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This may just be my experience, but most teams who I’ve come across trying to press high up the field don’t do so in an organized manner. By this, I mean that most teams consider high pressure to be trying to win the ball with one or two players applying quick pressure and the rest of the team not doing much else. As a result, if your team is composed enough on the ball and organized enough, they should be able to break most high pressure without resorting to long balls.
That said, I would point out that long balls might not even be the best method of breaking the high pressure against some of these teams given how disorganized some of them are. For example, some teams will try to press high up the field with their forwards and midfield, but not have their backline get high up the field along with the rest of the team in order to keep the field compact and stay connected as a defensive unit. This means that the backline will be hanging back waiting for long balls (whether or not this is intentional is another matter) and means that the space is now the gaps between the midfield and backline where shorter balls are much more effective.
Again, this has just been my experience, but my thought is that you’re better teaching the kids to always try and play short out of high pressure, especially at a younger age. Of course, the best way to train your backs and midfield to deal with high pressure, is to have them train in practice against the high pressure that you’re trying to instill in your own midfield and front line. This makes your backs better at dealing with the pressure and your forwards better at pressing as the backs get better.
I’ve seen this with my players at well sometimes. From what I’ve seen, often times it’s more about their ability to recognize where the space is rather than not understanding the concept of switching the field itself.
I have two drills that I’ve typically done to work with their ability to recognize the space and when to switch the field:
1) Set up a square field, sized appropriately to the number of players you have to work with, and place a small goal in the middle of each side of the square. Two goals on adjacent sides should belong to team 1 and the remaining two goals should belong to team 2. Have them play a game looking to score going to either of the opposing goals (depending on skill level, numbers, overall focus, etc… add a neutral or restrict touches). What you’re looking for is times to freeze the game when a player or team focuses on a goal despite the opposing team leaving the second goal wide open. When you freeze, simply ask you players to identify the space and ask them how they could take advantage of that space and get to the open goal. Don’t tell them, lead them to the conclusions on their own so that it sticks better.
2) Divide a rectangular field, again make it appropriately sized to the age and number of players you have to work with, and divide the field vertically into three sections. Each section should have a goal for either team at the end line. Again the idea is to let your team play naturally, looking to go to one of the three goals, and then freeze it when your players try to force the play towards a section or goal that’s overloaded by opposing defenders.
Personally, I’m not a fan of possession where you force the kids to switch the field… this feels a little too artificial to me. Instead, I prefer to put my players in situations where the game lends it self to switching the field if the opportunity arises, but also allows them to go directly to goal if the other team doesn’t defend properly. The goal for me is for them to recognize when the numbers and space favor switching the field, rather than switching the field simply for the sake of switching the field.
I think you’re over thinking it a little to be honest… The main point here is that there is a triangle in the center of the midfield at all times, regardless of whether it’s two holders and one attacking mid or one holder and two attacking mids to start. No matter what, the triangle should be rotating according to where the ball is and whether you are in possession or not.
I’ve used both versions of the midfield triangle with my high school team and the main difference usually seems to be how you coordinate midfield pressure since the starting positions of the midfielders is slightly different. I would basically say that as long as you teach the principle of “One goes and one always holds” then you should be fine with two holding mids in the 4-2-3-1.
Of course, anyone else feel free to correct me or give their own thoughts.
Hey everyone! My name is Eric Struble and I’m a 24 year old coach in Virginia.
I’ve been coaching since I finished my playing career at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia where I played for Bryan Waggoner (for anyone who knows of him). I’m currently the lead assistant coach at Sweet Briar College as well as the lead assistant coach for the local high school varsity team. I’m in the process of working on my coaching licenses so that I can eventually become a full time head coach (ideally at a college).
I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone here and I’d like to thank Coach Kleiban for setting everything up here. If anyone wants to ever get in touch with me, feel free to follow me @ebstruble on twitter or email me at ebstruble@sbc.edu
