing options
 SESSION EXAMPLES
set - up: half a field divided into three thirds with a goal on
the halfway line
teams of four in each third
end thirds must try make four passes and switch the ball to the
other end third. team in the middle can send to defenders to
try win the ball (4 v 2)
if defenders win the ball they must try score into the big goal.
end third and middle become one area and the game is now a
(4 v 4). once the game is over the team that lost possession go
to the middle third and become defenders the team that where
defenders go to the end third that they won possession in
progression : place touch or space restrictions
defending team have so many seconds to score after winning
possession
defending team can only win the ball in certain zones/areas of
the field
coaching points:
intensity of the two defenders pressing
forcing direction of the play
angles, distances and types of runs
players not pressing to shuffle to try win the ball from the
switch
reaction if the switch is successful
transition from attack to defence and visa versa
 SESSION EXAMPLES
set - up: half a field with 1 big goal and three gates
mark the field off down the width of the 18’ box
1 team scores through one of the gates while the other
team scores into the big goal
progression :place restriction on where the team
scoring into the big goal can win possession
change roles
coaching points:
shifting as a team to block the team scoring through a
certain gate
forcing the direction of play to certain areas of the
field
maintaining defensive shape
recognising triggers when to win the ball
if the ball cannot be won teaching the team to drop
and remain compact
setting up situations/forcing play to a certain area or
direction
communication and understanding of roles of the
individual and team
 SESSION EXAMPLES
set - up: a full field with 3 lines across the field
(line 1, line 2 and line 3 being the halfway line).
coaching one team to understand different lines of
confrontation and how to apply a press as to were
the line of confrontation is.
progression:
vary the lines of confrontation/ where the team can
press
coaching points:
dependent on the line of confrontation
team shape and shuffling as a team
remaining compact
making play predictable
defensive responsibilities
remaining patient and waiting for a chance to win
possession
individual roles with in pressing
cooperation of the players to work as 1
what the team must do once possession has been won
 SESSION EXAMPLES
set - up: half a field with channels down the 18’ box with
two small goals on the halfway line. 2 v 2 in each channel
as soon as the GK passes the ball into the channel two
players from the centre cone must run into the channel the
ball went creating a 4 v 2. the team of 2 must try
score into the small goal, the team of four must score into
the big goal
progression : add additional players (HM) to the channels
creating 4 v 3 situations
put conditions on the additional pressing players
reduce the number of pressing players
if the attackers can not progress/score into a small goal
allow them to play back to the GK to start again
coaching points:
travel while the ball is traveling
put immediate pressure on the player receiving the ball
force play to the corners and double team the player
attitude of the supporting players to create a fast overload
players delaying to allow time for the additional players to
get into the channels
if the ball gets played back to the GK drop and wait for
the pass to happen to decide which cannel to press