Press resistance is the ability to retain possession of the football, even under high pressure. Press resistant players are able to stay on the ball and keep possession for their team, while attracting opponents away from defensive positions to unbalance the opposition’s defence, which can help their team to advance up the pitch.
I consider developing press resistance to be a two-step process; helping your players as individuals to retain the ball, and then helping them learn when and how to release (pass) it. I use this simplified outlook as football is a simple game. When in possession, the player either retains the ball or releases it either by passing or shooting.
Developing press-resistant players is a long and, sometimes, frustrating process. The crucial first step is to help your players as individuals to retain the ball. Encourage your players to stay on the ball as long as necessary; it can be instinctive for young/inexperienced players to kick the ball and the responsibility away aimlessly, or to thoughtlessly pass them both on to another player to deal with. It is a lot of responsibility and players can be frightened of making a mistake for fear of judgement from their parents/peers/coach. Creating an environment where players are comfortable in trying new things and making mistakes will help your players have more confidence with taking on this responsibility.
Developing your players’ ability to retain possession as an individual is the crucial first step that should not be rushed. It is fundamental that players develop a secure connection with the ball, knowing where their body is in the space around them and how to use it to keep control of the ball. Only when the player is comfortable on the ball will they be able to take their eyes off it to assess their options; taking into account opponents, teammates and space. This ability will help them to determine how best to retain the ball, including the element of receiving the ball as an extension of retaining it.
When coaching young or inexperienced players, it is common to see the ball run past them, roll under their foot, or bounce off them as they struggle to control it. For this reason, it is essential to start with them already in possession of the ball. Doing so will enable your players to get more valuable touches on the ball. If your players are more experienced, you can start with them receiving the ball.
Some coaches and parents race to get to ‘proper’ football as soon as possible. The professional players you see on TV are organised and work as a team, passing the ball to advance up the pitch. It is often with good intentions that coaches and parents rush towards this style, wanting their players to keep their positions and focusing on passing. However, this is counterproductive. Coaching and encouraging passing before the player is comfortable on the ball will make it more likely that they’ll kick the ball away aimlessly, as they won’t be able to effectively assess their options. Also, any pass played is unlikely to be received effectively if the receiver is not competent at retaining the ball.
An overemphasis on passing gives your less skilful players a ‘crutch’, giving the ball to another player to avoid being the one responsible for having to do something with it, such as dribbling and playing riskier passes forward. It becomes too easy to play a simple pass and let someone else do the hard part. Also, these less skilful players can be observed avoiding the ball altogether; as they lack the confidence and competence to get involved in the game.
By encouraging your players to stay on the ball, you are enabling them to practise the necessary skills to develop press-resistance. The necessary skills are to hide, manoeuvre and reveal the ball. Below details what these terms mean:
Hide the ball – the player uses their body as a physical barrier, blocking the opponent(s) to retain possession. This can often be difficult for young female players, as they tend to avoid physical contact. The use of body combat or rough and tumble games as part of their warm-up can help them get familiar and comfortable with this aspect of the game.
Manoeuvre the ball – the player manipulates the ball and their body to escape the pressure.
Reveal the ball – the player shows the ball to the opponent at the correct moment to beat them 1v1, travel forward or to pass forward.
Only when your players are competent at retaining the ball can you coach the next step in the process, which is when and how to release (pass) the ball. Passing is the process of the player being able to find a teammate in a better position and sharing the ball with them. Passing the ball is a complex skill. Staying on the ball the right amount of time is important. Sometimes the player needs to stay on the ball to entice the opponent to leave their defensive position. Other times the pass needs to be played quickly to exploit a gap in the defence. Different types of pass can be used to help break the press and help the team advance up the pitch. It might be a common push pass to a teammate in a better position, or it might be a flick with the inside/outside of the boot past an onrushing opponent.
Affirming the intent of trying to pass the ball at the right time is beneficial to your players, as it can encourage them to continue to find creative solutions. Only praising successful passes can lead to players only playing ‘safe’ or ‘easy’ passes, rather than attempting riskier ones that can break a press.
To become press-resistant, players need to be co-ordinated, confident and aware.
Co-ordinated – being able to use their body to effectively manoeuvre the ball. This can be the use of their body to hide the ball, or to use agility and speed to evade or eliminate pressure. Tag games and ball mastery can help develop these components.
Confident - it takes a lot of courage for a player to try to stay on the ball, especially when the opponent is determined to win it back. Being co-ordinated and competent at manoeuvring the ball can increase a player’s sense of competence, giving them more confidence in themselves. Also, lots of encouragement to stay on the ball can help players to find this courage. 1v1-2v2 games can give players lots of opportunities to practise and develop their self-esteem.
Aware – knowing where everything is around them (the ball, opposition, teammates and space) will help them make the best decision to retain the ball e.g. if you know where the defender is, you can use your body as a barrier to protect the ball and prevent the defender from getting to it. Games with interference and or multiple goals to score in can help develop a player’s awareness of what is around them. Sometimes, they might need prompting to have a look (scan) before they get on the ball. Scanning frequency often increases with age, as players become more experienced and confident with their ability to control the ball.
The ‘stay on the ball’ message is beneficial to players whether they are complete novices or playing at a high level. As a coach who has worked with girls from grassroots to Regional Talent Clubs, I’ve noticed a lot of girls lack confidence and won’t believe in themselves 1v1; choosing to give a simple pass to a more dominant teammate. After developing their individual ability to retain the ball, they become more competent and confident enough to dribble during the games. This can help build trust between teammates, as they can depend on each other to retain the ball. Also, this will often lead to a wider social circle with teammates, as co-operating with each other will create and strengthen bonds.
You have to be consistent with the message to ‘stay on the ball’ during games, not just in training, especially when coaching young and/or inexperienced players (e.g. u6-u14). At some point in their career, clearing the ball or kicking it out of play is the right decision. However, if young and/or inexperienced players are instructed and encouraged to do this, it is all they will ever be able to do. Numerous errors of judgement can be expected, but it is all part of their learning process and will be worth it. Seeing young players expressing themselves, playing with flair and growing in confidence is a joy to watch.
This article was originally published on https://www.womenssoccercoaching.com/coaching-advice/developing-press-resistant-players
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