Italian Pressing and Conditioning Play Part 4: Basic Examples of the One Word Command Calls and When to Use Them

This is part 4 of a four part series on Italian Pressing and Conditioning Play.

Get Part 1: Pressing from the Back and Condensing Play

Get Part 2: Pressing with a Back Four and Defensive Midfielder

Get Part 3: Identifying When and Where to Drop; Hold the Line, Slide; Press the Ball and Push or Sprint Up

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Up and Hold Calls

1. Using two examples here, one with the opponent facing forward with the ball, (F); the other with the opponent facing back with the ball, (E).
2. At (F) where the player is facing forward but is pressed well by (6); if the pressure prevents a forward pass we can edge up still using the UP word. This is braver than HOLD. All the above applies for HOLD also for instance if a striker runs forward and the ball can’t be passed forward as in the above examples then let them run offside and hold the back line.
3. At (E) in this situation the UP call can be used. (E) Can’t play it forward due to immediate pressure by (8) and it allows the back players to edge up and condense the space and make the opposition strikers work back. Whether (F) passes back or not, whilst the ball can’t be passes forward we can edge up. 
4. Here we can see where the players position after pushing up. The opponent’s strikers are left well offside and the whole team has moved forward (I have left 4 players in there to emphasize it even more). This puts pressure on the player on the ball in terms of our immediate pressing player but also as a team we are closer to the opponents to help prevent them from receiving the ball or at least be closer to pressure them again wherever the ball is passed.
5. If the opponent on the ball is pressured and is facing back towards their own goal then this is a low risk movement. The team can push up also if the opponent is facing forward and the pressing player stops the forward pass but it is more risky and relies on everyone being confident in the pressing player doing his / her job successfully. This player doesn’t have to win possession just prevent the forward pass and if possible force the player on the ball to pass back or at least to the side and not forward.

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Out Call

1. We have cleared it long to the coach (acting as our striker) and everyone sprints out.
2. OUT – We have cleared it long and sprint out as quickly as possible leaving opponents offside (we can have kept possession or opponents may get it, we still have time to get out).
3. Players must work forward as a team and push up to the half way line if possible. If the opponents win the ball in their defensive third (our attacking third) then by our back players pushing up they in turn force the midfield up who push the strikers up so the team is in a better position to regain possession.
4. This is the best position to regain the ball as the strikers are the first line of defense and if they win it in these areas we have a chance to get an immediate strike on goal.
5. If the team doesn’t push out so quickly then the whole team’s position suffers. The strikers may try to close down the ball but they lack support as the team is so spread out, this makes it more difficult to win the ball back effectively using a full team press starting with the back four.

This shows four players clearly offside as the back four have pushed up and the team is then condensed up from the back.

Drop Call

1. The above example shows there is no pressure (NP) and (G) can pass the ball forward early if need be. Strikers (B) and (C) can even time their runs back or across and forward to stay on side as they have time to do so. Generally a defender will have to track the player’s runs in this situation so the call DROP will be used. 
2. Just a one word signal can organize a back four defense so everyone knows what to do and reacts together as a unit. Also midfield players close by can react off the call too.
3. One word calls ensure everyone will know quickly and effectively what they should do as a unit and as a team.
4. Hence the back players can organize their movement as a unit (and therefore influence those in front of them) from five, one word commands. Midfielders (6) and (8) also drop back (though not shown here).
5. The whole team drops off. Here the defenders have tracked back to stay between the goal and the opponents strikers particularly the one with possession of the ball. If they hadn’t dropped off then the ball would have been played in behind them and the striker would have had a free run at goal in possession of the ball.
6. This can be dangerous if the team defends high up the field and the ball is played behind them as there is a lot of space for the ball to be played into.
7. The team can step up and try to play offside even when the opponents have the ball with no pressure to stop the forward pass but the timing here is crucial and is not to be recommended. Between bad timing by the players moving up too late and split second decisions by officials this is a very difficult decision to make.

Slide Call

Moving across the field, don’t take it literally at 90 degrees it could be diagonally in a game (45 above). The furthest players away from the ball are still aware of their immediate opponents but marking in advance of the ball (space). Here (F) passes to (D) and the back four slide over with player (3) applying immediate pressure on the ball.

The midfield two (6) and (8) will turn and also slide over (though not shown here). 

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Italian Pressing and Conditioning Play Part 3: Identifying When and Where to Drop; Hold the Line, Slide; Press the Ball and Push or Sprint Up

This is part 3 of a four part series on Italian Pressing and Conditioning Play.

Get Part 1: Pressing from the Back and Condensing Play

Get Part 2: Pressing with a Back Four and Defensive Midfielder

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Identifying When and Where to Drop; Hold the Line, Slide; Press the Ball and Push or Sprint Up

1. Using the Calls UP, OUT, HOLD, DROP, SLIDE RIGHT, and SLIDE LEFT. These are quite self explanatory but UP means edging up a few yards, then reassessing the situation; OUT means sprinting out, potentially many yards.
2. This is set up to practice when to drop, when to hold the line and where to press up as a unit.
3. Start with an overload of defenders to give you a better chance of success.
4. A line of cones are placed where the back four should try not to drop behind. 
5. Dropping, holding the line or even pressing up (pressing even when you haven’t the ball) can depend on the following: 

Dropping Off (using the DROP call)

• Opponents have the ball, and they make deep penetrating running in front of the ball; and there is no pressure or very poor pressure on the ball. At this moment the back four should drop off as the player on the ball has the freedom to pass the ball forward and can read the timing of when and where to do it due to this; and based on the back four’s position. This is unless the back four are so together and in tune they can push up the moment before the ball is delivered; but this can be a very risky decision.

Holding the Line or Pressing up (Using the HOLD; UP or OUT one word commands)

• Opponents have the ball, If the attackers make deep penetrating runs and there is very good pressure on the ball in front of the back four by another team mate, thus preventing a forward pass; at this moment they should hold the line and let the attackers run offside, or even press up as a unit to make it even more obvious their opponents have run offside.
• Opponents have the ball, If there is; very poor pressure or no pressure on the ball; but also no penetrating forward runs by opponent’s designed to get in behind the back four, then the back four can hold the line or even press up slightly.
• If the opponents have the ball and the player on the ball is facing forward, but has his or her head down looking at the ball, and is not observing what is ahead, nor any runs made by team mates, and there even is poor or no pressure on the ball; then that is a time to hold the line or step up too. The player looking down at the ball is the CUE to the back four to HOLD or step UP.
• Opponents have the ball: If there is very good pressure on the ball and the ball cannot be passed forward; and the opponents do not make penetrating forward runs beyond the back four, then the back four can actually press up even though we do not have possession of the ball. 
• When Opponents have the ball, this is emphasized even more if the opponents are forced to pass the ball backwards, and cannot immediately play it forward again (due to good pressure). Distances we can push up depends on the distance of the ball from the back four and the immediate pressure on the next player receiving the back pass; it can be a  substantial step up from the back and may result in opponent’s strikers being left offside as a by - product. This is turn pushes our midfield on and further presses the ball if it in the midfield area.
• We have the ball. When we win possession and play the ball forward and maintain possession that is a cue to push up quickly and immediately.
• If there is ANY DOUBT in any given situation then the back four should ALWAYS DROP DEEPER to be on the safe side, as that is the easiest decision to make.

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Phase Play Set Up

Add players to the practice. Have the game set up as a normal phase play, attackers against defenders. Attackers have to try to score, defenders try to win the ball back and score in the little goals. The defenders have five passes to score once they win the ball then it goes back to the attacking side. 

Use the stepping up method of defending where appropriate, it will not be on every time to use it. The cones act as a guide but defenders can use this method of defending higher up the field in their own half.

Coaching Points:

1. Is there Pressure on the ball or not?
2. The Timing of when to drop, when to hold the line and when to step up, individually and collectively depending on the situation
3. Regaining possession or opponents caught offside

A sign they are being successful from this is when the back four ends high up the field, away from the cones even though their opponents still have the ball.

Develop The Phase Play

1. Overload the attacking team to make it more difficult for the defending team.
2. Here we have an 8 v 6.
3. Using the one word commands and identifying the moments to implement each one with the team.
4. The coach can start each attack off with a pass.
5. The coach can also be a target for the defenders should they win the ball as well as the side goals. Each represents a front player on their team that they have to pass to, thus when they get it to the goals or the coach they push up quickly using the OUT word.

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Italian Pressing and Conditioning Play Part 1: Pressing from the Back and Condensing Play

This is part 1 of a four part series on Italian Pressing and Conditioning Play

Pressing from the Back and Condensing Play

1. Defenders drop off slower than attackers to allow them to get close and to delay their forward momentum.  
2. The defenders attack the ball the moment the furthest attacker is along the defensive line of the last defender. 
3. They move together to the ball, in this case treble- teaming the man on the ball.

1. Here the strikers are along the line of the last defender and that is the instance the three defenders step and leave them offside and press the ball collectively.
2. Use a command call, the best player to do it is the last defender who has to have good awareness of the positions of the other two opponent’s players as well as the player on the ball.
3. The Command can be STEP, a short and sweet command that has to be instantly adhered to.
4. Then you are relying on the officials seeing this and getting the decision right!! Good luck with that.

1. (A) and (C) are offside if they receive the ball.
2. (B) has 3 players challenging. Timing of the movement is crucial, all players attacking the ball at the same time.
3. You need good talkers to do this.
4. Slowing the opponent’s forward movement helps the recovering defensive players get back to help too; such as midfield players recovering back. 
5. Defenders must make sure the player on the ball does not get past them. Keeper acts as sweeper if the trap fails.

Part 2 Coming Soon

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