12-5 6v6 plus 2 team game: Initiating the press from a compact block - FIFA Training Centre

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 team game works on a team’s coordination and communication when pressing high against opposition building from the back. The members of the team have to remain compact by constantly adjusting their positioning and shifting towards the ball.The Players are asked to signal and communicate to each other to establish who initiates the press and which players provide cover. When pressing high, the team must maintain a compact shape and decide when to jump out to press if the opposition manage to overcome the first line of press. The team are asked to prevent the opposition from breaking lines and to limit their ability to progress play by focusing on closing off inside passing lanes. The players have to identify pressing triggers as a team and act together to put the opponent under pressure. Players must quickly identify if space or opposing players become free and cover-press for their team-mates.

The scale: For whom is this relevant?
This game revolves around the team scale, with a particular focus on encouraging the team to press intelligently and collectively. The game should help the members of the team to recognise how their pressing actions are connected. It is important that the communication between the attacking and midfield units is clear. When the attacking unit initiates the press, the midfield unit must close the space behind to maintain a compact structure. The game also allows the defensive backline to practise anticipating the right moment to step up, shift across or hold their position when set up in a high line.

The practice type: How is the practice designed?
The exercise involves a team game, with play focused in the opposition’s defensive third due to the reduced size of the exercise area and each team’s set-up. The defensive formation is designed to allow players to practise pressing within a coordinated system when facing a set-up featuring two centre-backs, two full-backs and a midfield three. The width provided by the neutral players constantly forces the defensive team to reorganise their compact shape and hones their ability to quickly cover gaps that appear between each other. The neutral players also force the defending players to make difficult decisions about whether to jump out and press aggressively or hold their position to prevent gaps appearing, thereby challenging the team’s ability to remain compact.

The oranges build from the back whilst the blues, set up in a 3-3 system, apply a high press.

Organisation

Mark out a 45m x 30m exercise area.
Position a full-size goal at each end of the exercise area.
Place a goalkeeper in each goal.
Split the group into 2 teams of 6 (oranges v. blues).
Assign 2 neutral players (greys).
Arrange the oranges in a 2-3-1 formation.
Set the blues up in a 3-3 system.
Place a neutral player on each side of the exercise area.

Explanation

The exercise starts with the goalkeeper defending the oranges’ goal in possession.
The oranges try to progress play and score in the blues’ goal.
The blues press in a high block.
If the blues win the ball, the teams swap roles immediately.
Both teams set up in a 2-3-1 formation when in possession and in a 3-3 system when out of possession.
If a goal is scored, play restarts from the goalkeeper who just conceded. If the ball goes out of play, play restarts from the goalkeeper defending the goal of the team that is in possession by virtue of the opposition having put the ball out of play.
The neutral players support the in-possession team by providing passing options in wide areas.

Key coaching points

(1/5) Bad practice: the defending team should look to close down any spaces inside their defensive structure which attacking players may be able to exploit. Defending players on the ball-far side should prioritise closing spaces on the inside and not worry about opposition players on the weak side.

(2/5) Good practice: by staying close together both vertically and horizontally, defenders can cut off passing lines into opposition players positioned within the defensive structure and force the opponent to play around rather than through.

(3/5) Defending players should be quick to recognise pressing triggers such as players either receiving on their weak foot, with their back to goal or close to the touchline

(4/5) As the opposition play out from the back, horizontal passes across the face of goal can present opportunities to press from the blind side

(5/5) As the opposition play out from the back, horizontal passes across the face of goal can present opportunities to press from the blind side

Roles of the coaches

First coach: leads the session and organises the press and the players’ pressing actions.
Second coach: offers encouragement and instructions from their position beside one of the goals and feeds balls to the goalkeeper.
Third coach: feeds balls to the goalkeeper from their position beside the opposite goal to the second coach.