Open Practice: Pressing to Win the Ball Back

Bobby Muuss,
Wake Forest University Head Men's Soccer Coach;
2019 NCAA College Cup Final Four;
2016 NCAA College Cup Runner-Up;
3x ACC Regular Season Champions (2016, 2017, 2024);
3x ACC Tournament Champions (2016, 2017, 2024);
4x ACC Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018);
5x ACC Atlantic Division Titles;
6x NCAA Elite Eight appearances;
University of Denver Head Coach from 2007 to 2014;
2013 Summit League Coach of the Year;
2x MPSF Coach of the Year;
Wake Forest University Assistant Coach from 2001 to 2006;
University of Connecticut Assistant Coach from 1997 to 2000;
2000 NCAA National Champions;
3x Big East Champions;
played college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University

In this video, Bobby Muuss demonstrates how he teaches his players to press and the art of counter pressing the "Wake Forest Way." He provides in-depth illustrations both on a white board and on the field to show different key elements for your players.

You'll learn how to train your team to press and how to quickly counter press to win the ball back as fast as you can. Muuss explains the teaching points he emphasizes during the exercises:

• Reactions needed to win the ball back.
• How to play proactive defense.
• The importance of staying connected as a team to properly defend.

Practice Segments

Coach Muuss begins this session by having his players go through a warm-up. Within this warm-up, he addresses numerous aspects which include dynamic stretching, speed/agility/quickness, injury prevention, first touch technical work, and the foundation of individual defense with the use of mannequins.

The second segment is "2v2v2+1." It's in this exercise that players must be aware of the defending team and how quick reactions are needed to make sure they're not on the wrong side of the ball when the game ends. This is where Muuss trains the habits needed to build his pressing game at Wake Forest. It also forces his players to play and make quick decisions in tight spaces.

In the third activity, Coach Muuss shows a "7v3 Pressing Game." As with most of his games, players indirectly train multiple aspects of the game. Possession and pressing are key aspects that are covered in this game. Players are rewarded by not only keeping the ball, but counter pressing in small groups of three.

The fourth game is a progression from the previous one, but Muuss adds additional numbers and larger goals to also work on finishing from close range. The teams are given specific roles to either keep possession or counter press and score within a given amount of time.

The fifth and final game is 7v7+1. Muuss uses this game to reinforce what was taught during the session, but gives the teams additional points by winning the ball in the attacking half of the field to reinforce pressing and defending on the front foot.

Coach Muuss shows you just how effective pressing can be and how Wake Forest has used it to their advantage, making them one of the best college teams in the nation.

78 minutes + 28 bonus minutes. 2018.