Defending As A Unit: Pressing Warm Up Rondo

Written by paul bright

 Defending As A Unit

 defending

 Age 13+

Equipment List
 20x10 Area

This 6v3 ‘Defending Rondo’ aims to develop players to prevent or restrict the penetrative pass whilst
recognizing cues to press and regain the ball.
Key Coaching Points
Provide cover and balance - Players should recognize which defender presses and which defenders provide
balance and cover behind the pressing player by communicating between each other.

Compact - to Remain compact, players need to demonstrate appropriate angles and distances. To achieve this
they must take up cues off the pressing defender and take up a position to offer support and prevent the
penetrative pass

Triggers - Defenders need to anticipation the weight, speed and direction whilst also recognizing cues to press
and challenge for the ball (Poor/weak pass, Bad 1st touch by receiver, Set traps for a predictable pass) intercept
passes.

Set Up
6 x Attacking players positioned on designated 10 yard lines of the area and 3 x Defending players inside the
area. Only 2 x defenders are allowed in a 10x10 grid at any one time and the Defenders can rotate who goes in.

The Attacking players aim to combine and play penetrative passes between the Defenders (third passing line)
across the area without the Defenders intercepting the ball. Attackers are not permitted to go inside the area
and must stay on the lines of the area or within a step either way.

The Defenders aim to prevent the penetrative third line pass and look for opportunities to press and regain
possession of the ball. However, the Defenders should also look to prevent first line (in front) and second
line (around) passes, as these passes change the angle of attack and can create opportunities for the penetrative
pass.

Once the Defenders have regained the ball or forced a misplaced pass on 3 x occasions, change the Defenders.

Progression
Make it easier:

Increase defenders

Decrease the area

Make it more challenging:

Allow 3 x Defenders to move anywhere inside the 20x10 area

Limit the players on the outside to 2 touches

Challenge the Defenders to win the ball back within 5 x passes

 defending as a unit: pressing - 5v5+targets skill practice 1 (1742b)
 20 Minutes

 Defending As A Unit

 defending

 Ages 13-18

Equipment List
 12 Players
 1 Football
 6 Bibs
 8 Cones
 50x30 Area
This skill practice is designed to allow players to work as a unit and recognize pressing cues and triggers to
prevent the opposition advancing forwards.
Key Coaching Points
Which defender presses and which defenders hold to provide cover and balance

Remain compact and close together (appropriate angles and distances) to restrict penetrative pass to the Target
player

When there is pressure on the ball everybody presses and steps out, when there is no pressure on the ball
everybody drops and remains compact

Set Up
Area 50x30 with halfway line clearly marked. 2 x teams of 5 players + Target player for each team at the
opposite end of the area.

Attackers aim to combine and play the ball directly into the Target players hands to score 1 point, or 2 points if
the ball is played directly from the team's defensive half. The team in possession must perform 4 x passes
before they can hit the Target player.

The Defenders aim to prevent the penetrative pass to the Target player and look for opportunities to press and
regain possession of the ball as quickly and as high up the pitch as possible.

Once the Defenders have regained the ball, they become the attacking team. If the ball reaches the Target
player, the Target player resets the game by playing to the Defending team in their defending half.

Rotate roles of Target players or utilize Goalkeepers.

Progression
Allow Target players to rotate with team mates inside the area
Bring in the offside rule on the halfway line to allow the pressing Defenders to utilize this rule
Details
Defenders to recognize cues to press and challenge for the ball (Negative transition just occurred, Poor/weak
pass, Bad 1st touch by receiver, Set traps for a predictable pass)

Communication between the Defenders to decide who presses and who offers cover and balance

Pressing Defender makes an angled approach to cut off potential passing lines and force play in a predictable
direction

Supporting Defenders take cue off the pressing Defender and take up a position to offer support and prevent
the penetrative pass

Defenders continually check shoulders to recognize positioning of possible receivers and Target player,
especially attackers in behind that could receive a penetrative pass
 defending as a unit: pressing - skill practice 2 (1742c)
 20 Minutes

 Defending As A Unit

 defending

 Ages 13-18

Equipment List
 20 Players
 1 Football
 18 Bibs
 12 Cones
 66x44 Area
This skill practice allows players to recognize pressing cues and triggers to regain the ball back high up the
pitch and prevent opposition teams playing out from the back.
Key Coaching Points
Which defender presses and which defenders hold to provide cover and balance

Remain compact and close together (appropriate angles and distances) to restrict penetrative pass to the
opposite team

When there is pressure on the ball everybody presses and steps out, when there is no pressure on the ball
everybody drops and remains compact

Set Up
Area 66x44 with Goal and Goalkeeper at each end. Area divided into a middle third (18x44) and 2 x
defensive/attacking thirds (24x44). 3 x teams of 6 players with a team in each third.

Blue team start with the ball in their designated third and must play back to the Goalkeeper before they can
then attempt to penetrate the middle third and pass to the Yellow team in the opposite third. The Red team can
send 3 x Defenders into the end third in an attempt to press and regain the ball, in a 6+GKv3.

If the Defenders (Red) regain the ball the remaining 3 x players can enter the third, creating a 6+GKv6 as the
Reds attempt to score. The Blue team then move to the middle third and become Defenders.

If the Blue team successfully penetrate the Red team and the ball reaches the Yellow team, the Blue team score
1 point and the Yellow team must play back to the Goalkeeper as the other 3 x Defenders (Red) attempt to
press and regain possession.

The remaining 3 x Defenders in the middle third should be encouraged to shift and slide with the press,
creating a defensive screen as they would in a game.

Details
Defenders to recognize cues to press and challenge for the ball (Negative transition just occurred, Poor/weak
pass, Bad 1st touch by receiver, Set traps for a predictable pass)

Communication between the Defenders to decide who presses and who offers cover and balance

Pressing Defender makes an angled approach to cut off potential passing lines and force play in a predictable
direction

Supporting Defenders take cue off the pressing Defender and take up a position to offer support and prevent
the penetrative pass

Defenders continually check shoulders to recognize positioning of possible receivers that could receive a
penetrative pass

When the ball is regained attack quickly and purposefully at goal

 Defending As A Unit: Pressing - 11v11 Game (1742d)
 25 Minutes

 Defending As A Unit

 defending

 Ages 13-18

Equipment List
 22 Players
 1 Football
 100x60 Area
This practice is designed to teach players how to press in a game situation.
Key Coaching Points
Game realistic tempo and decisions

Players look for opportunities to press and regain possession as quickly and as high up the pitch as possible

When pressure is on the ball everybody steps and presses, when there is no pressure on the ball drop and
remain compact to set and press

Set Up
2 x teams of 11 (or equal teams dependent on number of players at practice). Match rules apply. Pitch divided
into thirds to act as a reference points for players.

Condition = When negative transition occurs, if the team out of possession can regain the ball in the same third
they have lost it in or force play backwards into another third further away from goal, they receive 1 point.

Encourage players to work as units and as a team to recognize opportunities to press collectively, compact
space for the opposition and regain the ball as quickly and as high up the pitch as possible.

Allow teams to play as coach observes.

Details
All players to react quickly to positive and negative transition (if we lose it get it back quickly, if we regain it
attack quickly)

Players to recognize cues to press and challenge for the ball (Negative transition just occurred, Poor/weak pass,
Bad 1st touch by receiver, Set traps for a predictable pass)

Communication between team out of possession to decide who presses and who offers cover and balance

Pressing player makes an angled approach to cut off potential passing lines and force play in a predictable
direction

Supporting players take cue off the pressing player and take up a position to offer support and prevent the
penetrative pass

Players out of possession continually check shoulders to recognize positioning of possible receivers, especially
attackers in behind that could receive a penetrative pass

When the ball is regained attack quickly and purposefully at goal