The Coaches' Room
7v7U11Out of Possession

How do U11s know when the press is over?

Asked by SamOnline
0 views 2 replies
We have worked on getting pressure to the ball, but once the first press is beaten some players keep chasing while others drop off. The team stretches badly. What is the simplest way of teaching U11s when to stop pressing and protect space instead?

VERIFIED COACH ANSWER

VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA B Coach

7v7 • 9v9 defending, pressing and transition

Why don't we show coach names?
I would give them a clear reset cue. If the first press is beaten and the next player cannot get pressure on the ball quickly, the team needs to recover and become connected again. You might use: “Can we press together? If not, recover together.” Then build games where one team gets a point for playing through the first press. The defending team has to decide whether the next action is another press or protecting the middle. I would avoid one player continuing to chase simply because they started the press. At U11, pressing is not about permanent forward running. It is about pressure, cover and distances. If those relationships have gone, the clever decision can be to stop chasing, get goal-side and rebuild the next defending picture.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the conversation with other coaches. 2 replies

M

Macca74

Coach

We used to praise the first press so much that players thought continuing it forever was brave. We now praise the moment they recognise it has gone and recover together.
S

Smudge84

Coach

Our reset is basically: if the next player cannot get there with cover behind, stop chasing and get compact. The hard bit was convincing the first presser that dropping was not giving up.