How to press positionally when the opposition full back has possession.
Note how tight and compact our setup makes the pitch. This makes it difficult for any defence to pass out from the back, the idea is to force a defence to panic on the ball and force mistakes high up the pitch.
Roles;
Front three: This relys on the front three playing in close proximity to each other and when they are not close togehter, working hard to get close and press as a three.
1. the closest forward to the full back is the first to press. The press is done in a manner to stop any pass down the wing. This forces the full back to play the ball inside which is where we have numbers.
2. The second closest forward gets themselves between the full back with the ball and the nearest centre back, blocking any pass inside.
3. The third forward gets between both centre backs. This way if the full back tries to swithch play to the opposite full back we can shift over quick, but also if forwards 1 or 2 win back possession, they have an option to play forward into a danger area fast.
4. Our more advanced centre mid gets infront of their deepest centre mid, cutting out any ball into that area, but also being in a position to join our forwards if we win the ball back
5. The two deeper midfielders get ticght to their opposiong centre mids.
6. Defence, notice how tight the back 4 is. The full back on the same side of the pitch as the possession get close to their winger. The full back on the opposite side tucks right inside. This allows our full back to sweep in behind our centre backs if they try to go long.
in more ways than one
sportplan_netball
in more ways than one
sportplan_football
Deliberate heading is now out of U11 grassroots matches. Here is how to coach chest, thigh and foot control so your players still win the ball in the air.
Long-range goals doubled at the 2026 World Cup as teams sat deep. Here is how to coach when to shoot from distance, the technique, and the follow-up.
Under FutureFit, your Under-9s stay at 5v5, your Under-11s stay at 7v7 and your Under-13s stay at 9v9. Same pitch, same numbers, one more year. Here is how to make sure that year feels like a step forward rather than a repeat.
