When a team is in possession, the players within the team should adopt a possession based structure. This means players are often spread out (depth and width) and there is often lots of space between players. This however is not a very good defensive shape.

 

So if the ball is lost there are 2 really important things that need to happen.

Firstly :

• The 2 or 3 closest players to the ball, need to press (crunch) the ball (and cut off the key passing lines) as quickly and aggressively as possible.
  1. Make sure the opposition can not play forward quickly (and counter attack while you do not have a good defensive shape established).
  2. Try to force the opposition to play backwards.
  3. Try to get the 'first opposition player on the ball' to get their head down, so that they find it hard to find a good and quick pass forward. 
  4. Try to get the 'first opposition player on the ball' to make a mistake and turn over the ball. 
  5. These rules may also apply to the 'second opposition player to be on the ball', and continue to apply the 'crunch' until the contraction has occurred (the has block has been set up), and we have good defensive shape.

Secondly :

• The whole team 'contracts' into a defensive structure.
  • The has block has been set up an and we have a good strong defensive shape.

So Note :

The crunch is not necessarily about winning the ball back quickly (but if this happens then it is a huge bonus). It is mostly about buying time, so that we can get a strong defensive shape (contract into a block) and then begin the process of strategically and systematically winning the ball back.

 

The 5 second transition rule

The 'crunch and contract' phase may last up to 5 seconds. (See the video below).  After this you should have either won the ball back, or have a strong defensive shape, and be in a position to move to the second phase of not having the ball.  [ This phase is covered in the next few pages].

 

 

 

   

 

The Crunch

 

   

This video looks at Barcelona's transition into a high press after losing the ball:

^{Please watch the original video using this link : https://youtu.be/yc4gFLenLio}

^{and check out this website : www.dannysearle.co.uk for more team based coaching content.}

 

This video above offers both highlights and practice exercises, that aim to highlight the following :

• How quickly players react after losing the ball.
• Can players get  good positions from which to press in transition.
• Can other players get good supporting positions that stop the opposition getting out (and especially forward) easily.

 

Task

From the video above:

• How quickly did Barca win the ball back (after losing the ball)?
• When they won it back quickly, what key things happened?
• When it took longer to win the ball back, why was this?
• Can you take what you learned from studying this video and apply when we play?

 

   

 Go to this link for more details on this :