Speed & Intent

Winning the ball back with a high press to immediately be dangerous

Picture this: It’s the final quarter of a high-stakes match. Your team is trailing by one goal, but you’ve just executed a textbook high press. The opposition’s defender, under pressure, misplaces a pass, and your forward intercepts the ball just outside the attacking circle. It’s the perfect opportunity to capitalize. But instead of a quick, decisive move, there’s hesitation. The forward takes an extra touch, allowing the defense to recover and reorganize. The chance to equalize is gone.

This scenario is all too common. A high press is designed to create these moments of vulnerability for the opposition, but if your players can’t transition quickly and decisively after winning the ball, the hard work of pressing is wasted. As Andreu Enrich put it in his masterclass,

“The moment you win the ball back is the moment you’re most dangerous—but only if you act with speed and intent” .

Decision-Making and Positioning in Transition Moments

The high press is a powerful tool when executed correctly. It’s about suffocating the opposition, forcing errors, and regaining possession in dangerous areas. But the real magic happens in the moments immediately after the ball is won. This is where many teams falter. Players often struggle with:

1. Decision-Making: What should the next action be? Pass, dribble, or shoot? Hesitation or poor choices can kill the momentum.

2. Positioning: Are players in the right spots to support the press and exploit the turnover? Poor positioning can lead to wasted opportunities or even leave the team exposed to a counterattack.

3. Execution: Winning the ball back is only half the battle. The ability to transition into attack mode with precision and speed is what separates good teams from great ones.

Ben Bishop, in his masterclass on off-ball skills, emphasized that

“the best teams are the ones that control the transitional elements of a game. They give themselves the best chance of winning by being prepared for what happens next” .

This preparation is key to making the high press a weapon, not just a defensive strategy.

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The 3 Phases of Winning the Ball Back with a High Press

To master the high press and transition effectively, we can break the process into three phases: Breaking Down Play with a High Press, Winning the Ball, and Transitioning into Attack Mode.

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1. Breaking Down Play with a High Press

The high press is all about applying immediate and organized pressure on the opposition to force mistakes. The goal is to deny them time and space to make clean decisions.

Key Elements:

• Trigger Recognition: Players must recognize the right moment to initiate the press. Common triggers include a poor first touch, a backward pass, or an isolated defender.

• Collective Pressure: The press must be coordinated. The player nearest the ball applies direct pressure, while teammates close passing lanes and shrink the field centrally.

• Forcing Play Wide: Direct the opposition toward the sideline or baseline, where their options are limited. As Andreu Enrich explained, “We want to force the ball carrier to face the sideline or baseline, making it harder for them to see and execute options” .

Coaching Cues:

• “Press together—don’t leave gaps.”

• “Force them wide—cut off the hotline.”

• “Be patient—don’t dive in too early.”

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2. Winning the Ball

Once the press is applied, the next step is to regain possession. This requires precision and discipline.

Key Elements:

• Anticipation: Players must read the opposition’s intentions and position themselves to intercept or tackle effectively.

• Controlled Aggression: The first tackler should focus on disrupting the ball carrier, while teammates anticipate the loose ball.

• Support: Players around the ball must be ready to react quickly, either to secure possession or to cover defensively if the press fails.

Coaching Cues:

• “Don’t overcommit—contain and disrupt.”

• “Be ready for the second ball.”

• “Stay compact—don’t let them play through you.”

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3. Transitioning into Attack Mode

The moment the ball is won, the team must shift from defense to attack. This is where the high press becomes a tool for creating scoring opportunities.

Key Elements:

• Quick Decisions: Players must know their next move before the ball is won. This could be a pass, a dribble, or a shot, depending on the situation.

• Forward Momentum: The first action should aim to exploit the opposition’s disorganization. This could mean playing a forward pass into space or driving toward the circle.

• Support Runs: Teammates must anticipate the turnover and make supporting runs to provide options.

Coaching Cues:

• “Know your next move before the ball is won.”

• “Attack the space—don’t let them recover.”

• “Support the ball carrier—give them options.”

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Technical Coaching Points

Here are three key coaching points to focus on when training the high press and transition play:

1. Scanning and Anticipation:

   • Teach players to scan the field constantly, even before the ball is won. This helps them anticipate the turnover and position themselves effectively.

   • Coaching Cue: “Check your shoulder twice before the ball is won.”

2. Body Positioning:

   • Emphasize the importance of body positioning when pressing and transitioning. Players should stay low and balanced, ready to react quickly.

   • Coaching Cue: “Stay low and balanced—be ready to pounce.”

3. Speed of Execution:

   • Focus on reducing the time between winning the ball and executing the next action. This requires both technical skill and mental sharpness.

   • Coaching Cue: “Be quick, but don’t rush—precision matters.”

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Common Mistakes and How to Correct Them

1. Overcommitting in the Press:

   • Problem: Players dive in too early, leaving gaps for the opposition to exploit.

   • Correction: Teach players to contain and disrupt rather than immediately tackling. Use drills that reward patience and positioning.

2. Hesitation After Winning the Ball:

   • Problem: Players hesitate or take too long to decide their next action.

   • Correction: Use time-restricted drills to reinforce quick decision-making. For example, limit players to two touches after winning the ball.

3. Poor Support Runs:

   • Problem: Teammates don’t anticipate the turnover, leaving the ball carrier isolated.

   • Correction: Emphasize the importance of off-ball movement in training. Use small-sided games to simulate transition scenarios.

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3 Actionable Takeaways for Coaches

1. Design Chaos into Training:

   • Create small-sided games with frequent turnovers to simulate the unpredictability of transition moments. For example, play 5v5 in a confined space and reward teams for scoring within five seconds of winning the ball.

2. Focus on Triggers:

   • Teach players to recognize pressing triggers, such as poor touches or backward passes. Use video analysis to highlight these moments in games.

3. Reinforce Scanning and Communication:

   • Incorporate scanning drills into every session. For example, have players call out the number of defenders or open spaces before initiating the press.

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Summary

Winning the ball back with a high press is about more than just effort—it’s about intelligence, coordination, and execution. By focusing on the principles of breaking down play, regaining possession, and transitioning into attack mode, you can turn your high press into a weapon that creates scoring opportunities.

So, how are you currently coaching the high press with your team? Are there specific challenges you’re facing, or strategies that have worked well for you?

Next Up  → Some suggestions on how to train speed and intent post high press

Focused on three team profiles: (A) Top Elite, (B) Youth U12-U16, (C) Mixed-Ability Teams.

Anchored in phases: 1) Breaking down play with high press, 2) Winning the ball, 3) Transitioning into attack.

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