Strategy
To guide the opposition players into areas where we are strong can win possession and counter attack to effect. To guide the opposition away from areas where they can penetrate our defence and play the ball behind us.

Organisation
Gradually progress the practice from simple to complex from a 3v2 to a 5v5 to an 11v11,

Practice 1
20 by 20 yard grid
A maximum of 2 attacking players can be in the half of the goal.
The attacking team aim to score as many goals as possible.
Once the defending team secures possession, they should pass back to the opponent in the opposite half.
The attacking team score one goal by dribbling into either wing zones and two goals by scoring into the goal.
There is no goalkeeper to ensure defenders press tight to prevent the ball being played forwards.
However players must be in the half of the goal to be able to score.

 

Practice 2
30 by 30 yard grid
5v5 (3-2 vs 3-2). If the ball is switched to the wide full back, the nearest opposing full back should press.
Both teams aim to score as many goals as possible.
On a player's 2nd touch in the opposing team's outer zone a team scores a goal.
A team shall score 2 goals for scoring into the goal.
There are no keepers.
The defending team are not allowed into the defending semi circle to prevent goal hanging.
To prevent the lob, players should press early and tight.

Practice 3
11v11 (4-4-2 vs 4-4-2).
Both teams aim to score as many goals as possible.
If the ball enters the opponent's wide zone, a penalty is awarded to the attacking team, once the ball is dead
(e.g. if they score a goal from the resulting play, they can score a bonus goal from the penalty.

 

Coaching Points - Individual (use tick and crosses)

Starting Position
Player's starting position should be inside and behind their man at all times.

If the player is too high, he is vulnerable to the diagonal ball over his head.
(the picture below shows how easy it is to exploit the space created)
By giving depth, he has the inside line to get to the ball 1st

If the player is too close to his man, he is vulnerable to the diagonal ball inside him.
(the picture below shows how easy it is to exploit the space created)
By staying inside his man, any balls inside his man will go to him 1st.
Any underweight balls will be intercepted any quality balls to feet will allow the player time to press.

The player's angle of run should cut out the outside line to prevent the pass out wide.
By allowing the pass out wide, you are allowing the opposition to stretch us wide, make us run more and make it easier to get behind out back line.
In the diagram below, the player has bent his run to cover the outside line and encouraged the player to pass or take him on the inside, where he has defensive cover.

 

The player's outside foot should be outside the line of his opponent blocking off the outside pass.

The initial press must be at full speed. When closer, the player should slam on the brakes by taking lots of little steps (this ensures balance and rapid deceleration). The player should not slow down too late as the opponent is travelling in the opposite direction and so has the advantage. However the quicker you get there, the less time the opponent has to get to a fast pace of dribbling.

If you get there early, (the opponent is standing still), you should try to get closer and closer by taking little steps closer to the opponent to threaten his space.

Jockeying
By moving to press the player as the ball is on the way to the opponent, you should be able to get there before he is able to start dribbling. This is the ideal situation as the player is starting from a standing start.

However, if the player is able to run at you before you can press him, you should stop earlier and jockey backwards. You should still force the player inside by covering the outside line and adopt a low stance to allow you to run with him and make the tackle if his touch is poor. See picture below.

Spoiling
By diving in with your back foot, you are committing your weight forward. Good players will have enough time to easily beat you for selling yourself with your back foot.

Instead, you can look to spoil the player's concentration by stabbing with your front foot by poking in and out like a fencer. As soon as you have had a stab at the ball retreat to prevent you being beaten. Even if you don't touch the ball, you will be slowing the player down and making him concentrate more on the ball and not on his surroundings. You also interfere with his decision making process by putting obstacles in the way. By going with your front foot you are not committing yourself. However to ensure you are not beaten on the outside, you must again attack covering the outside. See picture below.

Overview
Players should press the ball as high up the field as possible to force the opposition into error
Players should aim to press the player inside at all times, to prevent the opposition from getting around the outside of the defence.
The Defenders should be aware of the through ball and should anticipate to prevent the opposition receiving the direct ball in the wide areas.