Contents
What is high block?
Playing in a high block consists of positioning yourself with a high line, making the field smaller and closing spaces for the opponent, making it difficult to possess the ball. Generally, playing with the high block usually goes hand in hand with a pressing style that starts from the opponent's area, as it requires all players to step forward and reduce the opponent's chances.
This type of pressure, called high pressure, is based on preventing the opposing team from coming out with the ball played or playing it and immediately starting the pressure in the opposite field, near the rival goal, with the aim of stealing the closest thing to the opponent's goal and seeking a quick finish, or getting hold of the ball in the opposite field, and doing all this in a very short period of time, to gain possession of the ball as soon as possible, to go directly to the rival goal taking advantage of the fact that the opposing team is disorganizing defensively, and thus be able to finish. the play or create a scoring chance.
In addition, another type of pressure could also be executed when possession of the ball is lost, which is based on making very intense pressure once the ball is lost instead of retreating and in this way the team will maintain its high block.
To execute this type of pressure, the players need to be in good physical shape, since a very intense exercise must be carried out to be able to recover the ball in the shortest time possible.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing high block?
Advantages
As we have previously explained, playing with a high block compresses the field and makes it difficult for the opponent to have space and/or time in possession of the ball.
With our defensive line positioned approximately in the center of the field when the opponent has the ball, we can carry out quick counterattacks, since we are located near the opponent's area, thus being able to create dangerous chances for the opposing team.
Disadvantages
Playing with a high defensive line will leave a lot of space behind the defensive line, meaning there is plenty of room for an opposing striker to make a run behind the back. In these situations, there are many long balls, due to the great pressure exerted by our team, forcing the rival to throw long balls, since you do not have space to be able to execute a good ball delivery.
These situations generated behind our defense are uncomfortable for our centre-backs and full-backs and very favorable for their attackers, because they have a lot of space to attack.
To be able to play with this type of system you need to work on it both physically and tactically, either to be able to apply good group pressure, closing spaces well so as not to be late to the pressure, and thus counteract the rival and force them to lose possession.
