You're Easy To Press: Rethinking the Build-Up
Build-up play has become one of the biggest areas of focus in youth soccer. Players are encouraged to be comfortable in possession, goalkeepers are increasingly involved, and teams are asked to find solutions against pressure rather than simply play forward at the first opportunity. But while we spend a lot of time developing the technical and tactical qualities of the players, we don't always question the structure we're asking them to play within.
If the opposition sees the same picture every weekend — two center backs splitting, fullbacks moving wide and midfielders occupying familiar spaces — pressing becomes easier. The problem may not always be the player's first touch, awareness or decision-making. Sometimes the structure itself is making the game predictable. In this MSC Breakdown, we look at three different ways coaches can change the picture and potentially create more time, space and uncertainty for the opposition press.
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