The pressing game is a little bit better than it is
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Answer:
Another strategy is to have the first pressing player call the press as they move into a pressing position. This can get a little tricky if you have players on the team who don’t have a lot of experience in identifying pressing triggers or who might falsely identify them.
It’s also important to consider when to tell your team NOT to press. For instance, you might often see a keen striker start to chase down every defender or pass from the goalkeeper. However, to conserve energy, it might be better for them to slow down, back off and let a weak defender have the ball and play a bad pass. Then you can initiate the press on the verbal command.
So, I’d recommend choosing just one or two players who are confident in calling the press and have them take charge of initiating it verbally, clearly and in good time.
RISKS OF THE PRESSING GAME
Now, there are a few things to be aware of when you’re pressing. Things that can make the pressing game a risk in some circumstances.
For example, pressing too high up the pitch against a very fast, tricky, skillfull team could be a bad idea. Fast players can use the pressure on them to create space behind your defensive line and spin in behind into the space. This can quickly create one-on-one opportunities against the goalkeeper.
Another risk of the press is that the man with the ball beats you as the pressing defender. If this happens, you’re likely to be out of the game: the momentum from your fast approach will mean you’ll swiftly be behind the ball. And, as you should know by now, being the wrong side of the ball and out of the play as a defensive player is suicide in the small-sided football game.
And, as mentioned earlier, if you don’t have the whole team engaged in the press together, the whole system come falling down and can be a hindrance rather than a help to the team.