The Coaches' Room
GeneralMultiple / GeneralOut of Possession

our two strikers press the same centre-back

Asked by SaturdayGaffer82
0 views 4 replies
both go because they see pressure, then one pass takes both out. how are people getting the second striker to recognise the next pass instead of joining the chase?

VERIFIED COACH ANSWER

Verified Coach avatar
VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA B Coach

7v7 • 9v9 defending

Why don't we show coach names?
The second striker needs a different pressing job. If both forwards sprint at the same centre-back, one simple pass can remove them both. I’d ask the first striker to affect the ball and the second to affect the next pass. That might mean screening the other centre-back, getting close to the midfielder or positioning so the goalkeeper cannot easily switch play. A build-up game with two forwards pressing a back three is ideal. Let the defenders move the ball and stop afterwards to ask what the second striker was protecting. At U13, pressing is about controlling options, not having the most players near the ball. If one striker is already creating pressure, the second can often help more by staying away from the action and closing the escape route.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 4 replies

C

Charlotte15

Community Member

We give the build-up team a point if one pass takes both strikers out. The forwards quickly work out why standing on the same defender is a problem.
B

BrummieB77

Community Member

As the second striker it feels lazy not joining the chase until you realise screening the next pass is what actually traps them.
C

ChrisOnTheCoast

Community Member

Exactly. The second striker often works hardest by moving sideways, not sprinting at the ball.
B

BrummieB

Community Member

First striker presses the ball, second striker owns the next obvious pass. That one sentence improved ours more than all the pressing diagrams.