12-3 3v3 plus 2 possession game: Pressing when outnumbered - FIFA Training Centre

This possession exercise hones a unit’s organisational skills when pressing with a numerical disadvantage. The game is particularly relevant to scenarios in which a defending team attempt to prevent the opposition from breaking their lines.

Methodology

The wheel symbolises the game, with each segment representing a specific aspect of it. The lightly coloured segments are included in the practice. The darkly coloured segments are emphasised. Lastly, the grey segments represent areas that are not practised.

The intention: What is practised?
This possession game works on a unit’s organisational and decision-making skills when applying a press that aims to prevent the opposition from playing through central areas of the pitch. The pressing unit should concentrate on protecting central areas by forcing their opponents wide as much as possible. Pressing players must stay compact and maintain short distances between each other to prevent passing lanes from being created. The unit’s decision-making is crucial, with players asked to show restraint and not jump out to press, which would leave space in behind them, unless a team-mate has told them that they are covering the space left in behind. Ultimately, the unit should focus on avoiding allowing the opposition free rein in central areas and on ensuring that the numerical disadvantage is not a handicap.

The scale: For whom is this relevant?
The game revolves around the unit scale, focusing on a pressing line’s organisation as the opposition seek to progress play through central areas. The exercise is particularly relevant to three-player pressing lines, such as those involving a front three or a central midfield trident. The game focuses on honing players’ ability to work together to protect central areas and to prevent the opposition from breaking their lines. If the press is applied by the front three, they must try to prevent the opposition from breaking the pressing line into midfield, and if the press features a midfield trio, they are asked to prevent the opposition from breaking the pressing line and progressing into their defence. The exercise is non-position-specific, with players asked to identify the most appropriate action to protect central areas.

The practice type: How is the practice designed?
The exercise involves a possession game that works on defensive actions in central areas. The reduced-sized pitch concentrates play in specific areas of the pitch in which breaking defensive lines is a feature of the play. The limited space and the use of three defensive players are designed to provide players with exposure to organising the press in their particular pressing line. The two neutral players simulate opposing players positioned on either side of the defensive line and provide direction for the in-possession team. The numerical disadvantage presents the defending team with a challenge, and they must resist the temptation to adopt a reckless approach that would see them jump out of the defensive line to press without considering the space left behind them.

Session plan

Basic sequence: The oranges try to transfer the ball from one neutral player to the other in a 3v3 plus 2 scenario.

Organisation

Mark out a 20m x 20m exercise area.
Split the group into 2 teams of 3.
Assign 2 neutral players (greys).
Position a neutral player at either end of the exercise area.
Set up a 3v3 (oranges v. blues) inside the exercise area.

Explanation

The exercise starts with one of the neutral players in possession.
The in-possession team try to progress the ball to the neutral player at the opposite end of the exercise area.
The out-of-possession team press to win the ball.
If the out-of-possession team gain possession, the teams swap roles immediately.

Key coaching points

(1/3) Bad practice: defending players must prioritise keeping short distances between one another to close any passing lines on the inside to force play wide.

(2/3) Good practice: the defending players are organised in a compact structure and have managed to successfully create a situation of numerical parity by closing play down one side.

(3/3) Good practice: by defending as a compact unit and creating a 3v3 situation, the defending team successfully force the error and intercept the ball.

Roles of coaches

First coach: leads the session and coaches the pressing players.
Second coach: feeds balls into the exercise area from their position on one of the sides of the exercise area and offers both sets of players encouragement.
Third coach: offers both sets of players encouragement from their position at one end of the exercise area.