Soccer iQ Presents... High Pressure: How to Win Soccer Games by Smothering Your Opponent

by Dan Blank

In this installment of the Soccer iQ series, college soccer coach and best-selling author, Dan Blank, educates coaches and players on the most effective ways to implement a high-pressure style of team defending. Nearly 80% of goals scored are the result of three or fewer passes, and more than half of all goals scored begin when a team wins possession of the ball in its attacking half of the field. The numbers clearly indicate a statistical advantage to winning the ball in the opponent's end of the field, and that's exactly what high pressure is designed to do. High pressure is perhaps the most misunderstood term in soccer's vocabulary. There are countless coaches who want their teams to play high pressure, but many of them aren't always quite so sure about what that means. They tend to translate 'high pressure' into 'run around like you stole something until we score.' They only extract the urgency of which the term implies without much understanding of the nuance that makes high pressure a formidable system of team defense. Those coaches understand that high pressure requires a high work rate, but they don't understand the tactical savvy that can maximize the output of that work. As a result, their teams feature only the madness but not the method behind successful high pressure. High Pressure provides an easy-to-follow blueprint for coaches and players so they know not only what to do, but why they are doing it. In this book, Dan Blank clarifies the differences between high and low pressure and explains the big picture of high pressure defending. You will learn the roles of each position, the importance of restraining lines, and how to set up pressure funnels to win the ball in the attacking half. Coach Blank also details the telltale cues that signal a team to step up or back off its pressure, and much, much more. High pressure defending requires more than just hard work. It requires organization, communication and an indefatigable team spirit. This book will show you how to create and implement these elements to get a maximum return on your team's effort.

Genres: Soccer, Football

178 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2017

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became the head soccer coach at Hamilton so I thought I would read and listen to some soccer strategy this summer before the season. I liked this book and this strategy because high pressure is played from an underdog status and in sports the underdog can prevail if you rattle the other opponent enough. And there is nothing more exciting than an underdog pulling an upset and watching the joy on the teams face that was expected to lose but ended up winning. I’m hoping some of the stuff I learned can help us win a couple more games this year especially as the underdog in a lot of our games

[Bob Deangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a high school coach, I have read just about every one of Dan Blank's books, and I have enjoyed and learned from each one. He weaves tactical strategy with philosophical thought with a bit of understanding the mind of your players. Like his other books, High Pressure was easy to understand and provided with some concrete ideas that help in bringing clarity to the flow of the game of soccer. High Pressure is about a mindset of aggression, and the book gives arguments for this team mindset, practical steps that players can understand, and some simple exercises in which a coach can have his team practice the concepts. If you have read any of his other books, you already know that you will want to get this one. If you haven't, I encourage you to pick up one of Dan's books (this one, or Soccer IQ), and you will be hooked.

[Stuart Sheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical, I like his philosophy.

As he said at the end of the book, high pressure game needs right players who can play as a team. As a coach you'll need to build your players and team first before taking them on the high pressure game. Great book for youth football coaches.

[Joseph Ulm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and understandable soccer information

Some books on soccer are just theoretical. This book, however, is a nice blend of practical and theory, written in plain english. Another great book by Mr. Blank.

[Nathan Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

As with all of Dan Blank’s books, the information is presented in clear, concise terms in ways that make total sense. Highly recommended as with all of his other books.

[PEDRO M MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and easy read.

Very useful and easy read. Great resource for a coach to increase knowledge about high pressing, including exercises. . .

[marcus miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly written with helpful advice to try and use high pressure against your opponents. Also includes drills and short side games to help teach your team the concepts of high pressure.

[Avel Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Gem by Dan Blank!!!

[Stefan Koziolek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great coaching material

Excellent Reed on playing a high-pressure defense. So many books are just a lot of fluff, but this one is concise as well as informative.