44) Keeping the centre compact in a 4-4-2 mid-press - FIFA Training Centre

The mid-press is possibly one of the most effective ways of ensuring a team has a good level of control even if they don’t have the ball. By dropping into a compact shape, and only pressing once a team progresses the ball into the middle third, a team can significantly limit the opposition’s possibilities of working the ball into dangerous areas.

In this session, Grasshopper Zurich Club Women’s Head Coach, Anne Pochert, delivers a series of activities that hone players’ abilities in a mid-press. The session begins with a warm-up, followed by a ball-circulation exercise that introduces the basics of a mid-press. Part 2 focuses on the movement of the mid-block and how the team can stay compact, whilst the final exercises put the mid-press into practice.

Session overview

Introduction

Part 1: Ball circulation with press

Part 2: Mid-block game

Part 3: 6v6 game

Key coaching points

Players maintaining a compact shape and closing distances between players to prevent the opposition from progressing the ball into dangerous areas.
Players pressing when the opposition passes or approaches the mid-third rather than engaging high up the pitch.
Players shuffling across as a unit and closing gaps whenever the opposition moves the ball from side to side.
After a press has been attempted, players immediately drop back into their positions in the mid-block shape.

This first exercise sets the tone and tempo for players pressing in a mid-press. The idea is for players to get comfortable with the strategy of waiting for the ball to move forward before pressing quickly.

The ball moves around the circuit with players pressing from the red cone.

Mark out two red cones 10m apart.
Place a blue cone 5m on the outside of both red cones.
In the middle of the two red cones and 2m behind, position another red cone.
Place a blue cone 5m further back from the middle cone in the centre.
Mirror this cone formation 10m on the other side.
Split the group into two teams of six.
Position the players so that there is one player per cone. Orange players on the red cones, blue players on the blue cones.

Going anti-clockwise, the blue players must pass the ball to the player at the next cone.
As the ball is travelling, the orange players at the red cone must become active and press the player in possession.
As soon as the player who receives the ball moves the ball away, the player who was pressing relaxes and moves to the blue cone they were pressing.
The player who made the pass moves to the red cone.

Variation 1

The players that are pressing must now press before the ball has left the passer’s foot.

Variation 2

Pass the ball clockwise.

Variation 3

Play with two balls in circulation to increase focus and intensity.
Play the ball anti-clockwise again.

Open the angle and create distance from the pressing player by dropping 2m from the cone just as the passing player is receiving the ball.
The receiver’s first touch should always be out of their feet and in the direction they intend to play it.
Pressing players must pay attention to the triggers of when to press. For example, when the ball leaves the passer’s foot.
When pressing, players should dart toward the receiver as quickly as they can.

The player closest to the ball steps out to press from the mid-block.

This second exercise focuses on the movements of the mid-press as a unit. Players must understand when it is their turn to step out of the line to close distances, as well as maintain good distances between one another.

Mark out a 30m x 30m area.
Split the area into three equal zones (10m long).
Split the group into three teams of four (blue, orange and green).
The blue team are positioned in the first zone.
The orange team are positioned in the mid-zone.
The green team are positioned in the end zone.

The ball starts with the blue team in the first zone.
They must try to find a passing angle and successfully pass to the green team in the end zone.
The orange team in the mid-zone must stop the pass from reaching the end zone.
If the blue team successfully make the pass, the green team must do the same and try to return the ball to the blue team.
If the orange team block the pass, the ball restarts with the team at the opposite end to where the pass was attempted.
Players cannot leave their respective zones.

One player from the first zone enters the mid-zone and tries to help progress the ball to the end zone.
The player can move freely inside this zone and can play backwards as well as forward.
When the ball successfully reaches the end zone, a player from the end zone goes into the mid-zone and the player from the first zone returns.

Players staying compact and maintaining distances of 2-3m between each other to ensure gaps are kept to a minimum and reduce the possibility of passes being played through the mid-zone.
Players that are directly facing opponents stepping out of the mid-zone line to close distances and ensure the ball stays in that zone. This should be followed as the ball moves along the zone.
Players keeping the ball moving at all times to create a gap to pass through.

The orange team maintain a compact mid-press strategy.

Variation: free game on two goals

The session ends with a 6v6 game that focuses on the structure and shape of the mid-press as the opposition moves the ball from defence into attack. The players operating in the mid-press must stay compact and engage the opposition only when they come forward.

Mark out a 60m x 50m pitch.
Position a full-size goal with a goalkeeper at one end.
At the other end, use two cones to create a channel in the centre of the pitch.
Position a makeshift goalkeeper in front of this channel.
10m further forward from this channel, mark out a 5m-wide channel on either flank of the pitch.
Split the players into two teams of six.
The blue team play toward the channels.
The orange team play toward the full-size goal.

The ball starts with the goalkeeper from the blue team.
The blue team must build-up play and either play through the wide channels or pass to the makeshift goalkeeper in front of the central channel.
The orange team must use a mid-press strategy to prevent the ball from being played through.
If the orange team wins the ball, they must attack the other goal

Remove the channels and cones and play a free game on a 75m x 50m pitch.
Add a second full-size goal and a goalkeeper.
If the blue team switches play from one side to the other and then scores, they gain 2 points.

Players maintaining a compact structure when using the mid-press to prevent passes from being played into the central areas where it can disrupt the structure.
Players moving as a unit from side to side and maintaining short distances between each other when following the opposition’s switches of play.
Players approaching the player in possession from an angle that shuts off passing lanes, as this can increase the chances of forcing a turnover of possession.
Letting the centre-backs pass between themselves but as soon as they move forward, engaging them to force them back or wide.