Attacking Press - Principles 1

DESCRIPTION

This press is designed to encourage the defending team to take the easy transfer to the unmarked right back, or potentially the sweeper. The more attacking transfer to the left back is on, but feels risky with our Right Wing looking to poach in a dangerous position.

Rules of the Press:

1. Set up as a line but tilted away from parrallel to line of the 23.
2. The Centre Forward ALWAYS sets to close the free hit taker if they self take.
3. The Right and Left Forwards ensure an even line with about 10metres between each player (This will leave gaps to hit through but our Midfield is positioned to intercept along these lines)
4. When the ball is transferred the line moves as a line - requiring the line to pivot about the CFs run to close the transferring ball/receiving player down
5. If this successfully traps the ball on the sideline the forwards close/encircle the ball and force a turnover.

COACHING POINTS

I like this press because it gets the Forwards working hard and tackling/raises their energy levels even when they dont have the ball. 

The same setup works at 16s and all the way back inside our own half. Also same pinciples both side of the pitch.

It is important that the Centre Forward ALWAYS goes for the ball. The wide players have to resist the temptation to go themselves as their commitment down the line will leave space behind them for the pass to go along the line to the other teams wide midfielder. By dropping off initially we end up with more players around the ball than they do and they will either need to force it through us(Midfielders should also play narrower - all of our front 7 outfielders in 2/3rds of the pitch) or they need to do the full pivot around the back, which should give us enough time to apply the press in the same way on the other side of the pitch.