Getting out of High Press

Hockey CoachCoach

Simon,

Option 1%3A transfer / double transfer - if the press is 3/4, they should give you your 16 yds to transfer in, and they can't cover the whole pitch. Transfer the ball round your defence quicker than they can move their press, and you open up a passing channel - patience.

Option 2 is to get your full-backs driving to collapse the press%3A FB carries the ball towards the nearest forward in the front-line of the press, as soon as the forward starts to commit - as sson as they move towards the ball, change direction towards the next nearest player in the second line of the press, as they start to move you should have opened up a passing channel as the press loses shape - most likely a pass of the back foot amittedly.

Option 3 fake collapse - having used it once or twice, on the left hand side, your FB drives as if to collapse and your left half drops in behind facing the right hand side of the pitch. FB drops the ball under their arm to LH, who is then passing the way they are facing to get a quick transfer.

Option 4 - get one player to spend hard hours developing a 40 yard aerial

Option 5 - give it to a big hitting right back, see how long the opposition close them down

A truly full press, and even a hard cut press is an all or nothing from the opposition, and it really comes down to how well you can play out through it. Coach FBs to be able to carry and protect the ball well, and have a busy midfield posting in and out of the press to break it up

Doug