Pressure vs. No Pressure

As coaches we have been trained to get pressure on the ball. We often see a defensive player attacking their opponent (who has possession of the ball) without any other consideration. Sometimes we call for pressure because it has been drilled into us. But, at times, staying connected to your team is more important than pressure on the ball.

An example:

Your opponents defence has clean possession and proper shape on their half of the field, and lots of space. You have a player near by, but he is all alone, completly disconnected from his teammates. No supporting defensive team mate anywhere near. Does he presuure the ball?

I cannot tell you how many times I see this player sprint at the opponent to place the ball carrier under pressure only to have the opponnet, in possession, easily tap the ball to his supporting teammate. Now the opponnet attacks a team with one less defender. Now the pressuring player has wasted energy making a 10-30 yard sprint and either has to make another one to be of value or just stops in frustration leaving your team shape with a gapeing hole.

Did you recognize this? How many other times does this happen through out the game? Its a long game and you have to play the numbers. Giving your opponent any edge swings the numbers towards them. (Numbers in opportunities to atatck your team.)

A bigger problem is when both your strikers are disconnected from the midfield and or disconnected from each other and making bad runs to pressure an opponent, which forces the opponent to play quickly to an open teammate, who now gets to attack a team that is not prepared to defend. In this situation you are once again wasting the energy of your strikers who will need to stay fresh to finsh a goal for you later.

How about on a counter attack of your goal? Your team is caught in a numbers down situation. Your opponent is attacking quickly to take advantage. They have lots of space, are not in scoring range, and suddenly one of your defenders pressures the ball. Ouch, Your opponent is foced, by your defender, to play the ball to an open player who now runs directly to goal without interference and scores.

What happened? Your defensive player made the wrong move. Did you recognize it? Can you correct it for all future counter attacks? All of the years of pressure training now backfired, unless, you taught them when to pressure and when to hold or drop. In a counter attack your defenders must drop to: delay, slow the attackers, reduce the dangerous space behind your defence, allow teammates to get back and make the opponent think their way into an error.

Of course, this is all simple fundamental teaching of our game. Then why do we see the mistakes happening in team play over and over again? Poor training? No tactical training? Or are we just missing it when it happens and unable to educate the players and fix the issue. That's coaching and that's often what seperates the successful teams and the unsuccesful teams.

There are exceptions to the rule but proper pressure, all over the field, is not something we can overlook. It can make the difference in a win vs a worthy opponent. It will make the game considerably more challenging to your opponent. It will help you win games you are supposed to win!

What are your thoughts?

Next topics include: Team Pressure, Pressing, Importance of Positive Psychy and more....