Defensive Pressing to Push Up Without Touching the Ball

This is part two of a full session on defensive pressing from the Soccer Awareness Training Center. In this session we are developing play from the back with inverted runs into "No Mans Land" central areas. Get the full series and more than 500 other drills and full training sessions in the Soccer Awareness Training Center.

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This is a great session to teach the players and shows how they can push opponents back even when THE OPPONENTS have the ball.

We will try to push them back without even touching the ball ourselves. We start on the edge of our box we try to get our back three up to the half way line.  Set Conditions will help us do this to start the process off.

Conditions:

1. Defending team cannot tackle.

2. Defending team CAN intercept a pass.

3. Attacking team must play 1 or 2 touches due to the fact defenders cannot tackle so opponents cant dribble 1 v 1.

Coaching Points:

1. Defenders press the ball as quickly as possible.

2. Try to stop the forward pass, try to force a pass across the field or backwards.

3. Defenders must recognize every opportunity to push up no matter how small a distance it may be.

4. Sometimes its 5 yards up 3 yards back for example depending on the position of ball and if there is pressure on it.

5. Try to intercept the pass and gain possession.

This session is teaching defenders how to push up and force the opponents back without touching the ball. The goal is to start on the edge of the box, the opponents have possession but by pressing and pushing up at the right times we force opponents back. Our aim is to get our back 3 up to the half way line. So this is moving approximately 40 yards up the field.

Start with equal numbers so success can be achieved.

v 7 plus the keeper. Set conditions are introduced to help the session. Coach to (E) and (10) presses to try to stop a forward pass. Defending team may sneak up 2 or 3 yards if (1) can delay.

Sliding up and across the field

(10) forces the sideways pass and this can also result in a pushing up a few yards from the back as well as pressing the ball.  The coach is the target for the defending team to play to when they win the ball plus is a support player for the attacking team.

The longer the arrows the greater the distance travelled up the field each time

(3) Presses so well (B) has only a back pass to make. (8) and (10) are in passing lanes to stop a forward pass with an interception potentially. (3) positions to stop a pass to (A). As the ball travels this gives the team a real chance to get up several more yards. A the same time leave (E) offside.

Danger from a first time delivery from the coach to (A) or (C).

(10) Does not press the coach to then be out of position as the coach is too far away to stop a delivery. (3) presses inside to press (G), (8) moves up and across to press (F). If the coach passes to (D) then (2) can slide across quickly as will (8) and (10). 

(E) is still offside but not interfering with play. (A) and (C) move wide to find more space and the coach plays to (C). The defending team now need to drop back and across and lose some ground. Midfield three condense back and across to where the ball is. Back 4 try to leave (E) offside still so don’t recover all the way goal-side. But still in good defensive shape.

The Three Zone Directional Game - Training Center Exclusive

This game is based on possessing the ball and the movement off it.

We have several progressions we can use to challenge the players these include:

1. A simple Warm up to get the idea going

2. Playing through the thirds with targets

3. Playing through the thirds without targets

4. Players must stay in their own thirds so we have 3 combination games going at once (e.g. 3 v 3, 2 v 2 and 3 v 3 per zone or whatever numbers of players you have).

5. We can add free players therefore creating overload situations to make it easier for success competitively and to build confidence initially.

6. No free players to increase the pressure and the challenge.

7. Players can rotate between zones now. This is more game related in what we want to teach with players have freedom to interchange as long as they are covered by a team mate.

8. Add a condition to help improve / focus on body position and footwork: If a player faces backwards when receiving the ball they MUST pass that ball backwards and with only one touch allowed.

9. Man for man marking; 1 v 1s all over the field and in all three zones. Players in possession can rotate and move around their immediate marker has to follow them.

10. Touch restriction: Unlimited, then 3 then 2 then 1 touch if on to do so.

11. All through remind players that they MUST scan the field, must check their shoulders for options; to the side or behind them and not just see in front of them.

12. Use the yes and no check system to highlight for each player if they looked AWAY from the ball before receiving it.

13. Can play a longer pass from one end zone to another and missing out the middle third if that’s the best option.

14. Remember Xavi: In 90 Minutes looked AWAY from the ball 841 times. Amazing.

15. Joke about only needing half a touch to emphasize the importance of this mental skill.

16. Add goals at each end include keepers (who should have been in the game anyway for their footwork skills) and make it a game situation whatever the numbers are.

3 Zone Game: Playing Through the Thirds with Targets

4 ball warm up. Three zones, 3 v 3, 2 v 2 and 3 v 3.Players are passing and maintaining possession. Condition it to 1 or 2 touches on the ball to challenge the players. Players stay in their own zones initially. Play to the targets.

3 Zone Game: Playing Through the Thirds Without Targets

4 ball warm up. Three zones, 3 v 3, 2 v 2 and 3 v 3.Players are passing and maintaining possession. Condition it to 1 or 2 touches on the ball to challenge the players. Players stay in their own zones initially.

3 Zone Game: Playing Through the Thirds

Each end zone can be a defensive third or attacking third zone depending on where the ball is. Here for example (G) passes out of the defensive third to the middle third to (C) to the attacking third to (B). Now going the other way the end zones are reversed.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive

Now we have three zones each with their own combination play battles. 3 v 3, 2 v 2 and 3 v 3 but add two or three free players to help the game flow initially.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive with Targets

Now we have three zones each with their own combination play battles. 3 v 3, 2 v 2 and 3 v 3 but add two or three free players to help the game flow initially. Blues play to the blue target and reds to the red target, each team can use the other target as support. You can keep possession and work the ball back through the middle to the defending third after you reach your own target as the game is about maintaining possession and movement off the ball. You can rotate the targets the passer becoming the new target.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive: Stay in Own Zones

Only the free players can move between zones so they create overload situations in each zone, could be a 4 v 3 or a 5 v 3 for example.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive: Create Overloads

Only the free players can move between zones so they create overload situations in each zone, could be a 4 v 3 or a 5 v 3 for example. Here we have a 4v3, 3v2 and a 4v3.

Only the free players can move between zones here two move to the middle to create a 4 v 2 overload. Looking to move the ball from one end to the other so its a directional game similar to the actual game itself. Whoever is in possession must work to find the best open spaces in advance of the ball.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive: Rotation Between Zones

Now all players can move between the 3 zones but we want to maintain the balance in each. So one player moves from the defending third to the middle third a middle third player must move to the defending third. So within our set framework players can interchange positions and also cover for each other and again emulating the actual game situation we want to teach with players having the freedom to change positions and move around the field. Defenders can track them or not.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive: Rotation Between Zones and Man for Man Marking

Now we match up players to play 1 v 1 against each other within the game situation. Now all players can move between the 3 zones. The team in possession dictates the movements off the ball, the team without possession have to track their immediate opponents. If they are heavily marked the free players become a greater source of support.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive: Conditioning to Encourage Correct Footwork and Body Position

Now if a player receives the ball facing fully backwards they can only play 1 touch and it has to be a pass backwards also. (1) is marked by (C) and has their back to the way we want to go so must pass back, here to (3).

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3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive: Conditioning to Encourage Correct Footwork and Body Position

Due to the condition players should begin to think about preparing their bodies to receive and be able to play and SEE forward. And therefore increase their immediate options. (1) here opens up their body position, is light on their feet; and is facing either sideways or forwards but is now in a position to pass forward and not use their body position and feet preparationto narrow down their options.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive with Equal Numbers for a more Pressurized Game

Now no free players so the game is much more competitive. Only move to this when you know you can have success. Here we show the players in possession, the blue team moving OFF the ball into new spaces to get free to receive. Players in the other grids are already on the move but must time it right and not do it too early or too late.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive Playing from the Defensive Third Directly to the Attacking Third

There is nothing wrong with a good quality long ball if that's the best option at that particular moment. (8) can play it into open space with the right weight and accuracy to move (1) to meet it.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive with Equal Numbers for a More Pressurized Game: What not to do

This will happen so check it if it does and address the problem. Players stand still and wait at the edge of their zone for the ball to come. They have no space to work in and are easily marked by the defenders. This isn’t game realistic at all but it will occur due to the set up and them waiting for the ball to transfer from the defending to middle thirds.

3 Zone Game: Making it Competitive with Equal Numbers for a More Pressurized Game: Restrict the Number of Touches on the Ball

Can be with man marking or without. Now we arrive at the moment we want to happen on the field where awareness training kicks in, players scan the field for options IN ADVANCE of the ball. Everything we have practiced up to this point should include a constant reminder of LOOKING AWAY from the ball. So go free and unlimited touches first, and build to 3 to 2 to 1 touch if its on to do so. At 1 touch add free players to help it work if needed.

Download PDF of this Session

Teaching Movement “Off the Ball” Through the Transition Directional Target Game - Training Center Exclusive

Rules:

1. 50 x 40 area

2. Players must pass the ball to their target players to score. To score again they have to work the ball back into their own half of the field to be able to return.

3. Target players have two touches as do side players.

Coaching Points:

1. Creating Space by running off the ball to receive or to help a teammate receive.

2. Quality of Passing; long and short to targets and to teammates.

3. Support play: working angles and distances incorporating switching play using the side players.

4. Receiving and Turning in tight situations and dribbling in 1 v 1 situations.

5. Quick decision making is required in this session because the numbers are small, the area tight and the transitions rapid.

Develop:

1. No restriction on touches then 3, 2 or 1 touch, but only if it is on to do one touch.

2. All outside and target players have one touch only where possible

3. Switch with target players as they receive the ball.

4. Switch with outside players

Here is an example of the transition and movement off the ball to make it happen.

1. (2) passes to target player (8) who brings the ball back into the playing area.

2. (3) makes a run into the other half of the field on the blind side of (C) to receive the next pass. They need to get the ball into that half to be able to score.

3. (1) makes a forward run into space to receive the next pass off (3) and passes to target player (7) who can start the play again.

4. (1) switches with (7) and becomes a target player for the next phase of play.

Observe the Attacking Team – Recognize their movement off the ball for example to work the ball into their own half see if the players make runs early in there as soon as the ball is at a target, some should support short and some long so the target has choices.

Observe the Defending Team – See if they are sucked to the ball or they recognize runs off the ball and track players making runs away from the ball into the other half. To lessen the workload and keep everyone involved have players switch with targets and outside side players when they pass to them.

Elements of play the target game teaches

Attacking as Individuals and as Team

1. Creating Space by running off the ball to receive or to help a teammate receive.

2. Developing quick support play working angles and distances incorporating switching play using the side players.

3. Passing long and short to targets and to teammates.

4. Receiving and turning in tight situations and dribbling in 1 v 1 situation’s.

5. Lots of touches on the ball for the players in this practice.

6. Quick decision making is required in this session because the numbers are small, the area tight and the transitions rapid.

Defending as Individuals and as a Team

1. Pressurizing players on the ball to regain possession.

2. Supporting pressuring players and tracking runners off the ball.

3. High pressure to regain possession in the attacking half to be able to go straight to the target to score.

We have transitions from defense to attack and attack to defense, quick decision making and improved concentration as the switch occurs. There are interchanges of positions between inside players, targets and side support players.

As a coach you can work in this session how to defend properly as individuals and a team or how to attack properly as individuals and a team.

Conditions to impose to change the focus of the game

1. No restriction on touches then three, two or one touch but only if it is on to do so.

2. Introduce neutral player so a 5 v 4 overload in the middle if possession isn’t kept easily.

3. Interchanges of players outside to in, inside to out as they pass the ball observing the quality of the pass and the first touch of the receiver or performing a crossover.

4. Have one teammate at each end so you are attacking both ends but once you have passed to one target you keep possession and must try to get to the other target. You can’t go back unless the opposition win the ball and then you get it back, only then can you go back to the same target.

5. To lessen the workload and keep everyone involved have players switch with targets and outside players when they pass to them. This causes a constant transition of players and focuses the player’s concentration.

6. The team can only score if they get an overlap, crossover or 1 – 2 in during the build up.

7. No talking so players have to rely on their own vision to play.

8. Players move into the target zone to receive (timing of run and pass) so we don’t play with actual targets, different players can then become the target player.

9. Man – Marking – Have the players man mark so they must track a player when they haven’t the ball and they must lose their marker when they have the ball. This is a good test to see who is working hard and who isn’t as they have a designated job to do. You as a coach can see who works to get free of their marker and who works hard to prevent the player they are marking get the ball.

10. This session is particularly good as a midfield play practice session as you can liken the start when the ball is at a target as it being a target defender passing it in and to get to the other side through midfield to the other target who is now a striker. Then this target player maintains possession and the team can go the other way, the target striker then becomes a defender for the attacking team starting the move and the other target becomes the striker to pass the ball to. So it is consistent movement end to end with the attacking team from a defender into midfield to a striker.

11. To improve the speed of thought reward a successful one touch pass with a goal or point. To score a goal by passing to the target player now reward this with three goals or 3 points.

12. The team in possession can pass back to the opponents target players to help keep possession of the ball. Liken this to passing back to the keeper in a game situation.

Academy Level: A Fun Awareness Warm-up for Improving Peripheral Vision

The following comes from the Soccer Awareness 12 Week Academy Level Training Plan! 

Do you want to get to the next level in your team's soccer development? If so check out this specialized coaching and training program by our Founder, Wayne Harrison, is designed to cover: Technique; Skill; Physical; Tactical and Psychological / Mental Developmental Training.

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Each player has a ball to play with. They must protect their own soccer ball but at the same time try to kick someone else’s ball out the area. When your ball is kicked out you cannot kick anyone else’s ball out. You can vary the game by allowing them chances, maybe up to three each before they are ultimately out of the game. When they are out have them juggle the ball to keep practicing skills.

Play until the last player is left with their own ball still and everyone else’s ball has been kicked out. This player is the winner. Variations can be you have three areas of play they can work in. They start in one then if they are kicked out they go to the next and so on, this way they get two chances but also you can have two winners in each group with an overall winner at the end. Or you can just decrease the area they are playing in to make it harder as there is less space to work in.

Coaching Points:

1. Skills practice including Dribbling and Turning,    
2. Shielding,                                                                                                                       
3. Tackling,                                                                                                                        
4. Awareness of where other players are (in this case all the other players are defenders trying to win possession of your ball) whilst maintaining possession of the ball ensuring players are looking around away from their own ball,       
5. Anaerobic Fitness work. These are practices that are fun but ensure relevant skills are practiced by the players.

This is a session that is fun but ensures relevant skills are practiced by the players.

Kick Out Game

There are 12 players in this session, 9 with a ball, 3 without. The 3 without have to try and win a ball off a player with a ball and kick it out the area. If a player has their soccer ball kicked out then they can join in with the other players helping them keep possession by passing and support play.

To make this competitive rotate the players so different groups of 4 work together, time each group to see who does the best. 

To decrease the time it takes if the defenders can win a ball and pass it to the coach (who is constantly moving around outside the area) for example 3 times out of the 9 balls won, then the clock stops. This represents winning the ball and keeping possession in a game rather than kicking it out of play and losing possession again in a game. It may be the first 3 balls the defenders win. 

Then have it where they need to get all the balls to the coach, a bigger more relevant challenge and have the coach moving around the area.

The session develops from an individual 1 v 1 attacking / defending work out to a passing and support situation. You can work on the defenders by encouraging them to work as a team, maybe in 2’s for instance to have a better chance of winning the soccer balls. The defenders can pass the ball around between themselves until one can find the coach with a pass. Attackers during this time can try to win it back before it goes out the area.

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Switching the Point of Attack

Soccer Awareness has partnered with Edufii to provide unlimited access to Wayne Harrison's Soccer Awareness systems, in a private mobile TrainingSpace, where Wayne will share his training processes, answer your questions and collaborate with other coaches at all levels.

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Here we show how to overload one side of the field to leave the other side open to catch opponents with a very fast switch of play. Rather than player rotation; this is BALL rotation and retention.

Attacking Setup

Start positions for the attack players forming big spaces between each other to open up passing lanes. We get as BIG as possible. We will next begin to overload one side of the field and make it the strong side.

Drawing Defenders Towards the Ball

We play (11) in wide but keep players on the weak side of the field wide and open. We want to draw the opponents towards the ball with our initial movements of players close to the ball and drawing them away from the WEAK side. Now here you see (2) and (7) almost forgotten and on the BLIND / WEAK SIDE of play.

Switching the Point of Attack

Now we play two very fast passes to change the point of attack and we see (8) getting involved also on the blind / weak side of the field catching the opponents off guard.

Being Patient to Create the Switch

We may even keep the ball there for a few passes to draw them in even more and being patient and showing no interest for the other side of the field. Then we hit them hard with the fast switch of play and we have 3 players in wide open space to attack the goal.

Now Showing Defenders Obvious Recovery Runs for Clarity

Now (2) overlaps (7) to get into a crossing position and in the meantime as the switch is happening (8), (9), (10) and (11) get in finishing positions in and around the box. (6) ready to drop back in should the opponents win the ball and counter attack.

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3 v 2 To Goal

The following session is an excerpt from Soccer Awareness eBook 7: 17 Shooting Practices for U6 to U10.  Shooting drills are the best way to improve soccer players shooting on goal with power and accuracy. Training shooting soccer drills at an early age will show great improvement in a youth players shot. Shooting drills make player’s shot better through muscle memory, consistency and repetition that make the brain memorize the motion and position of the body so the player can perform these shots during a soccer match. These are 17 of Wayne’s favorite shooting drills for working with U6 to U10 players that are also fun.

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Emphasis: Finishing, Receiving, Defending, Passing, Goalkeeping

Set-up: Use the penalty area and a regulation size goal. Two lines of defenders stand on both sides of the goal. Three lines of attackers stand five yards out from the top of the penalty box. The coach or server stands on the end line, between the 6 and 18, with a group of balls.

Objective: The coach serves the ball into the penalty area. The first defender in each line, (2 total), leave the post to meet the three attackers (1 from each line), at the top of the box. The three attackers try to score a goal and the two defenders are trying to prevent the goal from being scored. The play is over when the goalkeeper has possession or the ball travels outside the penalty area.

Progression:

1. Two of the three attackers must touch the ball.
2. The goal must be scored after an overlapping run is made.
3. The attackers have five seconds to score.
   

Coaching Points:

1. Pressure the ball first and cut down the shooters angle.
2. Goalkeeper must communicate with the defenders.
3. Get the shot off early.

Spacial Awareness Training Using Poles

Preview: These videos show players how to position in open spaces. We use poles positioned closely to each other to represent opponents and the team in possession must position between them in the best spaces possible.

We also have opponents we are playing against to position in between also to test players understanding of positioning off the ball.

Can start this without opposition, in other words, 2 or 3 teams each with a ball passing and moving using the poles only.

Then make it competitive.

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Game Situation Problem: Getting Tight To A Striker Dropping Deep To Receive To Feet

The following game is an excerpt from Soccer Awareness eBook 18: Identifying and Solving Common Game Situation Problems in the Training Environment. This eBook shows a different way to look at the game. Instead of highlighting what we need to do well, it shows what often goes wrong and how to fix it.

We will also be posting more like this in the Soccer Awareness Training Center over the next month. Join Our Team!

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Getting Tight To A Striker Dropping Deep To Receive To Feet

This is what not to do.

Striker comes short, center back lets the striker go, and the striker receives and turns and runs at the back four who now are in a vulnerable position. Being able to immediately run at the back four means the striker and teammates have not been delayed which would help other players on our team recover back.

Resulting situation is that they get a break on us and can attack with numbers and we are then at a big disadvantage because they have several players running AT us with and without the ball and the player on the ball is facing forwards and not backwards; which would be to our advantage if we got tight initially to them and prevented them from turning.

All can be corrected JUST by the center back getting tight (or a fullback depending on the part of the field).

You can stop this simply by getting tight and making the striker receive to feet with their back to goal, this slows down the forward momentum and allows our players to recover back and get into good defensive positions.

It also allows the other center back and the fullbacks time to position correctly behind the pressing center back by condensing the spaces behind them.

1 v 1 Receiving and Turning Drill

The following is an excerpt from Soccer Awareness eBook 11: Turning Technique And Skill For 6 To 10 Year Olds.

Receiving and turning is a technique that every player in every field position must have in their locker.  The sooner they are taught this ability the better; that is why we focus here on such young ages. 

Which way do they turn? Too many players turn into opponents rather than away from opponents so coaches should emphasize this in their training. Also, do they turn with the inside or the outside of their foot or with both? They must practice both ways and with both feet to be effective as they gain more understanding of the technique that becomes a skill when decision making is added.

We hope these exercises help you teach the correct techniques to players and help them with their decision making.

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Receiving and turning to attack and score in the defender (A)’s goal. (2) Passes the ball into (1) who has to receive and turn and beat (A) and score a goal. Have the attacker run the ball into the goal to score or shot it in.

Coaching Points in Receiving and Turning:

1. Support in a diagonal position not in a straight line (off at an angle).
2. Receiver face the player with the ball (eye contact) so they know the receiver is ready.
3. Receiver move to the ball to avoid anticipation of a defender intercepting or away to create space to come back into.
4. Receiver is aware of where the space is to turn. Body position half turned to receive moving the ball on the first touch (changing direction). Use upper body to create an element of surprise or disguise. Get your body between the ball and your opponent (screen the ball).
5. On receiving and changing direction with the first touch change pace (away from a defender). Use your arms to protect yourself and keep your knees bent for good balance.

Progression: Have two pairs working in the same area to develop awareness of player’s positions and space.

Methods of Turning:

1. Check off, receive and turn inside and face up to defender in one movement off first touch.
2. Receiver backs into defender and receives ball to feet, spin defender using their body as a screen and using the inside or outside of either foot.
3. Turn away with outside / inside of each foot.
4. Turning without the ball pull defender short creating space behind, spin quickly and receive the ball behind the defender
5. Play 1-2 and go.
6. Run defender off and away from the ball then check back into space you have created to receive and turn in one touch to face your opponent.
7. Above, attacker (1) checks off at an angle to receive and turn and face up to defender (A) in a much better position now to attack them in a 1 v 1.

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3 v 3 Possession Game

The following is an excerpt from Soccer Awareness eBook 3: 33 Passing And Receiving Practices For U6 To U10.

If players can't pass and receive the ball in soccer, they will not be successful. The coach of youth players should emphasize technical training while also having a basic understanding of correct technical execution. This can be accomplished using a variety of conditioned games to teach techniques in a way that provides plenty of repetition. This book contains 33 passing and receiving drills that you can implement with your team.

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Emphasis: Passing and Receiving

Set-up: 20 x 20 yard grid. Six players per grid with one ball per group. Repeat set-up to
accommodate entire team. Two sets of colored bibs.

Objective: The game is played in a 3v3 format. Players try to maintain possession of the ball by constant passing and moving. 1 point is awarded for 5 successful passes. Play for a designated number of goals or for a predetermined time.

Progression: Play 2-touch

Coaching Points:

• Constant movement.
• Communication is vital.
• Angles of support to receive ball.
• Pass must have appropriate weight to ensure that teammate can deal with it.

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